Convention threats ignored -- Greenpeace

WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. Secret Service has not addressed chemical hazards near the 2008 Republican and Democratic presidential convention sites, Greenpeace says.

The environmental group issued a letter to the U.S. Secret Service asking it, along with the Department of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency, to take "immediate action" to address the potential of a terrorist attack on transportation routes for bulk poisonous gas in Denver, the site of the August Democratic convention, and St. Paul, Minn., the site of the September GOP convention.

Greenpeace says the conventions are to be held "deep inside" the disaster zones of facilities that store and use hazardous chemicals that pose a threat as far away as 25 miles from the point of release. Rail systems used to ferry hazardous materials also pass within 200 to 1,500 feet of either convention center, the group said.

The convention locations in Denver face a specific risk from chlorine or sulfur dioxide gas, while the St. Paul convention locations face exposure to hydrofluoric acid or chlorine gas, the group said.

Greenpeace recommends rerouting or halting shipment of these substances during the conventions and calls for response drills to be conducted in preparation for a possible release. The environmental group also asked for the voluntary conversion of safer chemicals and processes at the facilities.

Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren responded to the letter, saying the agency would address "any and all" concerns, while another federal official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said arrangements were being made to halt rail traffic "for certain periods of time to address that threat."