To:

Chemical Industry Council of Illinois (CICI) Members

From:

Mark Biel, Chief Executive Officer
[email protected] or 217/522-5805 

Re:

Morning Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: CFATS Postponing/Rescheduling Inspections; U.S. Chamber of Commerce Workforce Tracker; EchoSystem Critical Material Website; Interactive Website for Manufacturers, Suppliers   

CFATS Postponing/Rescheduling Inspections. In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is postponing and rescheduling nearly all Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) authorization inspections, compliance inspections, and other onsite visits, such as compliance assistance. This notice is effective as of 3/16/2020.

The CFATS regulations remain in force, and facilities must continue to comply with 6 C.F.R. part 27. High-risk chemical facilities with approved Site Security Plans/Alternative Security Programs (SSP/ASP) are required by federal law to continue to implement the security measures in those plans. Facilities should consider compensatory measures to secure their critical assets in cases where designated personnel are unable to perform their security duties due to illness or quarantine.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Workforce Tracker.  For CICI members operating in multiple states, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has put together a States Workforce Tracker database detailing the various orders on essential businesses/personnel, stay-at-home orders and the durations of those orders.    

EchoSystem Critical Material Website.  To reduce the fragmentation and inefficiencies of sourcing critical materials needed to combat COVID-19 and also to provide visibility and access for the organizations most in need,  EchoSystem has launched VAPP website to enable people around the country to pitch in and help defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.

VAPP enables CICI members to list their vital raw materials and critical finished goods, gaining access to accredited buyers with the most need around the country.

VAPP is a turn-key solution. With built-in payment and bulk freight logistics, moving quantities of all sizes across the country can be done in a few clicks.  

CICI members maintain full control over whom they sell to and at what price.   All pricing remains confidential.

There are no costs for using the VAPP platform for the duration of the pandemic.

Interactive Website for Manufacturers, Suppliers: The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois (CICI) is participating in the Governor’s Supply Chain Task Force, which is working to ensure key products including disinfectants, cleaning products, sanitizers, sterilizers, soaps and personal protective gear, etc. get to the necessary hospitals and medical providers.

It is imperative to connect suppliers with those in need of supplies and to connect manufacturers with suppliers. There are over 20 critical products needed to respond to COVID-19.  The Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) has set up an Interactive Website to connect relevant manufacturing sectors of the state to get vital products  - ventilators, N95 masks, gloves, hand sanitizers and disinfectants, and biohazard waste bags – to the front lines of this pandemic. 

Please visit this website and see where your facility may be able to help get these products to where they are needed the most.     

Stay tuned for an afternoon update after Governor Pritzker’s press briefing for more information and an update on the number of cases. 

 

1400 E. Touhy Ave, Suite 110
Des Plaines, IL 60018
Tel: (847) 544-5995
Fax: (847) 544-5999