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Senate Bill Would Authorize $265 Million For Wastewater Treatment Plant Security
Sen. James Jeffords (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Environment and
Public Works Committee, introduced legislation Nov. 10 that would authorize $265
million to protect wastewater treatment plants from terrorist acts or accidents.
The bill (number unavailable) would require all wastewater facilities in the
United States to conduct vulnerability assessments, develop site-security and
emergency-response plans, and consider alternative approaches to potentially
high-risk treatment methods.
Vulnerability assessments are analyses of a facilities' weaknesses to potential
threats.
The measure would authorize $250 million for facilities to conduct such
assessments and put emergency response plans in place. The money also would be
used to assist small communities in complying with the requirements. In
addition, the bill would authorize $15 million for research on innovative
technologies.
"We know the potential dangers posed by the use of toxic chemicals at our
nation's wastewater treatment plants, and our homeland security strategy should
reflect those dangers," Jeffords said in a statement.
The legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Frank
Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
Chlorine Releases of Concern
The Government Accountability Office released a report in March determining that
sewer lines, which could be used to gain access to buildings or to inject
hazardous substances that could harm a plant, are the most vulnerable component
of a treatment facility (36 DEN 435, 3/4/05 ).
The release of chlorine is the second highest risk, GAO said.
Recently, there have been two major accidents involving trains that were
transporting chlorine, Jeffords said in remarks introducing the bill.
In January, nine people were killed in South Carolina when a train carrying
chlorine gas was involved in a crash, he said. In an accident in June 2004,
three people died when two freight trains collided in Texas and caused a
chlorine tank to rupture, he said.
The Environmental Protection Agency has provided about $10 million for
wastewater security since 2002, most of which has been used for training and
research, according to GAO.
EPA has provided about $200 million for drinking water security and has required
drinking water systems to submit vulnerability assessments to the agency.
There are 16,000 wastewater treatment facilities across the United States
serving almost 190 million people, according to Jeffords. About 1,600 of them
are located near large metropolitan areas.
Legislation Called Inadequate
Ken Kirk, executive director of the National Association of Clean Water
Agencies, which represents wastewater facilities, told BNA the new legislation
falls short because it does not consider actions already taken by water
utilities and current research on security.
"A cursory review of Sen. Jeffords' newly introduced legislation suggests that
the bill fails to recognize the fact that many of our nation's wastewater
facilities have voluntarily undertaken both security assessments and upgrades,"
Kirk said.
In addition, the legislation does not acknowledge the "compelling body of
studies, reports, and tools" developed since the Bioterrorism Act (Pub. L.
107-188) was passed in 2002.
Kirk said the association supported wastewater security legislation but called
for a "more directed approach, advised by the evolution of thinking on this
issue since Sept. 11, 2001."
"We look forward to working with the full Environment and Public Works Committee
as they consider the security needs of clean water utilities nationwide," Kirk
said.
By Patricia Ware