ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13650Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13650

Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security

This executive order establishes an interagency working group to improve coordination among federal agencies, state/local/tribal partners, and private industry on chemical facility safety and security. It mandates multiple assessments, pilot programs, and regulatory reviews to modernize risk management practices, enhance information sharing, and reduce duplicative reporting requirements following chemical facility tragedies.

Federal Register Open PDF 78 FR 48029

Impact dates

  1. Status report to President through CEQ Chair and Homeland Security Advisor

  2. Comprehensive integrated standard operating procedures for unified federal approach

  3. Coordinated data-sharing process proposal

  4. Streamlined data collection recommendations

  5. Working Group plan for state/local/tribal coordination

  6. ATF feasibility assessment on explosive materials data sharing

  7. DHS feasibility assessment on CFATS data sharing

  8. CSB MOU review and potential model MOU development

  9. Analysis on improving agency information collection and sharing

  10. Options for improved chemical facility safety and security

  11. Ammonium nitrate regulatory and legislative proposals

  12. RMP and PSM expansion review and implementation plan

  13. CFATS Chemicals of Interest list additions

  14. PSM retail/commercial exemptions review and RFI issuance

  15. Deploy pilot program for federal interagency collaboration

Key directives

  • Establish Chemical Facility Safety and Security Working Group co-chaired by DHS Secretary, EPA Administrator, and Labor Secretary
  • Working Group shall meet quarterly and provide status report within 270 days
  • Deploy pilot program for federal interagency collaboration within 45 days
  • Develop plan for state/local/tribal coordination within 135 days
  • Create integrated standard operating procedures within 270 days
  • Assess feasibility of sharing explosive materials data with SERCs/TEPCs/LEPCs within 90 days
  • Assess feasibility of sharing CFATS data with SERCs/TEPCs/LEPCs within 90 days
  • Develop coordinated data-sharing process proposal within 180 days
  • Identify streamlining improvements for data collection within 180 days
  • Develop options for improved chemical facility safety within 90 days
  • Develop ammonium nitrate regulatory/legislative proposals within 90 days
  • Review RMP and PSM expansion within 90 days

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Working Group establishment with DHS, EPA, Labor co-chairs

Near term (90d)

  • Pilot program deployment (45 days)
  • Feasibility assessments for data sharing (ATF, DHS)
  • CSB MOU review
  • Options for improved risk management
  • Ammonium nitrate proposals
  • RMP/PSM expansion review
  • CFATS chemicals list update
  • PSM modernization RFI
  • Initial stakeholder engagement

Long term

  • Integrated standard operating procedures (270 days)
  • Coordinated data-sharing process proposal (180 days)
  • Streamlined data collection recommendations (180 days)
  • Implementation plan for risk management improvements
  • Ongoing quarterly Working Group meetings
  • Best practices identification through stakeholder convening

Risks & tensions

  • Implementation depends on voluntary interagency coordination without enforcement mechanism; Sec. 8(a) makes order subject to appropriations availability
  • Multiple 90-day deadlines create compressed timeline for complex regulatory reviews
  • Tension between information sharing for safety and security versus protection of confidential business information and national security concerns noted in Sec. 3(a)(vii)
  • Sec. 8(c) disclaimer that order creates no enforceable rights limits accountability for affected communities
  • Unclear whether stakeholder engagement in Sec. 6(a)(ii) and Sec. 7 will produce binding outcomes or voluntary best practices
Executive Order 13650: Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security · Executive Orders