The legislation, known as the Continuing Chemical Facilities Antiterrorism Security Act, was introduced today by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), together with Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR), George Voinovich (R-OH), and Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and would extend the current chemical security standards until 2015.
Senator Collins, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said: “One of our nation’s greatest vulnerabilities is the threat of a terrorist attack against a chemical facility. The Department of Homeland Security has done a remarkable job developing a comprehensive chemical security program. This industry is vital to our country’s economy and important to advancements and innovations in critical fields such as science, technology, agriculture, medicine and manufacturing, but it can also be a dangerous threat in the event of a terrorist attack. That is why it is critical that we enable the Department to continue this important work. The legislation passed by the House of Representatives would unwisely bring this progress to a screeching halt.”
Bill Allmond, vice president of government relations and chemstewards at SOCMA, said: “The bipartisan leadership shown by these four senators is precisely what our nation needs when it comes to securing the homeland. We applaud them for ensuring the continuation of the comprehensive Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act Standards. We hope this bill is the start of a new beginning toward a bipartisan solution to a permanent chemical security law.”
In November, the House of Representatives passed the Chemical and Water Security Act of 2009 (HR 2868), which included a controversial product substitution mandate in a misguided attempt to safeguard chemical facilities against terrorism. SOCMA has long opposed efforts to impose overreaching standards such as inherently safer technology (IST) on small businesses.