National Security Prevents EPA From Disclosing Dangerous Chemical Plants
May 17, 2016
Post-9/11 security laws prevent public release of potentially dangerous chemical plants.
The EPA can’t disclose the identities of chemical plants violating federal safety protocols because of post-9/11 regulations enacted by another government agency, the Department of Homeland Security, according to an article from E&E News. At least two outlier plants – those handling hazardous chemicals at levels high enough to trigger federal reporting requirements – named as potential violators in the wake of the West Texas explosion three year ago reportedly remain out of compliance.
According to the article, the EPA identified the sites using its Facility Registry Service, an internal database, to integrate DHS' Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program information. DHS secures the information on servers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Industry groups contend that the regulations also mean they can’t acknowledge plants that have made changes and no longer need CFATS oversight as examples the chemical industry should follow.
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