Explosions that occurred recently at two Iowa chemical plants, Cambrex-Charles City and Barton Solvents Inc. outside Des Moines, underscore the need for strong regulations to protect the public. The lives of thousands of people who work at or live near Iowa’s chemical facilities would become less dangerous under legislation that could be introduced in Congress in the coming months.
The Safe Chemical Facilities Bill would require chemical facilities to switch from certain dangerous chemicals to less toxic alternatives. The idea: Guards and locks don’t address all the risks. To protect our communities from an array of toxic threats, from accidents to terrorist attacks, facilities must address intrinsic dangers and shift to safer alternatives where possible.
Even after 9/11, however, lobbyists for the American Chemistry Council (formerly known as the Chemical Manufacturers Association) have managed to keep the bill bottled up in Congress.
Iowa PIRG is urging members of our state’s congressional delegation to back the Safe Chemical Facilities Bill to help make the lives of people in Des Moines and any town where people live near or work at a chemical facility a little safer.
