WASHINGTON — Experts call it one of the
worst-case scenarios in a terror attack: a cloud of lung-melting gas or a toxic
fireball ripping though a U.S. city. Potential casualties: 1 million or more.
At least 100 chemical plants nationwide could be targeted to produce such
devastation, according to congressional researchers in a report that was to be
released Wednesday.
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, a Massachusetts Democrat, 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 dioxide in Houston.
The EPA refuses to release its own list of detailed locations of the chemical
manufacturing plants, oil refineries and storage facilities for fear doing so
could aid terror plans. Environmental watchdog groups have compiled incomplete
or outdated tallies of chemical facilities.
"Nobody wants us 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.
Source: Associated Press