New York Times on chemical plant security
The New York Times weighs in today on the issue of chemical plant security:
It is hard to believe, but more than four years after the Sept. 11 attacks, Congress has still not acted to make chemical plants, one of the nation’s greatest terrorist vulnerabilities, safer. Last week, Senators Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, and Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut Democrat, unveiled a bipartisan chemical plant security bill. We hope that parts of the bill will be improved as it works its way through Congress, though even in its current form the bill would be a significant step.
Also, this story in Chemical & Engineering News provides the first industry perspective on the bill. Look for this issue to be a key point of contention as the bill moves forward:
In a notable change from an earlier draft of the legislation circulated by Collins’ staff, the bill would allow governors to establish more stringent security standards for chemical plants in their states.
I’m still waiting for the full bill to show up on Thomas. Why does it take 8 days (and counting) to get a bill posted for the public to see?
Update (12/30): The bill is now up at the link above.
