USDA ISSUES "NOTICE TO INDUSTRY" CONCERNING WAREHOUSE SECURITY PLANS

Model Security Plan Available from OABA

On January 14th, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a notice to all warehouse operators seeking approval under the Uniform Grain and Rice Storage Agreement (UGRSA), which clarifies the deadline by which UGRSA grain warehouse must have developed and implemented a "security plan". The notice can be accessed at www.fsa.usda.gov/daco . Once you reach USDA's website, simply click on BCD-65 Amendment 1 to CCC-25 Part III, O., Security Plan.

OABA has a "model" grain warehouse security plan to help members comply with the new UGRSA grain warehouse security plan requirement. OABA can fax or e-mail, as a word docuument, copies of a "security plan", a "risk assessment",
and "security checklist". Contact OABA at (614) 326-7520 or e-mail OABA .


A special thanks to the Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Farmers Service Association, who developed these documents, for making them available for OABA to share with members.

As a reminder, this model plan is designed to address the Commodity Credit Corporation's (CCC) "new" security plan requirement for Uniform Grain and Rice Storage Agreements (UGRSA) for the 2004/2005 contract year. The security plan must include measures to protect grain handled and stored and requires a facility vulnerability assessment and procedures that address the following:

• General security of the physical structures and grounds of the warehouse;
  
  
• Shipping and receiving procedures to ensure that grain is not subject to tampering;
  
  
• Actions to be taken in the event of a national emergency; and
  
  
• Contact information for local security authorities.

CCC will monitor the progress regarding implementation of security plans; however, no action will be taken for failure to complly with the requirements until September 1, 2004.