The storage and use of extremely hazardous chemicals poses significant risks to workers, communities, and the environment. Accidents producing far-traveling toxic clouds can and do happen in this country, adversely affecting significant populations and ecosystems.
Chemical accidents are preventable.
The best way to ensure community safety is to reduce the inherent hazards of chemical operations. EPA should ensure meaningful public access to information on worst case toxic cloud estimates, other hazard assessments, complete information on past accidents, and a full prevention plan. Worst-case accident scenarios can provide a quantitative measurement and evaluation of Inherent Safety at a facility. Consistent with the EPA agency-wide focus on pollution prevention and technology innovation. At a minimum companies should prepare Technology Options Analysis when undergoing process re-design.