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October 1, 2004
CONTACT: Arthur Stamoulis
(215) 567-4004 ext. 222
Inadequate Security
Act Would Leave Region at Risk for Chemical Terrorism
Labor and Community Advocates Demand Tougher Congressional
Action to Improve Security at Chemical Plants and Refineries
Philadelphia, PA - Labor unions, environmentalists
and community advocates today criticized a chemical plant
security proposal being considered by Congress, claiming
the legislation would rubber stamp weak security regulations
for facilities that use and store hazardous chemicals. According
to the groups, the Chemical Facility Security Act introduced
by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), which is expected to come
to a vote this month, would not adequately protect chemical
plants from the threat of terrorist attack.
"The U.S. Army, FBI and Department
of Homeland Security have all warned Congress that a terrorist
attack on chemical plants would be catastrophic," said
Arthur Stamoulis, Policy Analyst for Clean Air Council,
a statewide environmental group. "Instead of addressing
this serious problem, Congress is preparing to pass a smoke-and-mirrors
proposal that would lull Americans into a false sense of
security, while leaving area residents vulnerable to a potentially-devastating
terrorist attack."
"The plan being shoved through Congress
allows the chemical industry to police itself -- even though
we've seen that they are unable or unwilling to do so,"
said Jim Savage, G&N Chairperson for the Paper, Allied-Industrial,
Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE) union Local 2-1, which
represents workers at the Sunoco Philadelphia Refinery.
"Senators Specter and Santorum should demand tough,
mandatory security standards in order to protect workers
and community residents. Senator Specter has a special responsibility
to walk the talk on security in light of his recent attack
on Congressman Joe Hoeffel on this very issue."
"The Inhofe proposal fails to provide
real security," said Stamoulis. "It creates a
massive loophole that allows industry groups to replace
strong, consistent security standards developed by the Department
of Homeland Security with weak and haphazard voluntary measures.
It contains no enforceable provisions requiring facilities
to use less-hazardous technologies when they're available.
It also obstructs public access to information, preventing
any sort of public accountability. The bill introduced by
Senator Corzine is much stronger."
"According to the EPA's Risk Management
Plans, there are 125 facilities in Pennsylvania that would
each put over 10,000 people at risk in the event of an attack.
Four of those would put over a million people in jeopardy,"
said Jim Moran, Director of the Philadelphia Area Project
on Occupational Safety and Health (PhilaPOSH). "Workers
and surrounding communities deserve real protections. When
it comes to homeland security, we shouldn't settle for half-measures."
For more information on the Chemical Facility
Security Act, visit www.cleanair.org/inhofe.pdf.
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