TFI criticizes chem security and climate change bills

Washington-The U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 5 began consideration of HR 2868, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009. The bill, which would permanently authorize and expand the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) that took effect in 2007 and expired this fall, was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Oct. 21 (GM Oct. 26, p. 13) and the House Homeland Security Committee last June (GM June 29, p. 1). It contains certain regulations criticized by the chemical and fertilizer industries, including an Inherently Safer Technologies (IST) provision that was absent from the original CFATS. The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) on Nov. 5 submitted a letter to all House members expressing its opposition to the legislation, saying it believes the bill would impose an increased regulatory burden on U.S. agriculture. TFI emphasized that the fertilizer industry considers homeland security to be a top priority and has a long-standing record of promoting safety and security of its products through their production, storage, transport, and use. However, TFI said it specifically objects to an IST provision, which it said “could well jeopardize the availability of widely used, lower-cost sources of essential plant nutrient products or certain agricultural pesticides used by farmers and ranchers.” Anhydrous ammonia and ammonium nitrate are normally cited as the fertilizer products most vulnerable to an IST provision. TFI concluded that it supports efforts to permanently authorize the regulations, but urges Congress to consider all of the regulatory and economic impacts the legislation will have on American agriculture and consumers. TFI also took aim at the U.S. Senate last week for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s passage of S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. “We were hopeful that this legislation would be better balanced and protect the environment and U.S. jobs; however the bill falls short of accomplishing either goal,” TFI said on Nov 5. TFI argued that any action the U.S. takes on climate change must be tied to broader global initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “The U.S. fertilizer industry is internationally competitive and we need a strong domestic industry to ensure this valuable resource is available for our nation’s food security,” TFI said. “Moreover, the domestic fertilizer industry has taken steps to reduce emissions at its production facilities and in the field; but the current bill does not recognize these efforts.” TFI said it remains optimistic that when other committees take up the bill, they will recognize the role that food production and fertilizer plays in the U.S. economy. “In any future action, the Senate must be deliberate and consider the long term implications climate change legislation will have for the U.S. economy,” TFI said.