Chemical Security: What You Don't Have Can't Leak, or Be Blown Up by Terrorists

Some chemical manufacturers, refineries, water utilities, bleach plants, and other industrial facilities endanger many thousands of people with a potential worst-case chemical release. Yet other facilities in these industries operate without endangering large numbers of people. These facilities use safer and more secure chemicals and processes that do not present Bhopal-typed poison gas hazards. Examples from recent research identify safer and more secure technologies for most of the nation's highest-hazard chemical facilities. Hundreds of other facilities have already converted, removing the danger of an accidental release and making themselves less attractive terrorist targets. Many of these facilities also save money while investing in American jobs and infrastructure. Current temporary chemical security regulations, however, fail to systematically develop such win-win opportunities. A concerted national effort is needed to bring to light needed solutions across all industries. The author will present examples of safer and more secure alternatives from recent reports prepared as a consultant to the Center for American Progress, including:

• “Chemical Security 101: What You Don't Have Can't

Leak, or Be Blown Up by Terrorists” (2008);

• “Toxic Trains and the Terrorist Threat: How Water

Utilities Can Get Chlorine Gas Off the Rails and

Out of American Communities” (2007); and

• “Preventing Toxic Terrorism: How Some Chemical

Facilities are Removing Danger to American

Communities” (2006).