The horror
Posted on 07/05/2005 11:33:14 PM PDT by ex-Texan
WASHINGTON (AP) - Plants in 23 states that store lung-melting or otherwise lethal chemicals are in some of the nation's most populous communities and could each endanger more than 1 million people in a worst-case disaster, congressional researchers say.
Officials are concerned that the more than 100 chemical plants are tempting targets for terror attacks.
The tally of plants possessing large amounts of 140 toxic and flammable chemicals was compiled by the Congressional Research Service using Environmental Protection Agency data from May, the most recent available. It represents one of the first public state-by-state breakdowns of how close potentially deadly facilities are located to the nation's largest population centers.
``Chemical facilities are at the top of the terrorists' target list, and I thought it would be helpful for the full picture to be presented,'' Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., said in an interview Tuesday.
The survey provided state-by-state figures but did not specify the names of the facilities or the cities in which they are located. However, researchers called it ``unlikely'' that the entire population would be affected by a single chemical release.
A 2003 database compiled by environmental watchdog groups said chemical facilities near major American population centers include the AMVAC America plant in Los Angeles, the Infineum USA Bayway Chemical Plant in northern New Jersey, and six plants that store chlorine and sulfur dioxid handing out information that people with nefarious things on their minds would use to their advantage,'' said EPA spokesman Dale Kemery.
The report also tallied the numbers of chemical plants in smaller and rural areas. About one-fifth of the nation's chemical facilities - which exceed 10,000 - are close to population centers.
Experts said the number of injuries or deaths caused by emissions of chemical explosives or toxic gases would depend largely on unpredictable factors like wind current or the extent of the leak. But they agreed the report highlights the continued danger of questionable security practices at plants.
If released, the toxic chemicals can ``cause poison gas clouds to kill people,'' said Andy Igrejas, a chemical industry watchdog at the National Environmental Trust. ``It's violent deaths you're talking about - it melts your lungs, essentially.''
The report, completed at Markey's request, comes as the Homeland Security Department considers tougher federal regulation of the chemical industry, which has largely policed its own security procedures.
Last month, Homeland Security Acting Undersecretary Robert Stephan told congressional committees that ``it has become clear that the entirely voluntary efforts of these companies alone will not sufficiently address security for the entire sector.''
Stephan also estimated that fewer than 10,000 people would be killed and 40,000 sickened in a worst-case chemical release. Homeland Security officials have said only a small number of facilities - perhaps as few as a handful - have the capacity to cause widespread damage.
Several industry representatives contacted Tuesday declined immediate comment.
The report estimates at least 106 and as many as 111 plants are located near population centers of 1 million people or more. Congressional researchers could not provide a single number of facilities in question because they said they lack updated information in some cases, such as the types and volumes of chemicals produced.
Up to 29 of the plants were located in Texas - more than twice as many than in any other state. Illinois and California each had up to 13 such plants, Ohio had eight, and Florida and New Jersey had seven apiece.
Kemery, the EPA spokesman, and environmental experts agreed that the overall estimate represents a drop from 123 plants five years ago - partially because of industry efforts to use alternatives to the deadly chemicals or to move away from densely populated areas.
But Markey said the industry still has not gone far enough to seek safer alternatives, test its security measures and protect employee whistleblowers. Nor has the Bush administration pushed hard enough to demand those precautions, he said.
The administration ``still has refused to put its money where its mouth is and commit to any meaningful upgrades,'' Markey said.
Hey Mohammed! Have you seen this one???
These idiots made sure it was front page or breaking news today. With detailed reports about locations in some news reports. Check out Google. Disgusting, utterly disgusting!
I guess the plants are tired of being eaten and mowed and are preparing to fight back.
Cool tag line. I like it!
"Plants in 23 states that store lung-melting or otherwise lethal chemicals are in some of the nation's most populous communities"
These plants include dandelions, petunias and rose bushes.
The horror
Thanks for the illustrations, we have now completely ruined this thread :)
Not to mention the dreaded "eggplant".
i think they should kill ALL the plants, so as to stop this terrible menace.. nothing safer than dirt, right? while they are at it, why not kill all the animals too? cant be too safe these days..
*****
I work out in the gardens, nursery, and the woods all day, seven days a week. I always thought it was pretty safe.
;-)
MSM just can't bend over backwards far enough to help terrorists find targets, can they. When oh when is this government going to crack down on these out of control media traitors?
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