Chertoff: Chemical plants need tighter security
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff called for government regulation of chemical plant security today but said the industry should come up with its own protective measures, to be verified by private auditors. Speaking at a forum hosted by the chemical industry, Chertoff said Congress needs to quickly give his department regulatory authority to bolster facilities that are attractive targets for terrorists. But he said federal regulations must be flexible to prevent harsh burdens on business.
Thank God for brave, insightful public servants like Michael Chertoff, for without his wisdom and foresight we would surely all be screwed. And for his next trick, he’s going to warn us that terrorists might just want to fly airplanes into tall buildings….
Anyone who lives in the Houston area has likely seen it: the lone police car standing silent guard at an entrance to a chemical plant…like one police officer with a handgun is going to be able to stop a terrorist attack. The reality here is that few, if any, of these plants were designed with security in mind- especially from the threats we face in this day and age. By their very nature, most chemical plants and refineries are huge operations, often guarded by nothing more than thousands of yards of chain-link fences. Anyone with a set of bolt cutters and bad intentions could pretty much have their way whenever they choose. Now Chertoff is shining the blinding white light of reality on the chemical industry. Of course, he’s willing to force the industry to accept the unfunded mandate of increased security- but we don’t want this burden to be too onerous, do we?? After all, what would stockholders say?
“We ought to say to the industry, ‘Look, here’s where we need to go,’” Chertoff said. “‘Now, there are a lot of different roads to get there. And you can choose the road that best fits your particular kind of chemical, or your particular type of operation. We’re not going to micromanage. What we do insist, though, is that you get to the place you need to be.’”
Chertoff said he envisioned performance standards, set by the Homeland Security Department, for chemical companies to follow. Those standards would not require specific safeguards, such as gates and guards, but would force the industry to develop adequate security plans at all manufacturing and storage facilities.
This is all well and good, but given the size and current design of your average chemical plant or refinery, how do you propose that gates and guards will stop a terrorist attack? When your security method involves a few security guards, perhaps a policeman or two, and a few thousand yards of chainlink fence, do you really think this is going to stop anyone who wants to do some damage? Get real….
Those standards could be validated by private auditors contracted with Homeland Security, Chertoff said.
Congress is considering legislation for federal regulation of the nation’s 15,000 privately operated chemical facilities, which counterterror experts have warned are at the top of the list of likely terror targets. Congressional investigators have revealed spotty results in how well the chemical industry is prepared to respond in the event of an attack.
It’s all well and good that Congress is wanting something to be done about security at this nation’s chemical plants, but it’s going to require a hell of a lot more than passing legislation and politicians bloviating about the need to protect chemical plants from a terrorist attack. The reality is that it’s going to take a hell of a lot of money, design changes, and the recognition that a police car at an entrance gate, while it might create the illusion of safety and security, will do absolutely nothing to stop a terrorist with a plan.
Now that Michael Chertoff is on the job, though, I feel MUCH safer…don’t you??
