The chemical manufacturing infrastructure in the U.S. is critical to our nation’s economic health. Not only are we dependent on it, it is extensive, and it is often located near residential areas. Unfortunately, it can also pose danger to our communities, and it is generally poorly protected.

It is estimated that some 15,000 industrial facilities that use and store large quantities of hazardous chemicals could potentially provide terrorists with readily accessible materials for developing improvised explosives, incendiaries and poisons. Yet many public and corporate emergency responders are unaware of the magnitude of this threat.