Chemical facility preparedness a comprehensive approach

Abstract

Experts agree that the nation's chemical facilities are attractive targets for terrorists. This consensus is due to several conditions. First, there are thousands of facilities scattered across the country that use, manufacture or store large stockpiles of toxic and/or flammable substances. Many sites are clustered together in densely populated areas and are poorly protected. If terrorists cause catastrophic chemical releases or explosions at these key facilities, large numbers of Americans will be put at risk of injury or death. Second, such attacks may also have a devastating impact on the U.S. economy because so many other industries are dependent on a properly functioning chemical sector. Surprisingly in light of these risks, most chemical sites have not implemented sufficient measures to prevent, mitigate, deter, and/or respond to terrorist attacks. Although governmental entities (local, state and federal) and the chemical industry have initiated some safeguards, they only apply to a limited number of chemical facilities. The vast majority is still not adequately prepared for terrorism. This thesis proposes that private and public sectors should partner together to improve the preparedness of the chemical industry for terrorist acts. More specifically, key stakeholders from both sectors need to forge Regional Defense Units (RDUs). Their primary purpose is to effectively reduce the attractiveness of local chemical facilities as targets for terrorists without unduly hampering their operations. To achieve this goal, a mixture of mandates ("sticks") and incentives ("carrots") need to be regionally developed, implemented and sustained by RDUs. Collaborative regional efforts using an appropriately balanced and community-governed "carrot and stick" approach can be the most effective option for the Department of Homeland Security to improve chemical facility preparedness, and thus homeland security.