To the editor:
An important but overlooked issue in the homeland security spending bill currently before Congress is whether states can regulate chemical plant safety and security. Nationwide, more than 15,000 chemical plants store dangerous quantities of highly toxic chemicals that, if released, could kill or seriously injure thousands. Chemical accidents have long threatened communities, but the prospect of a deliberate toxic release has amplified concerns and prompted security experts to ominously equate chemical plants with weapons of mass destruction pre-positioned in American communities. Despite repeated attempts, and in large part due to industry opposition, Congress has failed to pass a chemical security bill. In April, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued temporary regulations to patch the security gap until Congress could finally act. In so doing, DHS inexplicably and unjustifiably restricted state chemical security and safety laws, a decision that could weaken existing chemical plant protections. Congress should approve language in the homeland security spending bill that expressly allows state protections to exceed the minimum federal standards. More importantly, Congress must finish what it started by passing a comprehensive chemical security bill. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar should approve language in the homeland security spending bill that expressly allows Texas to establish chemical security and safety protections that exceed the minimum federal standards. More importantly, Rep. Cuellar should work to ensure that Congress finishes what it started almost six years ago by finally passing a comprehensive chemical security bill.
Signed,
Matthew S. Tejada,, PhD
Texas Public Interest Research Group
