Millions (of residents) at risk if NJ chemical plants leak-study

[UpInArms]

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-05-23T221652Z_01_N23215038_RTRIDST_0_SECURITY-CHEMICALS.XML

PHILADELPHIA, May 23 (Reuters) - Millions of residents of the central U.S. East Coast are at risk of death or injury from release of toxic chemicals because of lax security at chemical plants in New Jersey, a study released on Tuesday said.

New Jersey has 110 plants that could release life-threatening chemicals into the environment in "worst-case scenarios" developed by chemical manufacturers, such as accidents or terrorist attacks, said the study by the New Jersey Work Environment Council, an alliance of labor, community and environmental organizations.

The study cites six facilities where a major chemical release could kill or injure as many as 1 million people, and another 15 facilities that could each affect 100,000 people.

A toxic release at one plant in northern New Jersey could affect as many as 12 million people, including residents of New York, and one in the South of the state could send a cloud of deadly chlorine gas into Philadelphia, it said.

Elvin Montero, a spokesman for the Chemistry Council of New Jersey, which represents chemical manufacturers, said the study itself undermined security by releasing information about the locations and activities of chemical manufacturers that has not been widely available since the attacks of Sept. 11.

...more...

[ThomCat]

1. I hate that spokesman

'Our lax security isn't the problem. You knowing about our lax security is the problem.'
:wtf:

[Gloria]

2. My nightmare scenario is not a "leak" but an attack....a small

plane could strafe about a zillion plants and petro complexes, including storage tanks, all the way up the NJ Turnpike between Rahway and Newark Airport. The oil storage tanks alone could blow up half the state.

[bedazzled]

3. that's a really scary area

i was always afraid of an airplane accident, myself. there are so many people living in the shadows of the tanks in linden, and a small airport there too.

[crizzo5137]

4. Oh No!

[genieroze]

5. There is still 110 plants here, I thought they all moved south?