Steelworkers praise Obama for executive order upgrading regulations on chemical plant safety

[ProSense]

Steelworkers praise Obama for executive order upgrading regulations on chemical plant safety

by Meteor Blades

The Obama administration issued an executive order Thursday dedicated to modernizing the nation's health and safety regulations covering chemical facilities and enhancing cooperation on such matters among federal, state and tribal governments. The order notes:

“Chemicals, and the facilities where they are manufactured, stored, distributed, and used, are essential to today’s economy. Past and recent tragedies have reminded us, however, that the handling and storage of chemicals are not without risk.”

The order comes three months after an April 17 fire and explosion of ammonium nitrate facility in West, Texas, killed 15 people and injured at least 300. A congressional committee held a hearing on the blast Thursday:

“This is a step in the right direction,” Representative Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and chairman of the Homeland Security committee, said at a hearing after the White House announcement. “The West facility was a disaster waiting to happen, but as dangerous as West was, the Department of Homeland Security had no knowledge of it.”

United Steelworkers International President (and Kossack) Leo Gerard stated in a press release:

"The (850,000-member) USW applauds President Obama for taking bold action to protect working men and women and communities across the country from hazardous chemical releases and explosions. The formation of a new Chemical Facility Safety and Security Working Group, which will coordinate efforts by Federal, State and Local officials, will streamline the regulatory process that all Americans depend on for safety and security—both on the job and where we live."

The executive order mandates a working group made up of officials from relevant federal agencies to find ways for state authorities and first responders to ensure that manufacturers follow safe and secure ways of making and storing hazardous chemicals. It also calls for better coordination, cooperation and communication among officials at the various levels of government. And for making sure that emergency responders and others are adequately trained to handle dangerous chemicals.

A big problem revealed by the West disaster is just how ineffective the tangle of competing regulations among local, state, federal and tribal governments is. It's easy to point fingers when something goes wrong because nobody is really in charge.

Some rules already mandated have not been put into effect. As Bloomberg noted, five years after Congress required tracking of ammonium nitrate, the Department of Homeland Security has not issued rules yet. DHS approval of site plans "is so far behind schedule it could take seven to nine years to approve the 3,120 plans in the queue, according to a General Accountability Office report today."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/01/1228231/-Steelworkers-praise-Obama-for-executive-order-upgrading-regulations-on-chemical-plant-safety

[sheshe2]

1. K&R!

This is great news! Thank you Mr. President.

[ProSense]

2. :-) n/t

[ProSense]

3. Kick! n/t

[Cha]

4. "Bad USA" "Good Russia"..

oh wait!

United Steelworkers International President (and Kossack) Leo Gerard stated in a press release:

"The (850,000-member) USW applauds President Obama for taking bold action to protect working men and women and communities across the country from hazardous chemical releases and explosions. The formation of a new Chemical Facility Safety and Security Working Group, which will coordinate efforts by Federal, State and Local officials, will streamline the regulatory process that all Americans depend on for safety and security—both on the job and where we live."

Boycott Sochi?

Whether or not there is a boycott, connecting Putin's systematic attacks on LGBT people to the Sochi Olympics is a stroke of political genius. This isn't only because it focuses international attention on an issue largely undiscussed in the mainstream press. Sochi could very well be the all-powerful Putin's Achilles' heel. These Winter Games, to be held for reasons that still make no sense in Sochi's subtropical climate, are going to be more expensive than any other Games — summer or winter — in history. Due primarily to shady no-bid construction contracts for Putin's business allies, $30 billion in public funds have simply disappeared. This isn't an Olympics. It's more like a heist. The almighty Putin is looking more with each passing day like this guy: attacking the LGBT community in a cheap effort to turn attention away from rampant corruption and growing inequality, symbolized sharply by what's happening in Sochi.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9522926/gay-rights-sochi-boycott-movement

h/t http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023385664