Chemical Security Re-Emerges in Senate

During the last session of Congress, Sen. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) made a tremendous effort to move a Chemical Security Bill that would require chemical plants to assess their vulnerabilities and take steps to reduce the risk they pose to surrounding communities. Unfortunately, due largely to efforts by the chemical industry to oppose the bill, Corzine’s bill was blocked from ever being considered by the full Senate. Considering the continuing threat of terrorism, ignoring the risks posed by chemical plants seemed an obvious omission in the efforts to develop a Homeland Security plan. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 123 chemical plants are close enough to major urban centers to put more than a million people at risk in each area; yet last year the Senate completely passed over the issue. The issue, however, seems to have new life in the Senate, which now seems certain to address the matter sooner rather than later. Last week Corzine offered his Chemical Security legislation as an amendment to an appropriations bill. The amendment was stopped by Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-AK) invoking Rule 16, which prohibits legislating on an appropriations bill. The move still drew a great deal of attention to the fact that the risks chemical plants pose remain unaddressed. Now it seems that the administration is planning to introduce its own version of a Chemical Security bill, but likely with some significant differences from Corzine’s legislation. During previous negotiations between Corzine and Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Senate republican on this matter, Republicans seemed resistant to the idea of requiring facilities to consider “inherently safer technologies” and "hazard reduction." These concepts, keystones in Corzine’s proposal, would require facilities to consider the possibilities of reducing the risk by switching to safer chemicals, different technologies, and smaller storage quantities of dangerous chemicals. However, instead of investing in reducing the risks the chemical plants pose to communities, the Administration and Senate Republicans seemed satisfied with merely implementing stiffer security measures such as taller fences, more guards and thicker barriers. The details of the administration’s alternative Chemical Security bill are not yet available, however rumors indicate that they are rushing to finish a bill and plan to introduce as early as next week.
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