Hazardous chemicals

'Kids Safe Chemical Act' Would Ensure All Chemicals Used In Every Day Products, Including Those Used in Baby Bottles and Children's Toys, Are Proven Safe

May 20, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representatives Hilda L. Solis (D- CA) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced major legislation to protect Americans, especially children, from toxic chemicals in everyday consumer products.

Baby with bottle: Photo by Frank Tellez (CC)    » read more »

N.J. Senator Returns to Same Location Overlooking Chemical Facility Where He Vowed to Fight Bush Administration's Efforts to Preempt N.J.'s Chemical Security Laws Two years Ago

January 10, 2008 -- JERSEY CITY, N.J. – U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today joined Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Jackson, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, N.J. AFL-CIO President Charlie Wowkanech, New Jersey Work Environment Council Director Rick Engler and other local leaders to announce the enactment of Sen.    » read more »

19 December 2007 -- An explosion has rocked a chemical plant in Jacksonville, Florida, causing a fire that sent flames, debris and billowing clouds of black smoke into the sky. Three people have been killed and 14 others were taken to local hospitals.

The incident happened Wednesday at the T2 Laboratories plant, where the blast sent what was described as a mushroom cloud of smoke across the city. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue spokesman Tom Francis described the scene as, quoting here, a "hellish inferno."    » read more »

Provision would block Bush Administration from nullifying laws like New Jersey's to protect chemical facilites from chemical attack

December 17, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The just-released, final Omnibus appropriations bill jointly negotiated by the Senate and House includes a provision authored by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) to block the Bush Administration from preempting state chemical security laws.    » read more »

November 2, 2007 -- The Department of Homeland Security today released Appendix A of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), a critical element of its chemical security efforts.

The appendix contains a list of chemicals that, if possessed by a facility in a specified quantity, trigger a requirement to complete and submit an easy-to-use, online consequence assessment tool called a Top-Screen.    » read more »

August 16, 2007 -- Michigan companies that do business in Europe are encouraged to learn more about the European Union's new Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) program. This new chemical management system went into effect on June 1, 2007 and has important implications for Michigan companies exporting to European Member States.    » read more »

N.J. Sen. Bill Would Better Protect Communities From Dangerous Chemicals and Liquefied Natural Gas Transported By Ship

August 3, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved legislation authored by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) to require improved measures on ships and at facilities that handle certain chemicals and petrochemicals that pose known security risks, including liquefied natural gas. While much debate has focused on hazardous materials moving by truck and train, Sen.    » read more »