The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has adopted a new policy requiring credible, independent third parties to verify that chemical manufacturers have taken steps to ensure the security of their facilities. ACC has announced that by June it will have in place an enhancement to its existing Responsible Care program that will consist of management practices to further safeguard sites from potential terrorist attacks, build closer relationships with law enforcement, and help assure the protection of chemical facilities.
The new security measures adopted by ACC will require all Council members to:
· screen their facilities to identify any that may require the most immediate attention;
· assess potential security vulnerabilities
· identify and undertake specific steps to improve security and
· utilize independent third parties to verify that the security improvements have been implemented
The new Security Code will be released in June, and abiding by the program will be a condition of continuing membership in ACC.
ACC has taken a number of steps to enhance the security of chemical facilities in the months since the September 11th terrorist attacks. ACC President Fred Webber said “Americans know that chemical products are helping in the fight against terrorism. We also are working closely with the Administration and the Department of Defense, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Coast Guard, to bring the full force of the federal government’s security expertise together with industry’s ability to get things done. The business of chemistry helps all Americans by making our nation more prosperous and improving our quality of life, an essential step in creating a new sense of sanctuary in our schools, our work places and our homes.”
The Responsible Care program already requires ACC member companies to follow guidelines concerning pollution prevention, employee safety, and emergency response. Chemical manufacturers must prove that they are in compliance by self-certifying the actions they are taking. However, this new element will require verification by an independent party, such as a local planning committee, police department, or fire department.
In a related development, several public and private agencies are developing separate strategies that chemical companies can use to assess security vulnerabilities. As we have reported previously, the Sandia National Laboratory has been asked by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to develop a vulnerability assessment methodology. The proposal, which currently is under review by DOJ, is being developed under the mandate of the Chemical Safety Information, Site Security, and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act of 1999.
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) also is developing a methodology for assessing the security of chemical facilities, as is the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA). While some have argued that the efforts are duplicative, representatives of AIChE and SOCMA believe that having several options to choose from will help chemical facilities tailor an assessment program to their specific needs.
