Chemical Security Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1861
Sponsor: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]
Introduced: 2003-04-29 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Accident prevention
Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Armed Forces and National Security
Business records
Chemical industries
Chemical warfare
Chemicals
Civil actions and liability
Commerce
Computer crimes
Computer networks
Computer security measures
Confidential communications
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime prevention
Data banks
EBB Terrorism
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Emergency Management
Emergency medicine
Employee selection
Employee training
Environmental Protection Agency
Evacuation of civilians
Fines (Penalties)
Fire fighters
Freedom of information
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Health
Higher education
Identification of criminals
Industrial accidents
Infrastructure
Infrastructure (Economics)
Injunctions
International Affairs
Labor and Employment
Larceny
Law
Law enforcement officers
Medical education
Medical personnel
Occupational health and safety
Paramedical personnel
Planning
Police
Recidivists
Safety measures
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
Technology transfer
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: 
Chemical Security Act of 2003 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to: (1) designate certain combinations of chemical sources and substances of concern as high priority categories based on the severity of the threat posed by an unauthorized release from the chemical sources; and (2) require each owner and operator of a high priority category chemical source to conduct an assessment of the vulnerability of the source to a terrorist attack or other unauthorized release, identify hazards that may result from an unauthorized release, and prepare a prevention, preparedness, and response plan.
 
Directs: (1) the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide owners and operators of chemical sources with relevant threat information; (2) each such owner and operator to certify that it has conducted such assessments, completed such plan, and reviewed the adequacy of the assessment or plan; and (3) the Administrator to develop protocols necessary to protect copies of such assessments and plans from unauthorized disclosure.
 
Directs the Administrator: (1) to establish a publicly available clearinghouse to compile and disseminate information on the use and availability of inherently safer technologies; (2) and the Secretary of Energy to establish and administer a Technology Transition Fund to provide grants to assist chemical facilities that demonstrate financial hardship in implementing inherently safer technologies; and (3) to make grants to provide for training of first responders and of employees at chemical sources in identifying opportunities to reduce the chemical source's vulnerability to a release of a substance of concern through the use of safer technologies or in emergency response procedures.
 
Sets forth provisions regarding Administrator: (1) certifications of source compliance with assessment and plan requirements; (2) provision of compliance assistance; (3) authorization to order compliance; and (4) actions to secure relief necessary to abate a terrorist threat.
 
Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for source violations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-20
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-04-29
text: Introduced in House