Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 (H.R. 5695): Legislation Highlight

In the last Congress, the House Homeland Security Committee unanimously approved the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 (H.R. 5695) – a bill that would have required the most dangerous chemical plants to replace toxic chemicals with available safer alternatives.

The key components of the bill included:

• Requirements that high-risk chemical facilities assess the potential for reducing toxic chemical use by switching to safer alternatives,

• Requirements that high-risk facilities implement safer alternatives unless the switch would not significantly reduce the threat to health or safety, cannot feasibly be accomplished with existing technology or would impair the ability of the facility to continue its business,

• Protections for state and local governments to implement more stringent health, safety and security requirements, and

• Providing for worker participation to help make chemical plants safer and more secure.

Maryland PIRG is working with our allies to introduce a stronger version of H.R. 5695 in the 110th Congress.