Key US senator to maintain hold on security rules

10 September 2007 22:35  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (ICIS news)--A top US official said on Monday that new antiterrorism security rules for chemical plants likely will not affect agricultural propane, but a spokeswoman for a senator opposed to the regulations termed those assurances inadequate.

 

Robert Stephan, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official responsible for infrastructure protection, said in a statement circulated on Monday that “We believe that the majority of agricultural users of propane are not likely to be affected” by the new regulations.

 

The department published regulations earlier this year to establish a congressionally mandated federal standard for antiterrorism security at high-risk chemical facilities. 

 

Although those regulations were in final form, the department’s list of some 350 chemical compounds that could trigger regulatory requirements was only completed last month and is awaiting final approval by the White House.

 

Late last month, a coalition of 17 US senators, led by Charles Grassley (Republican-Iowa), asked the White House to withhold final approval of the list of threshold chemicals.

 

The senators argued that the inclusion of propane on the list would place an unwarranted regulatory burden on farmers, many of whom store large amounts of propane for fuel use.

 

Stephan said that the 7,500 lb threshold quantity for propane in the department’s list of chemicals “is only a proposal at this point”.  He said his office has received comment on the propane listing from around the country.

 

“We believe that the majority of agricultural users of propane are not likely to be affected” when the department’s list of triggering chemicals is finally approved by the White House, Stephan said.

 

“Only the facilities that truly represent significant risk will undergo regulatory scrutiny,” he said.

 

However, a spokeswoman for Senator Grassley said Stephan’s statements “would not alleviate Senator Grassley’s concerns,” indicating the senator will not lift the hold he has effectively put in place on final approval of the chemicals list.

By: Joe Kamalick
+1 713 525 2653

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly