The disastrous explosion that killed 14 workers at the BP Amoco
Texas City refinery last week was a grim reminder of the need
for the Bush Administration and Congress to set stronger
security and safety standards at oil refineries and chemical
plants throughout the U.S.
Although the BP accident was one of the worst in the refinery's
history, it was but one of over 100 reported to the National
Response Center in the last six years.
"Countless accidents occur at oil refineries all the time, and
without a uniform federal standard to address safety issues,
there will be less opportunity to take the public out of harm's
way," said George Sorvalis, outreach associate for the OMB Watch
Working Group on Community Right to Know.
A recent OMB Watch op-ed points out that the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has identified more than 120 facilities
around the country where the lives of over 1 million people are
in jeopardy in the event of a release of hazardous chemicals.
Efforts to develop requirements to decrease these risks have
been blocked by industry opposition.
For years Senator John Corzine (D-NJ) has been seeking to enact
a new Chemical Security Act.[See BGW, Jul. 22, 2004] His bill,
yet to be reintroduced, would require the EPA to identify "high
priority" chemical facilities which contain large quantities of
toxic or flammable chemicals.
Once determined a "high priority," the EPA would require the
facility to assess its vulnerability to potential hazards and
develop effective prevention and preparedness strategies. These
strategies would include the implementation of safer
technologies and use of safer chemicals. [1]
This is of particular urgency for people working in and living
near oil refineries. The BP Amoco refinery in Texas contains
800,000 pounds of hydrofluoric acid alone. If another explosion
were to occur there, the full release of this hazardous chemical
could kill thousands.
BP's Texas City refinery is one of 12 in the state using
hydrofluoric acid, collectively posing a severe threat to
millions of people. The use of hydrofluoric acid could be
replaced with sulfuric acid, which is not only less dangerous,
but also more cost-effective. [2]
Considering the number of accidents occurring at chemical
facilities, the dangerous chemicals within them, and the fact
that these plants are potential targets for terrorist attacks,
OMB's Sorvalis asserts that implementation of the Chemical
Security Act is an urgent national security need.
But the Corzine bill has faced tremendous opposition from
industry interests, who prevailed in preventing the Senate from
passing it last year. [3]
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TAKE ACTION:
Contact your members of Congress about chemical security through OMBwatch.
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SOURCES:
[1] Sen. Corzine's website.
[2] OMB Watch Op-Ed, Mar. 24, 2005.
[3] Sen. Corzine's website.
