DHS Publishes Chemical Security Awareness Training ICR

Today the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) published a 60-day information collection request (ICR) renewal notice in the Federal Register (80 FR 57200-57201) for their Infrastructure Assessment and Training Program. This ICR used to be for the Chemical Security Awareness Training Program that I first wrote about in 2008, but was apparently canceled earlier this year.

The notice now describes the ICR as supporting the IP Gateway that consists of three separate collection activities:

• General User Registration;

• Chemical Security Awareness Training Registration, and

• User Satisfaction Survey

The last time that this ICR was approved (2011) DHS expected [.DOC download] 400,000 responses/participants per year at one hour per response (the total for registration, training and post training survey). That number was an estimate based upon the number of workers in the chemical industry not actual participation in the program that had been running for about three years at that point.

The current ICR notice expects just 9,000 participants in the program but they expect 5 hours of response burden for each participant. This would mean that the training portion of the program would be significantly longer than the earlier CSATP.

NPPD is soliciting comments on this ICR. Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket # DHS-2014-0010). Comments should be submitted by November 23, 2015.

Commentary

Readers will recall that last week I complained that there was no chemical sector specific training available from DHS. I hope that this ICR submission indicates that that is only a temporary condition. I look for to seeing this new 5 hour long chemical security awareness training program.