RTKnet: Chemical Security

Sen. Lautenberg Introduces Bills to Protect Chemical and Water Plants Nationwide (Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ))

Sen. Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Secure Water Facilities Act and the Secure Chemical Facilities Act, which will "close a gap that leaves millions of families vulnerable to an attack on America's chemical plants and water treatment facilities." According to Lautenberg, this legislation will "ensure a thorough review of risk, and help us move toward more secure plants and safer communities."

(15 Jul 2010)

EPA Seeks Employee Participation in Chemical Safety Inspections (EPA)

The EPA has released interim guidance that will allow employees and employee representatives to participate in chemical safety inspections, increasing transparency in the inspection process. The EPA is requiring state and local agencies to adopt a similar procedure under the Risk Management Program (RMP). Worker safety advocates have long sought enforcement of this feature of the Clean Air Act.

(08 Jul 2010)

Local Officials Say They’re in the Dark On Dangerous Freight Rail Traffic (Center for Public Integrity)

Elected officials and emergency responders say they’re being kept in the dark about rail shipments of hazardous cargo. "Regulations issued last year give the railroads too much control over secret rail routing decisions that impact public safety," according to one emergency response official.

(16 Apr 2010)

TAKE ACTION - Tell Your Senators We Need Chemical Security Now (Greenpeace)

Did you know that the Department of Homeland Security has identified over 6,000 "high-risk" chemical plants in the United States? An accident or attack at just 300 of them would put 110 million Americans at risk. Take action and tell your Senators to prevent a real horror. Congress must pass strong chemical security legislation now, before the weak temporary law expires.

(16 Mar 2010)

Millions Protected From Toxic Terrorism, Congress Must Act to Protect More (OMB Watch)

More than 40 million Americans are no longer at risk from a poisonous cloud of gas released from a terrorist attack on water treatment plants thanks to process changes at the plants, according to data analyzed by the Center for American Progress (CAP). However, millions more remain at risk and the Senate is poised to take on this issue.

(02 Mar 2010)

25 Years After Bhopal, Senator Seeks Stronger Chemical Rules (Sen. Frank Lautenberg)

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) marked the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal gas leak disaster by calling for stronger security measures at chemical plants across the country. Lautenberg is currently working on a bill to ensure strong protections are in place to secure chemical facilities and to prevent chemical disasters or attacks within the United States.

(03 Dec 2009)

Lessons of Bhopal: 25 Years Later, U.S. Chemical Laws Need Strengthening (OMB Watch)

Dec. 3 marks the 25th anniversary of the most catastrophic industrial accident in history: the leak of poisonous gas from a pesticide plant in the Indian city of Bhopal. Twenty-five years after the tragedy, much progress has been made, but much remains to be done to provide a minimum level of protection against chemical releases.

(01 Dec 2009)

House Passes Chemical Security Bill (OMB Watch)

The U.S. House approved legislation that seeks to greatly reduce the risks of terrorist attacks on chemical plants and water treatment facilities. The bill includes greater worker participation and the authority for states to implement stronger security standards, but lacks accountability measures.

(12 Nov 2009)