The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

Illinois PIRG : Close the Gaping Hole in Homeland Security

Dear Illinois PIRG supporter,

With the third anniversary of 9/11 upon us, Congress is busy debating ways to make our country safer. Included in the debates are discussions on how to better secure chemical facilities around the country, which remain a gaping hole in our national security policy.

Unfortunately, for the past three years, the Bush administration has done little to make chemical plants safer, endorsing only voluntary measures. The Senate will likely vote this week on this legislation.

Please take a moment to ask your Senator to oppose this inadequate bill and instead support a commonsense solution that requires chemical facilities to not only increase security measures, but also use safer chemicals where possible. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email to them.

Click on this link or paste it into your web browser:

http://www.pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=456&id4=ES


BACKGROUND

Industrial facilities around the nation use large quantities of hazardous chemicals that if released, whether by accident or on purpose, could have catastrophic effects on surrounding communities.

Since September 11th, it has become clear that these facilities are very possible terrorist targets. In fact, the Army Surgeon General ranked an attack on a chemical plant as one of the most dangerous risks to the public, second only to a widespread biological attack. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has warned, "Al-Qaeda operatives may attempt to launch conventional attacks against U.S. nuclear/chemical-industrial infrastructure to cause contamination, disruption and terror. Based on information, nuclear power plants and industrial chemical plants remain viable targets."

Fortunately, safer technologies and raw materials have been developed that can reduce or eliminate the chance of a chemical release, making facilities less attractive as terrorist targets. A few companies have already started to use inherently safer technology, such as using safe chemical alternatives and storing toxic ones in smaller concentrations.

On October 31, 2001, Senator Jon Corzine (NJ) introduced the "Chemical Security Act of 2001", which would require chemical facilities to evaluate security weaknesses and potential dangers to the surrounding community, as well as create a strategy for improving security and safety, including the use of safer available technologies. This bill passed the Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously on July 25, 2002 before being stopped by a bombardment of lobbying by the chemical industry that was vehemently opposed to security regulation.

The current lack of federal safety standards is evident in multiple media and government reports of security gaps at chemical facilities. CBS, 60 Minutes and The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review exposed lax security at over 60 chemical plants around the nation by easily penetrating the minimal security measures of the plants, including broken fences, unguarded corridors, and inattentive guards, reaching potentially catastrophic chemical supplies. These gaps in safety and security at our nation's chemical plants put millions of people at risk of catastrophic accidents and attacks.

Please take a moment to ask your Senator to oppose the inadequate bill introduced by Senator Inhofe and instead support a commonsense solution that requires chemical facilities to use safer chemicals where possible. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email to them.

Click on this link or paste it into your web browser:

http://www.pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=456&id4=ES


Sincerely,

Rebecca D. Stanfield
Illinois PIRG Environmental Attorney
RebeccaS@illinoispirg.org
http://www.IllinoisPIRG.org

P.S. Thanks again for your support. Please feel free to share this e-mail with your family and friends.
----------