DHS CHIEF BACKS KEY INDUSTRY POSITIONS ON CHEMICAL SECURITY BILLS

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is backing industry calls that pending chemical plant security bills should not force companies to use "inherently safer" technologies to reduce environmental hazards and is suggesting that any federal law should preempt state and local efforts to impose additional chemical security requirements. Chertoff's remarks presage likely Bush administration efforts to revise pending House and Senate bills that would not preempt state and local laws imposing stricter rules on industry. The congressional proposals also would not...