SOCMA: Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates

SOCMA has been leading the industry’s position on inherently safer technology for years, most recently during the movement in Congress  to consider mandating IST through site security regulations. Below are examples of our efforts to educate policymakers and the general public about the importance of IST but also how it has been misunderstood and, in some cases, misused, to advance alternative agendas in Washington and elsewhere.

Few terms in chemistry are as misunderstood as “inherently safer technology.”  While ostensibly self-explanatory, the term as used in chemistry and engineering is not as easily understood by non-scientists.  IST is a conceptual framework that covers chemical processing procedures, equipment, protection, and, when feasible, the use of safer substances.  Many people have been led to believe that the only road to inherent safety is by way of reducing the amount of hazardous chemicals used in manufacturing and processing.  IST, however, is limited by the laws of physics; a simple reduction in the use of hazardous chemicals is often not possible or may only result in the redistribution of risk, without actually reducing it.

Testimony of Stephen Poorman International EHS Manager, FUJIFILM Imaging Colorants Ltd. on behalf of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates
before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Chemical Security: Assessing Progress and Charting a Path Forward, March 3, 2010.

SOCMA Welcomes Senate Introduction of Chemical Facility Security Reauthorization Act, February 4, 2010.

SOCMA’s Vice President of Government Relations, Bill Allmond, editorial discussing chemical security legislation; Roll Call, October 30, 2009.

Letter to the Editor by SOCMA’s Vice President of Government Relations, Bill Allmond, addressing Congressman Thompson’s comments on chemical security legislation; The Hill newspaper, October 29, 2009.

Letter from SOCMA President Joseph Acker to House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and Ranking Member Joe Barton, reiterating SOCMA’s opposition to IST provision in H.R. 2868, Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009, October 20, 2009.

Testimony of Stephen Poorman International EHS Manager, FUJIFILM Imaging Colorants Ltd. on behalf of SOCMA before the Subcommittee on Energy & the Environment of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce on The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009 (H.R. 2868), October 1, 2009.

Five Things About Chemical Security That Nobody is Discussing, a series of arguments about the current debate in Congress over the future of chemical security regulation, September 2009.

Letter to the Editor, New York Times, responding to the paper’s call for “safer chemicals” as a security mandate, August 6, 2009.

Letter to House Judiciary Committee outlining opposition to citizen suit provision under the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009. July 21, 2009

SOCMA Concerned About IST, Small Business Protections in Chemical Security Bill - Welcomes House Action on Permanent Security Regulation, June 24, 2009.

Letter to the Editor, New York Times, responding to the paper’s call for IST as a security mandate, May 19, 2009.

"Realizing Chemical Site Security Is Not As Easy as I-S-T." Article written by Bill Allmond, SOCMA Vice President of Government & Industry Relations and published on The Hill's "Congress Blog." February 7, 2009.

"IST Can Lead to Dangerous Unintended Consequences." February 4, 2009

Position of the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association on Inherently Safer Technology
Approved by the SOCMA Board of Governors, March 2007.

Statement by the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association following passage of the “Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008” by the House Committee on Homeland Security
Released in response to the Committee’s passage of “security” IST provisions within the bill, March 6, 2008.

Statement by the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association on the ‘Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008’ Discussion Draft
Released following the Committee’s Congressional Hearing held on the discussion draft, which would impose inherently safer technology mandates.

Congressional Testimony by SOCMA Member Siegfried (USA) on Inherently Safer Technology
Orally presented to the House Homeland Security Committee, February 26, 2008.

Congressional Testimony by the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association on DHS’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act Standards Implementation
Presented to the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, December 12, 2007. 

Congressional Testimony by the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association on Inherently Safer Technology
Presented to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, June 21, 2006.

“Safer for Whom: Explaining the Concept of Inherently Safer Technology and Product Substitution in Non-technical Terms"
Prepared May 7, 2003.