Speaking at Washington DC's first National Chemical Security Forum, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff and representatives of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) agreed that the time has come for DHS to receive new authority to set and enforce federal risk-based security standards at all of America's chemical facilities. The forum was hosted by George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute and ACC.
“I want to challenge Congress to take the steps this year to enact a sensible bill that will allow us to complete the process across the entire spectrum of this sector of getting the chemical plant sector where it needs to be in terms of national security,” Chertoff said.
“ACC members set the bar for private sector security programs through our Responsible Care Security Code,” said Jack N Gerard, ACC president and chief executive officer, “investing nearly $3 billion since 9-11 enhancing security at more than 2000 facilities. But we don't represent everyone. It's time to give DHS the regulatory authority that will ensure the entire chemical sector — a critical part of our national infrastructure — is protected from terrorist attack.”