ARLINGTON, Va., March 22 (UPI) -- The American Chemical Council on Wednesday urged Congress to allow the DHS to regulate security in the U.S. chemical industry.
"In two weeks, the Department of Homeland Security is obligated to issue landmark rules governing the security of chemical facilities. Congress should support these new rules and stop debating amendments that would derail this long overdue effort to secure the nation's high-risk chemical plants," the ACC said in a statement.
"ACC led the charge for federal chemical security legislation, and after more than five years Congress finally passed legislation last October granting DHS the authority to regulate chemical security, American Chemistry Council President and CEO Jack N. Gerard said.
"DHS was given only six months to issue rules and is within two weeks of completing this rulemaking. Changing the underlying statute this late in the game can only derail this process and frustrate the goal of securing all of the nation's high-risk chemical facilities. Congress should support these regulations, not undermine the DHS rules before they are even implemented," Gerard said.
"If Congress meddles with the law, chemical facilities that are already implementing stringent security measures will be left in limbo about their regulatory obligations. The nation will again question why Congress continues to debate this issue instead of allowing DHS to do its job and enhance security at chemical facilities," the ACC chief said.
"Just like other nationally identified critical infrastructure, such as airlines and nuclear plants, chemical facilities need a uniform security strategy that crosses state borders and improves protection for all Americans. While ACC members have already invested more than $3.5 billion enhancing security at their facilities since 9/11, the country needs a level playing field when it comes to national security. The imminent DHS rules will ensure that action occurs now," he said.
