In The Zone

Government Executive February 15, 2003

Since 1990, chemical facilities have been required to map out how far a substance could spread if released into the environment. Last summer, the environmental group Greenpeace posted several of the maps on its Web site in an attempt to show how a terrorist attack could threaten the surrounding communities. The highlighted circles below show the communities that would be affected by chemical spills in two major metropolitan areas.


NEW YORK
METRO AREA		KUEHNE CHEMICAL PLANT
Population Affected:12 MILLION
Chemicals
On Site:
  • Produces bleach for cities along the Eastern seaboard
  • Stores chlorine and sulfur dioxide on site
    • Hackensack, N.J.   -   Manhattan, N.Y.   -   Manhattan, N.Y.   -   East Orange, N.J.   -   Jersey City, N.J.   -   Brooklyn, N.Y.   -   Staten Island, N.Y.
    BALTIMORE
    METRO AREA    		SASOL NORTH AMERICA CHEMICAL PLANT
    Population Affected:1.5 MILLION
    Chemicals
    On Site:
  • Uses chlorine to produce chemical reactions in the manufacturing process of other products, including soaps and detergents.
    • Baltimore County, Md.  —  Baltimore City, Md.  —  Howard County, Md.  —  Anne Arundel County, Md.

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    In The Zone
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