The explosion
at the Big Spring, Texas, oil refinery this week underscores the
importance of protecting communities from releases of highly toxic
chemicals. The explosion at the Alon USA petroleum refinery injured
four and closed schools, a local college and Interstate Highway 20,
which passes by the refinery. The Big Spring explosion follows other recent chemical accidents,
and once again raises the question of how best to protect public health
in the event of a dangerous release of toxic chemicals.
The Alon
refinery was highlighted in the 2005 U.S. PIRG report “Needless Risk”
as one of fifty petroleum refineries nationwide using and storing
hydrofluoric acid, a chemical of concern because of its toxicity and
its propensity to form a toxic aerosol cloud when released. The
remainder of the 148 refineries studied use safer alternatives such as
sulfuric acid.
The House Homeland Security Committee is
currently working to draft legislation addressing the serious issue of
chemical plant security and the deliberate release of deadly chemicals.
In 2006 the Committee passed bipartisan legislation (H.R. 5695)
requiring chemical sources to evaluate the availability of safer
technologies and chemicals to replace more dangerous chemicals.
The
legislation encouraged chemical companies to switch to safer
technologies and chemicals when available and cost effective, and was
based on numerous recommendations from government experts. For example,
the National Research Council
asserted that “[t]he most desirable solution to preventing chemical
releases is to reduce or eliminate the hazard where possible, not to
control it.” Safer alternatives would not only protect communities in
the event of a terrorist attack, but they would also drastically reduce
the dangers of chemical accidents.
Safer alternatives to toxic
chemicals can protect the public from both terrorist attacks and
chemical accidents and are surprisingly widely available. According to report
prepared for EPA, four toxic gases (chlorine gas, anhydrous ammonia,
hydrogen fluoride and sulfur dioxide) account for 55 percent of the
chemical processes that pose off-site consequences to surrounding
communities. A recent U.S. PIRG report
found that all four chemicals have readily available and proven safer
alternatives that are cost effective. Reducing or eliminating the use
of toxic chemicals in production processes also impacts the production,
transport and disposal of these dangerous substances.
The House
Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing on its bill next
Tuesday. U.S. PIRG urges them to pass the strongest bill possible to
protect public health and safety.
