Keep Hazardous Chemicals Under Wraps

Jon Corzine's Chemical Security Act has passed the Senate this year after many delays. It is now in the House (sponsored by New Jersey Representative Frank Pallone) under consideration by the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials. Its passage is vital if America is to secure itself from the threat of terrorist attacks on chemical facilities. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are 123 facilities where a chemical release could endanger more than a million people. Corzine's bill would protect both workers in chemical plants and the surrounding populations. It requires the EPA in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security to identify high priority chemical plants. These plants would have to assess their vulnerabilities and submit a response plan. If corrective measures are found to be insufficient, the EPA can then issue compliance orders. Corzine's legislation would not only increase physical security at plants, but would require them to use safer processes so hazardous chemicals would not even be available for misuse. All certifications of compliance will be publicly available, under the bill.

Take Action Now

Contact your Representatives and urge them to support The Chemical Security Act (H.R. 2237). Call the Capital switchboard, 202/244-3121, to be connected to your congressperson or check www.house.gov, to get all their contact information. You can also send your representative a letter; sample text is provided below.

Dear Representative [insert your Congressperson's name here],

I live and work in [insert your state], care about the environment and am appalled to hear that the security of our country from terrorist attacks on hazardous chemical storage facilities has remained unchanged since 9/11. According to the EPA, there are 123 facilities where a chemical release could endanger more than a million people and over 750 facilities where a chemical release could harm over 100,000. These numbers are frighteningly high, but we only have to remember the terrible loss of life in Bhopal, India from Union Carbide's 1984 methyl isocyanate leak to see that it can happen even by mistake. I urge you to support The Chemical Security Act of 2005 (H.R. 2237) and make America safer.

Yours truly,
[your name]

Additional Resources

To learn if your representative is on the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, look for their names on subcommittee webpage at energycommerce.house.gov.