The Time for Safer Chemical Plants is NOW

Chemical plants use or produce ingredients in everyday products like household cleaners, plastics, paper and materials for purifying water. Some of these plants use large quantities of poison gases that pose a deadly threat to workers and communities.  But virtually all of these plants could use safer alternative processes or chemicals.

There are approximately 100 chemical facilities in major U.S. cities where a terrorist attack or major accident would put one million or more people at risk. But, whether it’s one, a thousand or one million people who are in danger, the time is now for Congress to step up and enact strong legislation to protect all of us.

One of the most dangerous chemicals is chlorine. Chlorine typically is used as a disinfectant or purifier, and as an ingredient in plastics and other products. While routinely transported in liquid form, it can turn into a deadly toxic gas when exposed to air.

Despite this, security at chemical plants is fatally flawed. And a new interim law actually prohibits the federal government from requiring the use of safer more secure chemicals that could eliminate these risks at a minimal cost. 

Congress is now considering legislation that could protect the hundreds of communities now at risk.

But if Congress is serious about protecting the millions of Americans now at risk they must pass legislation that prevents a disaster before it happens and reject the chemical industry lobbyists.

Greenpeace and a coalition of labor and other environmental groups are using their expertise with these dangerous chemicals to propose prevention oriented legislation that will protect us even in the event of a successful terrorist attack on a chemical plant. To achieve this they are urging Congress and the President to support security standards that include:

• Requiring all covered chemical plants to assess safer technologies that will eliminate the potential consequences of an attack on a chemical plant;
• Requiring “high-risk” facilities to implement safer technologies or chemicals;
• Ensuring that the 3,400 to 4,400 facilities that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified as the most dangerous (they pose a risk to 1,000 or more people) are included in the “high risk tier,” giving them stronger oversight and regulations;
• Eliminate the risks posed by the use of chlorine gas at approximately water treatment plants now exempt from the current law by utilizing safer alternatives;
• Expediting deadlines for DHS to require and approve site security plans;
• Requiring meaningful involvement of plant employees in developing security plans;
• Including whistle blower protections to enhance enforcement;
• Providing basic information to the public on facility compliance or non-compliance with the law;
• Ensuring the right of all states to establish stronger security standards, and
• Enhancing enforcement by allowing citizen suits.

And exclude:

• Special interest loopholes that allow chemical plants to avoid using safer technologies.

Chemical plant legislation and safety regulations are needed to protect hundreds of communities and thousands of workers now at risk. Nearly seven years after the 9/11 attacks it is long past time to put the security of our nation ahead of special interests or politics. Now is the time to put those at risk first.