Congress told of need to strengthen chemical security

Congress told of need to strengthen chemical security Strengthening chemical security to combat terrorism should be a top national priority, a security expert told a congressional committee Thursday.
   In testimony to the House Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, Philip J. Crowley, senior fellow and director of homeland security program at the Center for American Progress, said, “If there are five things that the executive and legislative branches can do over the next 16 months to make our country as safe from terrorism as it can be, strengthening chemical security is on the list.”
   “Chemical facilities and their supply chains fit the existing targeting strategy of al Qaeda. Insurgents in Iraq have made multiple attempts to convert chlorine gas tanker trucks into improvised weapons,” he added.
   He said while an interim chemical security law passed in 2006 resulted in Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, they will expire next year and are not comprehensive, with drinking water facilities specifically exempted from stronger security standards.
   He said the proposed law H.R. 5577 would focus on the entire supply chain and also require chemical facilities to evaluate alternative methods that can reduce terrorist threats, for example using bleach rather than chlorine gas to treat drinking water.