SOCMA: Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2008

For More Information:
Gregory Minchak
Manager, Public Relations & Communications             
(202) 721-4182
minchakg@socma.com

Washington, DC - The Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) released the following statement in response to the announcement today by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that it will begin notifying chemical facilities this week that some will be treated as regulated facilities in the context of security.

"SOCMA is pleased that DHS has successfully taken the next step within a regulatory process to secure chemical facilities according to risk under its Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act Standards (CFATS). This latest action by the Department publicly demonstrates the Department’s firm commitment to securing the industry and fulfilling its Congressional authority.

“Since 2001, the chemical industry has poured millions of additional dollars into increasing the security of facilities.  SOCMA is confident that most of its members falling under the regulated component will have less to do than other facilities.  Our members, through our ChemStewards® performance improvement program and SOCMA Security Vulnerability Assessment Methodology, have worked to create and implement their own security plans, countermeasures and community action plans ahead of the DHS schedule.”  

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SOCMA is the leading trade association, serving the specialty-batch and custom chemical industry since 1921. SOCMA’s nearly 300 members employ more than 100,000 workers across the country and produce 50,000 products valued at $60 billion annually. For more information please visit www.socma.com.

ChemStewards® is SOCMA’s flagship environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) continuous performance improvement program.  ChemStewards was created from industry’s commitment to reducing the environmental footprint left by member’s facilities.  Industry created ChemStewards to meet the unique needs of the batch, custom, and specialty chemical industry. As a mandatory requirement for SOCMA members engaged in the manufacturing or handling of synthetic and organic chemicals, ChemStewards is helping participants reach for superior EHS&S performance.  To learn more visit www.chemstewards.com.