US ACC eager to see White House chem security plan

02 April 2003 21:33  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (CNI)--US chemical industry leaders have not seen a proposal for security at chemical facilities that the Bush administration reportedly plans to send to Congress, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) said Wednesday.

"We want to be a part of the process," said ACC spokeswoman Kate McGloon.

She said: "We consider ourselves part of the process because our (security) program is looked at as an excellent system by security experts and government authorities."

McGloon declined to comment on reports of the content of the White House plan.

"Since we haven't seen anything, we can't comment on it," she said. She said she didn't know when the White House plans to make the proposal public.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the plan will not force chemical facilities to use "safer technology," which is part of a bill being pushed by Senator Jon Corzine (Democrat-New Jersey).

The administration's bill will pressure the industry to heighten security measures, by building taller fences and hiring more guards, according to The Journal.

McGloon said the ACC supports the establishment of a "broad, national plan to ensure that these facilities will remain secure, that vulnerability assessments will be conducted, that deficiencies will be addressed."

She said the plan should give oversight and enforcement authority to the Department of Homeland Security.

"We are hopeful that legislation will move forward and the process will move forward expeditiously," she said.

The some 180 member firms of Arlington, Virginia-based ACC account for about 90% of US basic industrial chemicals productive capacity.

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