Tell the Senate to Get Tough on Chemical Security

U.S. chemical plants remain one of the sectors of America�s infrastructure that is most vulnerable to terrorist attacks. There are 6,300 �high-risk� chemical plants in the US, according to the Department of Homeland Security. More than 100 million Americans are put at risk by just 300 of the nation�s �high risk� chemical plants.

The good news is that these risks are preventable. Nationwide, 287 plants have switched to safer and more secure chemicals or processes since 1999 and eliminated these risks to 38.5 million Americans. Safer alternatives don�t cost the plant much and may even save them money, will create jobs, and are a long-term investment in communities. Clorox recently announced plans to convert all of it�s plants, eliminating these risks to 13 million Americans. If they can, so can Dow and DuPont.

That's the good news. The bad news is that not all plants have adopted safer chemical technologies � and they won�t until laws are passed that require them to.

Unless Congress replaces the ﬂawed temporary law with a comprehensive chemical security program, most major U.S. cities will remain at risk. The House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would conditionally require the 107 highest-risk plants to user safer chemicals or processes if they are feasible and cost effective. It�s now up to the Senate to pass a bill that is even better.

Tell your Senators to put the safety and security of the American people above partisan politics and chemical industry lobbyists. Tell them to support comprehensive chemical security legislation even stronger than the bill recently passed in the House of Representatives. Please take action today.

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Dear Senators,

As a constituent living in I am concerned about the chemical plants in our state that put me in jeopardy.

I strongly urge you to pass legislation in the Senate based on the bill introduced in the House this summer (HR 2868).

An attack on one U.S. chemical plant could kill thousands of people, but despite the warnings, nothing has been done to prevent such a disaster. According to the EPA, there are more than 100 million Americans are put at risk by just 300 high-risk chemical plants.

Please use your power in the Senate to pass a law that would help protect millions of Americans from undue danger.

HR 2868 would ensure the use of safer, cost-effective chemical technologies to reduce the terrible consequences of a terrorist attack at a chemical plant. The current temporary law actually bars safer technologies from being required and exempts thousands of dangerous chemical plants entirely while relying solely on conventional security � guards, gates, and fences. Conventional security will do nothing to reduce the staggering loss of life and injuries from a successful terrorist attack at a chemical plant.

The House of Representatives recently passed the first-ever comprehensive program to require, where feasible, cost-effective safer chemical processes at the 107 highest-risk plants. It�s now up to the Senate to pass legislation that protects American communities still at risk by ensuring that more of the highest-risk plants use safer chemical technologies.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to receiving your reply.

"Sincerely," and your name and contact information will be added to the end of the letter.

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Tell the Senate to Get Tough on Chemical Security

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