Vulnerability Assessment Methodology for Chemical Facilities (VAM-CF)

Sandia National Laboratories, under the direction of the Office of Science and Technology, National Institute of Justice, developed a prototype Vulnerability Assessment Methodology for Chemical Facilities (VAM-CF). The prototype VAM-CF (hereafter just “VAM”) is a systematic, risk-based approach. Currently, it provides in a set of worksheets, activities necessary to not only assess the risk of a chemical facility (CF) against malevolent threats but to also begin to identify and evaluate possible countermeasures to reduce areas with an unacceptable risk. The VAM leverages many different areas including hazard analysis, process safety, emergency response and physical security. The remainder of this paper will discuss the VAM.