RE: Support the Chemical Security Act

Dear Representative ,

I urge you to support the Chemical Security Act (S. 157), legislation that reduces the risk of a potentially devastating chemical release and ensures that companies are held accountable for increasing safety.

Each year at least 1,000 spills, explosions, or fires involving hazardous chemicals cause deaths, injuries or evacuations. Despite the risk of accidents or terrorist attacks, many facilities continue to use dangerous chemicals when safer alternatives are available. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 15,000 industrial facilities have enough hazardous materials on site to harm millions of nearby residents if attacked.

Accidents at thousands of industrial facilities that use and store hazardous chemicals put large numbers of Americans at risk. Add to this the growing concern that terrorists may deliberately target chemical facilities and the need for action becomes critical. Despite these risks the Bush administration has failed to require U.S. chemical plants to increase safety. Recent reports by Environmental Defense and 60 Minutes demonstrate that more than two years after September 11, chemical facilities are not doing enough to reduce hazards. The Chemical Security Act addresses this critical aspect of both national security and environmental protection.

There is great potential to reduce the threat of toxic chemical releases by switching to safer chemicals. After September 11, 2001, the Blue Plains wastewater treatment facility�just a few miles from the U.S. Capitol and Pentagon�removed large chlorine tankers, substituting a much less toxic disinfectant. These safety improvements mean that the facility no longer poses a threat to the 1.7 million people previously in its vulnerability zone, all for an additional cost of about 25-50 cents per customer. In New Jersey, over 500 wastewater treatment facilities have already reduced or replaced their use of volatile chlorine gas as a disinfectant. In Cuyahoga County, Ohio, ALCOA reduced its potential off-site impact by working with local emergency planners and ending on-site storage of hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid. Half of the nation�s oil refineries use safer processes that do not rely on highly toxic hydrofluoric acid.

These types of preventative measures must be replicated across the country. The Chemical Security Act would reduce the risk of disaster at chemical facilities by encouraging companies to look for and adopt safer processes. The bill would also substitute safer alternatives for hazardous materials, and would reduce the volume of harmful chemicals stored at facilities.

No further delays in implementing such a program are acceptable. Please take immediate action to make American communities safer by supporting the Chemical Security Act and working for its prompt passage.

Most Sincerely,

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