Support H36 and Protect Our Communities from Chemical Waste
The Apex explosion was a powerful reminder that, even 5 years after 9/11, we’ve done too little to make our chemical facilities safer.
Protecting Our First Responders and Our Neighborhoods
During the Apex fire, our firefighters, paramedics, and police officers didn’t know what was burning inside and why the smoke billowing from the plant was yellow. Most residents didn’t even know the plant was nearby. H36 will provide information to the right people so they can make the right decision in the event of another incident. Specifically, H36 will:
• Require owners and operators of chemical waste facilities to work in coordination with local officials to develop contingency plans.
• Create a real-time database of what types of chemicals are in a facility and where they are in the facility, providing first responders with the information they need to make safe, effective decisions.
• Inform residents within a ¼ mile radius of the plant of the types of chemicals stored on site and what to do in case of an emergency.
• Require chemical waste facilities to keep an off-site record of all chemicals entering and leaving the facility.
• Allow localities to implement ordinances to protect the public health and safety.
Preventing Future Chemical Explosions
Recent reports have revealed that the Environmental Quality plant in Apex was a ticking time bomb. In fact, former EQ workers told state investigators that the company's Apex warehouse was plagued by fires and potentially dangerous chemical reactions. H36 will enact measures to improve safety at chemical waste plants. Specifically, H36 will:
• Require the DENR to conduct more frequent inspections based on increased residences within a ¼ mile radius of the plant.
• Require the plant to maintain 24 hour surveillance of its facilities.
• Reduce the time period between repermitting of chemical waste facilities from ten to five years.
• Establish a task force that will review the state building code to ensure that fire inspections reduce the risk of future incidents. Lastly, H36 will ensure that if another accident occurs, the owner of the facility must pay for damages, so that taxpayers aren’t left to foot the bill for industry negligence.
H36 provides first responders with information they need to know, it provides residents with information they have a right to know, and it protects the public health in North Carolina.
Endorsers:
NC State Fireman’s Association
Professional Firefighters and Paramedics of North Carolina
NC State AFL-CIO
NCPIRG (NC Public Interest Research Group)
NC League of Municipalities