US White House opposes chemical security measure

13 June 2007 01:33  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (ICIS news)--The Bush Administration on Tuesday restated its opposition to any measure to bar federal officials from overriding state and local laws governing chemical plant site security, as included in a bill under consideration in the House of Representatives.

"The administration strongly opposes [a section of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2008], which would significantly delay and weaken the department's ability to implement its chemical facility security regime," the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) said in a statement.

"The provision would prevent the department from pre-empting state or local laws that actually conflict with and/or impede the federal regulatory requirements for chemical facility security,” the OMB continued

Democrats have been attempting to prevent President George Bush’s administration from pre-empting tough local chemical security regulations, such as those in New Jersey, which might place a greater burden on chemical companies than federal regulations.

New Department of Homeland Security rules that took effect on 8 June permit the department to pre-empt state laws in favour of a uniform federal baseline for chemical security.

By: Mickey McCarter
+1 713 525 2653

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