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Saturday, December 23, 2006

Environment - "Chemical plants to get security rules"

James Bruggers of the Louisville Courier Journal reports today:

Sitting between a freeway and the Ohio River, the chemical plants of Rubbertown are considered a potential terror target where a release of deadly chemicals could sicken or kill people for miles.

For the first time, the federal government has proposed rules that would require plants like the ones in Louisville and thousands more across the country to take steps to prevent an attack.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security yesterday said it intends to make chemical plants conduct vulnerability assessments and draw up security plans. Inspectors would make sure plants follow the rules.

Fines for noncompliance could reach $25,000 a day.

In extreme situations, the government could shut down a facility, the agency said.

"The consequences of an attack at a high-risk chemical facility could be severe for the health and safety of the citizens in the area and for the national economy," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement.

He said the department is setting performance standards "that are both sensible and disciplined, allowing owners and operators the flexibility to determine an appropriate mix of security measures at their facility under our supervision and subject to our approval."

The program would also be wrapped in secrecy, creating a new category of documents called Chemical-terrorism Security and Vulnerability Information that could be viewed only by people "with a need to know."

Spokesman Russ Knocke said the homeland security department would decide what information to release "on a case by case basis."

During a forthcoming public review of the proposed rules, the agency will be asked whether people who live near chemical plants will be able to find out if the plants are following the law, said Sean Moulton, who has been tracking the issue for OMB Watch, a Washington, D.C., group that encourages open government.

Here are syndicated stories from McClatchy Newspapers and from the AP.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 23, 2006 10:11 AM
Posted to Environment