Most chemical facilities in the U.S. have yet to adopt federal anti-terrorism guidelines and remain vulnerable to attack, according to a recent report published in the International Journal of Critical Infrastructures. 
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security established its Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards in 2007 in response to concerns following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The study by researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, however, found that as of 2013, only 40 of the nation's 3,468 chemical facilities designated by DHS saw their final plans approved — and that "the pace of adoption and implement is yet to pick up."
Maria Rooijakkers and Abdul-Akeem Sadiq argued the slow pace of implementation jeopardizes the typically dense populations near chemical plants, as well as the economy due to the importance of chemicals in a wide array of industries.
They recommended that the chemical industry and DHS officials work together more closely to speed up the implementation process, and suggested that local officials develop their own preparedness plans.
