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What’s New
In July 2006, the House Homeland Security Committee approved bipartisan legislation to fully protect the public from attacks at chemical facilities. The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 (H.R. 5695) requires the most dangerous chemical and manufacturing plants to look for safer ways of doing business, and to switch to safer and innovative technologies wherever possible.
How You Can Help
Tell your senators and representatives to support strong chemical security legislation like the program approved by the House Homeland Security Committee in H.R. 5695, The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006. If chemical companies are required to use safer chemicals and processes wherever possible, the risks to surrounding communities will be significantly reduced or eliminated.
Overview
Across the U.S., thousands of industrial facilities use and store hazardous chemicals in quantities such that a release would put large numbers of Americans at risk of serious injury or death. The risk is widespread - according to the U.S. EPA over 100 facilities each put more than a million people at risk of injury or death in the event of an accident or terrorist attack.
Despite industry claims of boosted protections, federal studies confirm that security at most chemical facilities ranges from poor to non-existent.
Reports by the Homeland Security Department, Justice Department, General Accounting Office, U.S. Army's Surgeon General, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Control, and others reveal that chemical plants are attractive terrorist targets, that their physical security is ineffective, that they can be made safer, and that voluntary efforts by industry are insufficient.
U.S. PIRG supports the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 (H.R. 5695) which requires chemical plants to use safer chemicals or technology to prevent off-site consequences in the event of an accident or terrorist attack.
