A federal program meant to identify and secure risky U.S. chemical facilities is failing to conduct inspections or approve security measures as mandated.

The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program, run by the Department of Homeland Security, was set up by Congress in 2007.

It is supposed to ensure that potentially dangerous facilities put in place a security plan and then conduct inspections to ensure compliance.

According to an internal DHS report, obtained by Fox News, the program has not yet conducted any compliance inspections, and it has only begun approving security plans. Some staff have not been properly trained to carry out their tasks, the report states.

The deficiencies pose a "measurable risk to the program," the report states.

Meanwhile, DHS leadership and the Obama administration are being led to believe that the program is working efficiently, the report says (Mike Levine, Fox News, Dec. 21). -- GV