GAO calls for national chemical security plan...government, industry ramp up efforts. (Top of the Week).

The General Accounting Office (GAO) said in a report last week that the extent of security preparedness in the chemical industry is unknown, and called on EPA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop "a comprehensive national chemical security strategy." GAO lauds voluntary security initiatives launched by ACC, but says only 7% of the facilities subject to Clean Air Act risk management plan provisions are ACC members. "The federal government has not comprehensively assessed the chemical industry's vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks," GAO says. "EPA, DHS, and the Department of Justice have taken preliminary steps to assist the industry in its preparedness …