House Passes Chemical, Water Security Bill

Oil & Gas Journal [sign-in required] (Snow) - "The US House approved a chemical and water security bill with a provision requiring inherently safer technology (IST) by a vote of 230 to 193 on Nov. 6, despite objections from the petroleum and other industries." Two "major oil industry trade associations immediately criticized the bill, HR 2868, which now heads to the Senate." National Petrochemical & Refiners Association Pres. Charles T. Drevna said "by including the IST provision, the House is 'sending a clear signal that it wants to put the federal government in a position to dictate chemical practices and procedures to chemical engineers.'" The American Petroleum Institute "issued a statement saying that it joins the agriculture, trucking, and other industries in opposing the bill and supporting reauthorization of current federal security standards, which have been successful since their enactment 3 years ago." In a Nov. 4 letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Ranking Minority Member John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), the NAM joined other trade associations seeking the IST provision's removal.  Hat Tip: NAM