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Nov 8, 2007 4:21 PM

The National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) is pleased that the Department of Homeland Security agreed with several of its recommendations for adding certain chemicals to the department's list for top security screening, according to NACD information.

NACD argued for replacing the “any amount” threshold for several chemicals with specified quantities for each substance, asked for clarification of the applicability of chemical mixtures, and recommended changing the screening threshold quantities for several substances to make them consistent with existing regulatory thresholds, such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Risk Management Program.

The list of chemicals was released November 2 by DHS that triggers a requirement for facilities to complete and submit an online consequence assessment tool called a Top-Screen, according to DHS information. The list includes chlorine, propane and anhydrous ammonia, as well as specialty chemicals such as arsine and phosphorus trichloride.

“NACD applauds the hard work that DHS has put into developing the revised Appendix A list of chemicals,” said Christopher L Jahn, NACD president. “The agency received more than 4,000 comments on the draft list that was published in April and has clearly given careful consideration to all of these comments.”

NACD stepped up to the plate when the need for increased security arose after the attacks on the United States in 2001 and approved new security measures as part of its management program, the Responsible Distribution Process. The association has developed a security vulnerability assessment that specifically addresses security issues relevant to chemical distribution facilities.