Congress Working to Make Chemical Plants Safer from Attacks

The House Homeland Security Committee this week considered legislation [1] that would greatly reduce the risks and consequences of a terrorist attack on a chemical facility. The bill [2] would enhance and reauthorize the flawed and inadequate existing security rules that are due to expire in October. It is crucial that Congress quickly pass and the President sign this security legislation so no more time is lost while millions of people are needlessly put at risk.

Thousands of chemical facilities around the country represent potential terrorist targets – storing and processing chemicals that, if released, could become deadly clouds of gas drifting through communities. For many of these plants, there are safer alternatives [3] to the chemicals and processes now in use.

The current security rules, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), were largely written by the chemical industry and are woefully inadequate. The existing rules exempt many chemical facilities, like water treatment plants, which often house tons of deadly chlorine gas. Many such plants have already switched [4] to safer alternatives.

The bill would require facilities to assess safer chemicals and processes that would reduce the harms caused by chemical releases. The legislation also provides for worker participation in identifying vulnerabilities at plants and writing security plans. To ensure accountability, several measures would protect whistleblowers and let the public know the program is working. The bill also takes steps to create a process that allows sharing of information among emergency planners, first responders, the facilities, and federal authorities.

The chemical industry and their Republican allies continue to fight these stronger security requirements, instead pushing for the status quo [5] – and more delays to greater protection.  Meanwhile a coalition of labor unions representing chemical workers, public interest groups like OMB Watch, and environmental groups have been working for years to get meaningful regulations [6] that make us safer by encouraging safer technologies and greater accountability.

The legislation faces many hurdles ahead from the chemical industry, and the Senate has not yet taken any action on the issue, preferring to wait and see what the House produces. The clock is ticking. The current inadequate rules expire in a few months. Merely extending the deadline, as several Republicans propose [7], would needlessly delay adding vital improvements to the current program and leave thousands of people at risk unnecessarily.

To help, take a moment and please tell Congress to get tough on chemical security [8].