US chems welcome final high-risk substance list

02 November 2007 17:21  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (ICIS news)--Chemical industry officials welcomed federal action on Friday to begin a nationwide survey to identify chemical facilities at high risk for possible terrorist attacks, saying the move is necessary to protect critical infrastructure.

 

Earlier on Friday the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final list of some 300 chemicals and substances that could be used by terrorists as weapons of mass destruction.

 

The list specifies various threshold amounts for each compound.  Any US facility that holds one of more of the listed substances at threshold levels or higher must now complete an online registration process with the department.

 

The department will use those registration records to determine which chemical facilities across the country are to be classified as high-risk and consequently subject to the department’s security scrutiny.

 

“We strongly support the broad and comprehensive approach taken by DHS to thoroughly evaluate potential security risks and protect tens of thousands of chemical facilities that are an essential part of the nation’s critical infrastructure,” said Jack Gerard, president of the American Chemistry Council (ACC).

 

ACC member companies include most of the major US industrial chemicals manufacturers, and the council says those companies have already spent some $5bn (€3.45bn) to improve antiterrorism security at their plant sites.

 

The Synthetic Organic Chemicals Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) also hailed publication of the final list, formally known as Appendix A to the department’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS).

 

Bill Allmond, director of government relations at the association, said the trade group is pleased that the department removed two chemicals from the list, acetone and urea, and that the department established threshold amounts for each substance on the list.

 

When first issued in proposed form earlier this year, the list of “chemicals of concern” imposed reporting and security compliance requirements for some substances held in any amount. The final list has threshold amounts for each chemical, ranging from a few ounces up to 20,000 lbs (9,000 kg).

 

Allmond also welcomed the department’s clarification of reporting requirements for chemical mixtures, allowing reporting for separate substances within a mixture.

 

Despite changes to the list, practically all member companies of both the council and the association are expected to be classified at some level within the department’s four tiers of high-risk chemical facilities.

 

Those facilities will be required to complete vulnerability assessments and security improvement plans that will be subject to the department’s approval.

 

($1 = €0.69)

By: Joe Kamalick
+1 713 525 2653

< previous article(VIDEO - ICIS news Europe Lunchtime Bulletin 27 October 2009)

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