Chemical Security
NRC to Release Documents on Spill
Sep 25, 2007 by Sam Kim
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has revoked a three-year-old secrecy policy and plans to release documents from two nuclear fuel processing plants in response to congressional demands. This about-face was precipitated by a congressional inquiry into a uranium leak kept secret from the public for more than a year.
read in fullEPA's Second Round of 9/11 Testing Falls Short
Sep 11, 2007 by Sam Kim
According to a Sept. 5 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) second program to test and clean building interiors contaminated by toxins from the World Trade Center (WTC) collapse was a virtual failure. The program's problems stemmed from EPA's inadequate public notification and refusal to listen to its own science experts. The GAO report also indicated that EPA was reluctant to accept cleanup responsibility according to expert recommendations. The result was a limited program grossly underutilized by the public.
read in fullTRI Restoration Bill Passes Senate Committee
Aug 7, 2007 by Sam Kim
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted 10-9 to approve the Toxic Right-to-Know Protection Act (S. 595) on July 31. The act would reverse a December 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule change to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) that significantly reduced toxic release reporting requirements for polluting facilities.
read in fullBaltimore Calls on Congress for More Chemical Security
Jul 24, 2007 by Sam Kim
On July 16, the Baltimore City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting federal chemical security legislation that would require, when feasible, the use of safer chemicals and technologies.
read in fullSetback on Chemical Security
May 30, 2007 by Sam Kim
The effort to establish stronger chemical security measures suffered a significant setback the week of May 21 with the loss of a provision from the Iraq supplemental spending bill that would have prohibited the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from preempting state law on matters of chemical security. In order to galvanize support for comprehensive chemical security reform, a group of public interest and environmental organizations wrote to Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection. The letter encouraged the members to continue their work on ensuring strong chemical security protections.
read in fullDepartment of Homeland Security Finalizes Chemical Security Program
Apr 3, 2007 by Sam Kim
On April 2, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized interim chemical security regulations. The final regulations are an improvement over the proposed regulations issued in December 2006, but many weaknesses remain. In particular, DHS modified its broad interpretation of a provision regarding state preemption but did not adequately establish that states can develop rules stronger than the federal ones. The final rules do little to allay concerns regarding the lack of public accountability and access to information or the failure to require consideration of inherently safer technologies by facilities reporting to DHS.
read in fullJournalist Audit Underscores Lack of Transparency
Mar 20, 2007 by Sam Kim
An audit by journalist groups found that public access to Comprehensive Emergency Response Plans (CERP), as required by law, was inconsistent and unreliable around the country. Only 44 percent of the requests for the CERP were granted in full, whereas 20 percent were partially released and 36 percent were completely denied.
read in fullDHS Receives Mixed Opinions on Proposed Chemical Security Rule
Feb 21, 2007 by Matthew Madia
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) received 89 comments, dominated by industry, in response to the proposed interim rule on chemical plant security. The rule establishes the first-ever federal chemical security program. Chemical companies and industry associations generally expressed strong support for the rule, whereas most public interest groups and government officials expressed great concern.
read in fullOMB Watch Critical of Proposed Chemical Security Rule
Feb 6, 2007 by Matthew Madia
In response to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) proposed interim chemical security rule, OMB Watch will submit comments to DHS that argue for increased transparency and stronger protections at thousands of facilities across the country.
read in fullChemical Security Program Leaves the Public Vulnerable
Jan 9, 2007 by Matthew Madia
On Dec. 28, 2006, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an interim final rule for the creation of a chemical facility security program. However, the program appears to provide little means for increasing security and shrouds important assessments in a veil of secrecy that will prevent any public accountability or oversight.
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