The passing of a US chemical storage law could happen any time this week as senators react to the effects of a West Virginia spill, which threatened the tap water supply of 300,000 people, said a Bloomberg report. Republican Senator David Vitter said that the bill could be considered as early as this week.
At a hearing of a Senate panel today regarding the matter, industry representatives cautioned lawmakers to tread slowly with the passing of the chemical storage law, especially with writing new rules. The hearing was also a vehicle for legislators to slam Freedom Industries Inc, who was responsible for the spill, and federal regulators for failure to act quickly with regard to the January 9 accident.
Democrat Senator Barbara Boxer told the Environment and Public Works Committee panel today, "It is clear that we cannot afford to leave important opportunities to prevent chemical disasters on the shelf."
A Freedom Industries tank along the Elk River had leaked chemical used to process coal, and infected a water intake for West Virginal capital Charleston, which is less than 2 miles from the accident. The tank spilled 4-methylcyclohexane methanol, or crude MCHM, a chemical long exempted from testing for toxic substances as per existing law as the materials had been used in the industry when the current law took effect, the news agency said.
Freedom Industries soon filed for bankruptcy just a week after the accident, said Bloomberg.
A lobbying group owner said US lawmakers failed to see the root of the problem. International Liquid Terminals Association vice president R. Peter Weaver believed that enforcement of the existing federal toxic substances law is key. He said, "If Freedom Industries disregarded existing regulations, company operating procedures, and/or industry standards, the most effective response would be stronger enforcement rather than the promulgation of new legislation and subsequent regulation."
