How far do you live from a chemical plant?
November 16, 2003 - 60 minutes show - old news , but nothing has changed.
Despite years of talk, chemical plants remain vulnerable to terrorist attacks
On a "60 minutes" program that aired on Nov. 16, TV and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporters ambled onto the grounds of Neville Chemical in Pittsburgh. No guards blocked their path as they filmed tanks holding lethal quantities of boron trifluoride and anhydrous ammonia.
AT RISK Some U.S. chemical plants offer inadequate security measures.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PHOTO
Carl Prine, a Tribune-Review reporter, has written much about his unauthorized entry into 60 large U.S. chemical plants in the two years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. While industry and government make tough security claims, the "60 Minutes" show and Prine's reporting paint a different picture.
Some 15,000 U.S. chemical plants use potentially deadly chemicals in large volumes, and more than 100 plants have enough to kill or injure 1 million people, government reports say.
I recently saw Christie Whitman on the Daily Show plugging her new book It's My Party Too. I have not been a fan of hers, but was struck by her straight-talking language about her party.
Industry lobbyists worked with key Republican lawmakers to sabotage new security regulations for chemical plants after the 9/11 attacks, Christie Whitman alleges in her new book.
--snip--
In her new book, "It's My Party Too," former New Jersey Gov. Whitman -- who was head of the Environmental Protection Agency as the debate raged in Congress and the Bush administration -- placed the blame squarely at the feet of chemical-industry lobbyists and congressional Republicans.
--snip--
Some 15,000 U.S. chemical plants use potentially deadly chemicals in large volumes, and more than 100 plants have enough to kill or injure 1 million people, government reports say.
I was also left wondering about about what she had done while EPA Administrator for Bush
SECURITY LEFT TO CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
October 7, 2002
A voluntary program in which EPA assists and encourages chemical companies to develop counterterrorism and security protections was announced last week by the agency as part of its new Strategic Plan for Homeland Security.
EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman made the announcement while releasing EPA's overall strategy for preparing and responding to terrorist attacks. The administrator highlighted a new national response team, a new security research center at the agency's Cincinnati laboratory, some $50 million in security grants for water treatment plants, and 75 new EPA response personnel.
According to the plan, the agency's strategy for working with chemical companies on site security is one of "assisting," "encouraging," and "exploring" security guidelines, vulnerability assessments, and inherently safer technologies at plants, rather than requiring such actions or verifying that they were done.
The Administration and EPA, Whitman said, had considered using its regulatory authority under the Clean Air Act and other laws to require companies to take antiterrorism steps. She believes EPA has such authority, but several industry groups do not.
Whitman said that, after internal debate, EPA decided the "push back" in the form of litigation would be too great. Consequently, she said, about a month ago EPA abandoned the regulatory approach.
Well at least she is speaking out now. Hope somebody is listening. Do the Chemical companies have our best interests in mind?
Some other reports on this - again not new news since nothing has been done during Bush's rule.
Bush Administration AWOL on Chemical Plant Security
In response to the release of Public Citizen's Homeland Unsecured report, Greenpeace spokesperson Rick Hind said, "The vulnerability of U.S. chemical plants to terrorists is one of the most deadly threats we face. Instead of getting tough with the chemical industry the Bush administration has treated them like the old friends they are. Bush has been AWOL in protecting Americans from a threat that is lurking in thousands of communities across the country."
"The good news is that the risks posed by chemical plants and train shipments are preventable. In fact, the most serious threats can actually be eliminated thanks to safer available chemicals and safer rail routes. The bad news is that the Bush administration would rather listen to the Dow and Exxon lobbyists than take action to prevent a disaster," said Hind.
Open to Attack
The Administration refuses to do what is necessary to protect the American public from terrorist attacks on chemical plants. Instead, it is listening to what industry wants.
Bush gives in to chemical companies, leaving the nation vulnerable
Since September 11, 2001, the nation has been on alert about the vulnerability of chemical facilities. And while the Bush Administration claims that homeland security is a priority, time after time, it has opted to do nothing dramatic to improve the security of U.S. chemical facilities. All along, it has followed the wishes of the U.S. chemical industry--at our peril.