For more than a decade, the Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program served as the United States’ primary regulatory framework for protecting high-risk chemical facilities from terrorist threats. But on July 28, 2023, Congress allowed CFATS’s statutory authority to expire, effectively shutting down the program overnight. If you work in ammonia refrigeration, chemical manufacturing, energy, distribution, or any sector handli

In February 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced a proposed rule that would significantly modify the Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations under the Clean Air Act. The proposal, referred to as the “Common Sense Approach to Chemical Accident Prevention,” would reverse or scale back many of the requirements established in the 2024 Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention (SCCAP) rule. If finalized, the proposal could substantially change

In industrial ammonia (R-717) refrigeration systems, choosing the right valve isn’t just a design preference; it’s a safety-critical decision. Ammonia is toxic, mildly flammable, and typically flows through the system at elevated pressures while constantly shifting between liquid and vapor phases. If the wrong valve ends up in the wrong location, the result can be excessive pressure drop, unstable control, trapped liquid expansion, or fugitive emissions. Understanding how glo

Planning for an emergency at a refrigeration facility can be a daunting task, particularly when deciding whether to prepare an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) or an Emergency Repose Plan (ERP). Choosing the best option depends on several factors, including the placement of responsibility for response, the facility’s desire to maintain trained responders onsite, the financial burden for training, and whether the local fire authority can provide timely incident response. In truth,