White House panel urges hazmat transit control

08 January 2008 22:38  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (ICIS news)--The US is most vulnerable to a terrorist chemical attack when hazardous materials are in transit, and federal officials must have greater control over those shipments, a key White House security panel said on Tuesday.

 

In concluding an 18-month study on the risk of terrorist attacks using chemical, biological or radiological (CBR) materials, the National Infrastructure Advisory Council found that “the largest threat of a terrorist chemical attack is when chemicals are in transit”.

 

Scott Blanchette, who headed the council’s study, said the council should recommend to President George Bush that federal authorities “improve controls over the transport of hazardous materials”.

 

The council, made up of federal and local government officials along with private sector and academic leaders, approved the report and is sending it to the president.

 

While it called for greater government oversight for hazardous cargo shipments, the council report also recommended the “elimination of conflicting regulations for chemicals among various federal agencies”.

 

Blanchette said that the council study group also recommended federal support for development of second generation CBR surveillance and detection devices and accelerated CBR response training for workers in chemical plants and other critical infrastructure sectors.

 

Other study recommendations approved by the council and forwarded to the White House include additional funding and personnel for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in implementing and enforcing the new Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard (CFATS) that the department is just beginning to put in force.

 

Established by Bush a month after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, the council advises the president on the security of the country’s critical infrastructure.  The council’s recommendations influence presidential policy as well as enforcement by the Department of Homeland Security.

 

The council's final report on the terrorist CBR threat will be available after the White House gives its approval, which is expected in about a week, according to department officials.  The final report will then be posted to the council's Web site.

 

There was no immediate information on how the White House or the department will implement the council’s final recommendations.

By: Joe Kamalick
+1 713 525 2653

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