Chemical, Biotech Firms Up Security

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Current News : One Thread

Chemical, Biotech Firms Up Security

By LARRY MARGASAK Associated Press Writer

September 27, 2001, 2:36 AM EDT

WASHINGTON -- Chemical and biotechnology companies are scrambling to improve security to keep their potentially deadly products away from terrorists.

New security rules range from the general -- a survey of companies to find out just what's available for stealing -- to the specific -- a ban on nighttime cleaning crews at chemical and biotech facilities.

They also include new rules to safeguard trucks hauling chemicals and more stringent checks of workers at chemical facilities. Trucks must carry two drivers, stops are not permitted and the trucks may not be left unattended, industry officials said.

Awareness of the threat of chemical and biological warfare in the United States has been heightened since the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Authorities charged 20 people with fraudulently obtaining licenses to haul hazardous materials; crop-duster planes were grounded for a time lest they be used in chemical attacks; and new scrutiny was given to a convicted terrorist collaborator's trial testimony that he trained for a chemical attack on the United States.

Carl Feldbaum, president of the 1,000-member Biotechnology Industry Organization, said the trade group has asked companies for lists of materials that could be used in a biological warfare attack. The industry uses cells, genes and other organisms to develop new crops, medical treatments and other products.

The survey also asked companies to specify how they monitor suspicious activities such as orders for unusual shipments. Separately, the industry is working on vaccines and other defenses to treat casualties of a biological attack.

"There is a new level of awareness, but it is not the result of specific information or a specific threat," Feldbaum said. He said the organization has received no reports of missing materials.

Jeff Van, spokesman for the American Chemistry Council, said chemical companies are giving extra scrutiny to anyone entering a company facility, monitoring all deliveries and even banning nighttime cleaning crews.

He said many of the 200 chemical companies in the trade organization have formed a group of security experts to work on preventing a chemical attack and ensuring that security is tight.

A convicted terrorist collaborator testified just two months ago that he trained for a chemical attack at a camp inside Afghanistan where poison was released to kill dogs.

"In regard to targets in general ... we were speaking about America," Ahmed Ressam testified in July. Ressam said terrorist trainers discussed dispensing poison through air-intake vents of buildings to ensure the maximum number of casualties.

Four congressional Democrats on Wednesday focused on another potential threat -- terrorist attacks on chemical manufacturing facilities. Led by Reps. John Dingell of Michigan and Henry Waxman of California, the four asked President Bush to allocate $7 million to complete a study on vulnerabilities of the nation's chemical facilities.

"The potential consequences of a terrorist attack on a chemical facility could be catastrophic -- exposing tens of thousands of civilians, if not more, to plumes of dangerous chemicals," wrote the Democrats. Reps. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Diana DeGette of Colorado also signed the letter.

___

On the Net: Biotechnology Industry Organization: http://www.bio.org/

American Chemistry Council: http://www.cmahq.com/ Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001


Moderation questions? read the FAQ