Senate Bill Senate Bill Would Expand Plant Security Law to Include IST

摘要

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D., NJ) has introduced legislation that would revise the existing U.S. Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) to include a requirement that facilities consider inherently safer technology (IST). The Lautenberg measure is similar to a bill passed last year by the House. The Senate bill would conditionally require the highest risk plants to use safer chemical processes where feasible and cost-effective, and require the remaining high risk plants to assess safer chemical processes. It would also eliminate the current law's exemption of water treatment plants and certain port facilities, involve plant employees in the development of security plans, and preserve states' authority to establish stronger security standards.