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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
×

Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure

PROTECTING PEOPLE AND REDUCING VULNERABILITIES

Committee on Assessing Vulnerabilities Related to the Nation’s Chemical Infrastructure

Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology

Division on Earth and Life Studies

Transportation Research Board

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

Support for this study was provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under contract number HSHQPA-04-C-00010.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

International Standard Book Number 0-309-09721-5

Additional copies of this report are available from: The
National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, N.W. Box 285 Washington, DC 20055 (800) 624-6242 (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area) http://www.nap.edu

Cover illustrations: PhotoDisc; Corbis.

Copyright 2006 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Wm. A. Wulf are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.

www.national-academies.org

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
×

COMMITTEE ON ASSESSING VULNERABILITIES RELATED TO THE NATION’S CHEMICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

LINDA CAPUANO,

Solectron Corporation,

Chair

LISA M. BENDIXEN,

ICF Consulting

ANTHONY J. FINIZZA,

University of California, Irvine

DENNIS C. HENDERSHOT,

Chilworth Technology, Inc.

ROBERT L. HIRSCH,

Science Applications International Corporation

BARRY M. HOROWITZ,

University of Virginia

WILLIAM R. KOCH,

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

HOWARD C. KUNREUTHER,

University of Pennsylvania

MICHAEL K. LINDELL,

Texas A&M University

GERALD V. POJE, Independent Consultant

DONALD PROSNITZ,

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

HAVIDAN RODRIGUEZ,

University of Delaware

PETER H. SPITZ,

Chemical Advisory Partners

Staff

CHRISTOPHER K. MURPHY, Program Officer (until July 2005)

ERICKA M. MCGOWAN, Research Associate

DAVID C. RASMUSSEN, Program Assistant

DOROTHY ZOLANDZ, Director,

Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology

THOMAS MENZIES, Senior Program Officer,

Transportation Research Board

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
×

BOARD ON CHEMICAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

CHAIRS

A. WELFORD CASTLEMAN, JR. (NAS),

Pennsylvania State University

ELSA REICHMANIS (NAE),

Lucent Technologies

Members

PAUL T. ANASTAS,

Green Chemistry Institute

DENISE M. BARNES, Independent Consultant,

Snellville, Georgia

MARK E. DAVIS,

California Institute of Technology

JEAN DE GRAEVE,

Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium

MILES P. DRAKE,

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

CATHERINE C. FENSELAU,

University of Maryland

GEORGE W. FLYNN,

Columbia University

MAURICIO FUTRAN,

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

ROBERT HWANG,

Sandia National Laboratory

JAY V. IHLENFELD,

3M Research & Development

JAMES L. KINSEY,

Rice University

MARTHA A. KREBS,

California Energy Commission

WILLIAM A. LESTER, JR.,

University of California, Berkeley

GREGORY O. NELSON,

Eastman Chemical Company

GERALD V. POJE, Independent Consultant,

Vienna, VA

DONALD PROSNITZ,

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

MATTHEW V. TIRRELL,

University of California, Santa Barbara

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STAFF

TINA M. MASCIANGIOLI, Program Officer

ERICKA M. MCGOWAN, Research Associate

SYBIL A. PAIGE, Administrative Associate

DAVID C. RASMUSSEN, Project Assistant

FEDERICO SAN MARTINI, Associate Program Officer

DOROTHY ZOLANDZ, Director

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
×

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2005 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE*

JOHN R. NJORD,

Utah Department of Transportation,

Chair

MICHAEL D. MEYER,

Georgia Institute of Technology,

Vice Chair

ROBERT E. SKINNER, JR.,

Transportation Research Board,

Executive Director

MICHAEL W. BEHRENS,

Texas Department of Transportation

ALLEN D. BIEHLER,

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

LARRY L. BROWN, SR.,

Mississippi Department of Transportation

DEBORAH H. BUTLER,

Norfolk Southern Corporation and Subsidiaries

ANNE P. CANBY,

Surface Transportation Policy Project

JOHN L. CRAIG,

Nebraska Department of Roads

DOUGLAS G. DUNCAN,

FedEx Freight, Memphis

NICHOLAS J. GARBER,

University of Virginia, Charlottesville

ANGELA GITTENS, Consultant

GENEVIEVE GIULIANO,

Metrans Transportation Center, (Past Chair, 2003)

BERNARD S. GROSECLOSE, JR.,

South Carolina State Ports Authority

SUSAN HANSON,

Clark University

JAMES R. HERTWIG,

CSX Intermodal

GLORIA J. JEFF,

Michigan Department of Transportation

ADIB K. KANAFANI,

University of California, Berkeley

HERBERT S. LEVINSON, Herbert S. Levinson Transportation Consultant

SUE MCNEIL,

Urban Transportation Center, University of Illinois

MICHAEL MORRIS,

North Central Texas Council of Governments

CAROL A. MURRAY,

New Hampshire Department of Transportation

PHILIP A. SHUCET,

Virginia Department of Transportation

MICHAEL S. TOWNES,

Hampton Roads Transit (Past Chair, 2004)

C. MICHAEL WALTON,

University of Texas, Austin

LINDA S. WATSON,

LYNX—Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority

MARION C. BLAKEY,

U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)

JOSEPH H. BOARDMAN,

U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)

REBECCA M. BREWSTER,

American Transportation Research Institute (ex officio)

GEORGE BUGLIARELLO,

Polytechnic University; National Academy of Engineering (ex officio)

Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
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THOMAS H. COLLINS (Admiral),

U.S. Coast Guard (ex officio)

JENNIFER L. DORN,

U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)

JAMES J. EBERHARDT,

U.S. Department of Energy (ex officio)

STACEY L. GERARD,

U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)

EDWARD R. HAMBERGER,

Association of American Railroads (ex officio)

JOHN C. HORSLEY,

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (ex officio)

EDWARD JOHNSON,

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (ex officio)

RICK KOWALEWSKI,

U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)

WILLIAM W. MILLAR,

American Public Transportation Association (ex officio) (Past Chair, 1992)

MARY E. PETERS,

Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)

ERIC C. PETERSON,

U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)

SUZANNE RUDZINSKI,

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (ex officio)

JEFFREY W. RUNGE,

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)

ANNETTE M. SANDBERG,

U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)

WILLIAM G. SCHUBERT,

U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)

JEFFREY N. SHANE,

U.S. Department of Transportation (ex officio)

CARL A. STROCK (Major General),

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ex officio)

*  

Membership as of June 2005

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
×

Preface

The Committee on Assessing Vulnerabilities Related to the Nation’s Chemical Infrastructure was convened by the National Academies to respond to a request from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). The directorate sought assistance in making research, development, and technology investments that would help secure the nation’s chemical infrastructure and safeguard against the consequences of a terrorist attack on that infrastructure. The focus was on securing the nation’s infrastructure and economy against terrorist attack and other catastrophic loss by examining the chemical supply chain to identify key chemicals and chemical processes whose disruption could result in catastrophic levels of casualties or catastrophic economic damage. Specifically, this review considers

  • Major vulnerabilities and points of weakness in the chemical supply chain that could lead to catastrophic consequences;

  • The likely impact of a significant disruption in the supply of these chemicals and processes;

  • Actions (procedures, policies, technology deployment) to help prevent disruption in the supply of these chemicals and processes, and to mitigate loss and injury should such disruption occur;

  • Incentives and disincentives that affect private sector decisions to take preventive and mitigating actions; and

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
×
  • Areas of scientific, engineering, and economic research and development that might advance the nation’s capability to protect against such losses and minimize their impact.

The committee’s full statement of task can be found in Appendix B.

I met with DHS S&T representatives several times early in the study process to discuss the statement of task, data availability, and the department’s objectives in commissioning this study. Based on these discussions and from discussions with DHS representatives at the committee’s first meeting, it was agreed that this study should complement and not attempt to duplicate other ongoing activities such as the DHS Risk Analysis and Management for Critical Asset Protection (RAMCAP) and Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Off-Site Consequence Analysis. Thus, the committee did not attempt to assess the effectiveness of current protective measures; although called for in the statement of task; this was a part of the DHS RAMCAP effort, which DHS representatives made clear should not be duplicated. As the statement of task indicates, the focus of this review is on the vulnerabilities of the supply chain as a whole rather than the vulnerability of individual chemical plants.

The committee did not have access to the results or preliminary results of the DHS RAMCAP exercise or to the data upon which it is based. Similarly the committee did not have access to EPA’s Off-Site Consequence Analyses. Nor did the committee rely on proprietary or other non-disclosable information from chemical industry representatives upon which to base its report. This report is based solely on open-source information, and the committee’s intention was to write a report whose distribution could be unrestricted. This report represents the dedicated time and effort of all the committee members. The members responded gracefully to the request to submit to a demanding schedule of meetings in a short time period, without compensation and while continuing to attend to the duties of their regular jobs. I am grateful for their work and thoroughly enjoyed the stimulating discussions we had as a part of this process.


Linda Capuano

Chair

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
×

POSTSCRIPT ON HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA

This manuscript was being finalized and sent to review as Hurricane Katrina decimated the Gulf Coast and was in reviewers’ hands when Hurricane Rita hit in the first few weeks following that disaster. It is clear that the overall impact of Katrina was catastrophic, although a final casualty figure may never be definitive, and some economic consequences will linger for years. At the time this report was being finalized, the hurricanes’ impact on the petrochemical industry was fairly clear, and the largest ripples in the economy due to their disruption had apparently occurred. These two hurricanes’ effects on petroleum refineries and on the petrochemical industry are real-life examples of the types of disruption that the Department of Homeland Security envisioned when commissioning this report. As such, the hurricanes’ aftermath provides an unfortunate real-life opportunity to learn lessons about the effects of a major disruption in the petroleum supply chain and on the effectiveness of the responses to such an event.

It will take years for researchers to fully tally the cost of these two hurricanes, but events thus far are consistent with the conclusions and recommendations of this report regarding the robustness of the chemical supply chain and the importance of emergency preparedness and response. Lessons learned from these hurricanes and the responses to them provide an opportunity to better understand the resilience of the chemical infrastructure and determine potential opportunities for improvement.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
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Acknowledgment of Reviewers

This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making the published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report:

Cheryl Burke, DuPont

Charles Casey, University of Wisconsin

Paul K. Davis, The RAND Corporation

Robert Gallamore, Northwestern University

Yacov Haimes, University of Virginia

Steven Kramer, Institute for Defense Analyses

M. Sam Mannan, Texas A&M University

Guy M. Miller, Heico/Zeeland Chemicals

Martin Sherwin (Retired), W.R. Grace Company

Ellis Stanley, City of Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Department

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
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Esther S. Takeuchi, Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.

Beth Turner, DuPont

Oliver Williamson, University of California, Berkeley

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Dr. R. Stephen Berry, University of Chicago, and Dr. David C. Bonner, Pretium Consulting Services, LLC, Houston, TX. Appointed by the National Research Council, they were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authors and the institution.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2006. Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11597.
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The chemical sector is a key part of the national economy and has been designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as one of 17 sectors comprising the nation's Critical Infrastructure. Although its products represent only 2 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, those products underpin most other manufactured goods. To assist DHS in characterizing and mitigating the vulnerabilities faced by the nation from the chemical industry, this study examines classes of chemicals and chemical processes that are critical to the nation's security, economy, and health. It identifies vulnerabilities and points of weakness in the supply chain for these chemicals and chemical processes; assesses the likely impact of a significant disruption in the supply chain; identifies actions to help prevent disruption in the supply chain and mitigate loss and injury should such disruption occur; identifies incentives and disincentives to preventative and mitigating actions; and recommends areas of scientific, engineering, and economic research and development. The report concludes that the consequences of a deliberate attack on the chemical infrastructure would be expected to be similar in nature to the accidents we have already experienced. Under limited circumstances, such an attack could cause catastrophic casualties and loss of life, but it would take several simultaneous events to cause catastrophic economic consequences. Poor communication could amplify societal response. Overall, the recommendations in this report emphasize the benefit of investments to improve emergency preparedness for and response to chemical events. They also highlight the potential to minimize the physical hazards through development of cost-effective, safer processes that reduce the volume, toxicity, or hazardous conditions under which chemicals are processed.

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