A draft prototype of the "vulnerability assessment methodology" was just completed and has been given by Sandia researchers to the Department of Justice, which funded the project. It will be made public after its release to Congress, which is expected in mid-December.

The assessment technique's history predates the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. and reflects a long-running debate and conflict between demands for public information and security needs (C&EN, Sept. 24, page 12).

The methodology considers the terrorist threat to a plant, the consequences of an attack, and plant safeguards in place. It then uses that information to determine the risk and impact of a terrorist attack, says Cal Jaeger, Sandia project director.

He says companies can use the "continuous closed loop" methodology for internal self-analysis and, by modifying parameters, determine how best to mitigate a terrorist threat.

The method was developed over the past year through several visits to chemical manufacturing plants, Jaeger explains. Researchers did not conduct assessments, he says, but developed and tested the assessment methodology. The project, he adds, may be ongoing and could include train-ing of chemical industry participants.

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