THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 19, 1994 TAG: 9408190583
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Government and industries should beef up prevention programs to help Virginia improve its No. 17 national ranking in the number of toxic chemical accidents, an environmental group said Thursday.
Virginia reported 602 toxic chemical accidents - mostly spills, fires and explosions - from 1988 through 1992, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group said. Fifty-four accidents caused injuries, deaths or evacuations.
The figures are included in a national report by the Public Interest Research Group and the Environmental Law Center. The report says more than 34,500 toxic chemical accidents - about 19 per day - were reported to federal authorities in the five-year period.
``This report serves as a wake-up call for industry leaders and politicians in Virginia,'' said Jill Crouch, the Public Interest Research Group's Virginia director.
Crouch acknowledged that Virginia's population, which is 12th largest in the nation, is a contributing factor in the number of accidents.
But Marc Abrams, the group's assistant director in Virginia, said the state's ranking still is ``a lot to worry about based on the number of injuries.''
Secretary of Natural Resources Becky Norton Dunlop, who oversees the state's environmental programs, did not return a phone call.
The report said chemical safety programs are preoccupied with emergency response rather than prevention, and, therefore, do not adequately protect citizens and the environment.
``Our state's commitment to pollution prevention should embrace efforts to make industrial processes less vulnerable to accidents,'' Crouch said.
The report recommends:
Establishment of accident-prevention programs and regulations as part of pollution prevention initiatives at all government levels.
Appointment by President Clinton and Congress of a Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
Improved public access to government data on accidents, toxics use and potential ``worst case'' accident hazards.
Setting numerical goals for reduction of chemical accidents through better prevention. by CNB