June 19, 2007 Volume # 8 Issue # 13

A bi-weekly source for Association news and regulatory and legislative developments affecting the chemical distribution industry.

NACD News - Table of Contents Legislative and Regulatory Updates Chemical Security Regulations Update Problematic Chemical Security Language Advances in Congress Senate to Vote on Employee Free Choice Act Chemical Safety Board Publishes Bulletin on Chlorine Responsible Distribution Process RDP Orientation & Workshop -- September 17-18, 2007 Reduce Your Supplier Audits Networking and Education Regional Meetings 2007 NACD OPSEM2007, Nashville, TN, September 19-21 2007 Annual Meeting Chemical Education Foundation Pennsylvania 6th Grader Wins Third Annual You Be The Chemist Challenge Competition CEF Attends Pennsylvania Science Conference CEF to Make Presentation at NACD's Southern Region Meeting   Calendar of Events   Education and Training Discounted RDP-Related Online Training Now Available Marketing Strategies for the Entire Sales Channel Online Course – Register Now!   Annual Meeting   OPSEM Chemical Security Regulations Update   The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) are in effect, as of Friday, June 8. This means that the Chemical-terrorism Vulnerability (CVI) standards must be followed and that the Top Screen consequence assessment of the Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) is live. The final Appendix A list of chemicals and quantities is not expected to be finalized until early July. Unless your facility hears otherwise from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through phone calls and a letter, the 60-day time period in which the Top Screen must be completed will not begin until the final Appendix A list is published in the Federal Register. NACD will also send a Regulatory Alert to the membership when this final list is published. Please visit the CSAT Web site at http://www.DHS.gov/chemicalsecurity for updates. Newly posted items on the site include the Top Screen Questions, a Top Screen User Guide, information on CVI training and procedures, and a CSAT User Registration Guide.       Back to Top   Problematic Chemical Security Language Advances in Congress   Last week, the House of Representatives and the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Despite objections from NACD and the rest of the chemical industry, the legislation contains language supported by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) to explicitly allow states and localities to adopt and enforce chemical security regulations more stringent than federal standards. The House version of the bill also includes language that would replace the CVI standards with the Security Sensitive Information (SSI) regime, which would allow for the release of information in enforcement proceedings. The White House has threatened to veto the Homeland Security Appropriations bill because of high spending levels. The White House has objected to the chemical security provisions but has not threatened a veto specifically on these issues. Because CFATS has taken effect, it is unclear what immediate impact the states’ rights provision would have on implementation. Replacing CVI with SSI could result in DHS having to discard all of the work and training that has taken already taken place on CVI and would also result in forcing all parties who have created CVI documents to replace or change them to indicate SSI instead.        Back to Top   Senate to Vote on Employee Free Choice Act   The Senate is scheduled to vote on Thursday, June 21 on a motion to proceed to consideration of the so-called “Employee Free Choice Act.” This legislation would take away employees’ ability to vote to recognize a union by secret ballot and replace it with a card check process, where employees would be forced to make their choices in front of union organizers and pro-unionization employees. The bill would also authorize government arbitrators to impose collective bargaining agreements on employers. The House of Representatives passed this legislation, H.R. 800, on March 1, by a vote of 241-185. To avoid Committee consideration, the Senate will consider the House version, H.R. 800. The good news is that because the legislation is controversial, 60 votes will be needed in the Senate to move the legislation forward. However, this is expected to be a very close vote. In anticipation of Thursday’s vote, yesterday NACD sent out a Legislative Action Alert asking members to contact Senators to urge them to vote against this legislation. To access the Action Alert, go to /advocacy/alert.aspx, or enter your zip code into the “Write to Congress” box on the NACD home page and click on the “Issues & Legislation” tab to send the message to your Senators.       Back to Top   Chemical Safety Board Publishes Bulletin on Chlorine   Last week, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) issued a safety bulletin on emergency shutdown systems for chlorine transfer. In the bulletin, the CSB makes a formal recommendation for the U.S. Department of Transportation to expand its regulatory coverage to require facilities that unload chlorine railcars to install remotely operated emergency isolation devices to quickly shut down the flow of chlorine in the event of a hose rupture or other failure in the unloading equipment. The CSB argues that this measure is necessary because excess flow valves on chorine rail cars are not designed to stop leaks during unloading. For a copy of the bulletin, go to http://www.csb.gov.       Back to Top   RDP Orientation & Workshop -- September 17-18, 2007   Register today at www.nacd.com.  If you are attending this meeting in Nashville, please make your room reservations now. Go to www.nacd.com.  If you are attending this meeting in Nashville, please make your room reservations now. Go to http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/bnash?groupCode=chechea&app=resvlink or go to the OPSEM Web site at /events/opsem/events.aspx for the hotel's information. FYI -- Monday, September 17 is sold out at the Renaissance! If you need a room for the 17th, please call the Renaissance and ask them to book you at the Courtyard Marriott directly. The hotel is only two blocks away.        Back to Top   Reduce Your Supplier Audits   Interested in reducing your supplier audits? Then, encourage your suppliers (this includes other NACD distributor members who act as suppliers to you as well) to participate in the supplier-nominated RDP Verification process. Visit /dist_process/srdpv.aspx to learn more and to view a list of current Supplier Funders.       Back to Top   Regional Meetings 2007   Southern Region Meeting - June 24-26, 2007 Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL Call 1/888-261-6165 for NACD Group rates. Northeast Region Meeting - October 11-12, 2007 The Millennium Boston Hotel, Boston, MA NACD Group Rate: $349 Reservations: 617/523-3600 For more information on upcoming NACD Regional meetings, visit /about/regions/.       Back to Top   NACD OPSEM2007, Nashville, TN, September 19-21   Affiliates, it's not too late to register for a booth -- go to /events/opsem/exhibit.aspx. Monday, September 17 is sold out at the hotel! Please call the Renaissance if you need a room for Monday -- they can book you at the Courtyard Marriott which is only two blocks away. Make your reservations today at http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/bnash?groupCode=chechea&app=resvlink or call the Renaissance Nashville. For current OPSEM program schedule and sessions descriptions, visit www.nacd.com/events/opsem/events.aspx.        Back to Top   2007 Annual Meeting   El Conquistador Golf Resort & Casino, Las Croabas, Puerto Rico November 26-20, 2007 Please Note: The Hotel is SOLD OUT of El Conquistador rooms for Saturday, November 24. Rooms are available beginning Sunday, November 25. Go to https://reservations.ihotelier.com/crs/g_login.cfm?hotelID=6571  to make your reservation at the hotel from Sunday on. Attendee code: 71211AN ·         However, there are suites available at El Conquistador’s Las Casitas Village for Saturday night. Rates are as follows: o       One-Bedroom Casita: $450/night o       Two-Bedroom Casita: $575/night o       Three-Bedroom Casita: $725/night ·        There are Standard Casita rooms at $219/night available within the Las Casitas Village area. Go to https://reservations.ihotelier.com/crs/g_login.cfm?hotelID=6572 to make your reservation now. Attendee code: B20001 ·         Another option is to visit http://www.meetpuertorico.com to find rooms elsewhere. Go to /events/annual_meeting/home.aspx to book your rooms -- either by calling the resort or making your reservations on-line.        Back to Top   Pennsylvania 6th Grader Wins Third Annual You Be The Chemist Challenge Competition   On June 15, Brook Bi of Reading, PA, was crowned winner of the third annual National You Be The Chemist (YBTC) Challenge competition held in Philadelphia. Brook and eleven other contestants went through almost 200 chemistry-related questions that quizzed them on important concepts, discoveries, and safety tips.   Brook, a 6th grader from Reiffton Elementary School, advanced to the national competition by winning the Berks County YBTC Challenge, sponsored by Brenntag North America, Inc., also of Reading. As first-place winner of the National YBTC Challenge, Brook received a $5,000 educational savings bond, a $500 gift certificate to the Discovery Channel Store, and a CHEM3000 chemistry set. Coming in second place was Alex Ball of Mount Prospect, IL, and Christopher Pillay of Elk Grove Village, IL, was the third-place winner. In addition to chemistry sets and gift certificates, all of the competitiors received trophies or plaques and other fun YBTC Challenge goodies such as t-shirts, lab coats, water bottles, and book bags. The students and their chaperons toured the Franklin Institute of Science and the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Congratulations to all the 2007 National YBTC Challenge particpants, families, sponsoring companies, communities, and educators! Preparation for the 2007-2008 YBTC Challenge is already underway. If you are interested in organizing a Challenge in your community, please contact the CEF staff. Thank You, YBTC Challenge Sponsors! CEF would like to thank AIG Environmental of New York, NY; Arch Chemicals, Inc., of Norwalk, CT; Expo Chemical Co., Inc., of Houston, TX; and Thames & Kosmos of Portsmouth, RI, for sponsoring the 2007 National YBTC Challenge.       Back to Top   CEF Attends Pennsylvania Science Conference   On June 18, CEF staff member Corianne Bradley exhibited at the Science Academy for Teachers at the Berks County Intermediate Unit Education Centre in Reading, PA. The conference offered area educators the opportunity to participate in different educational sessions and served as a forum to discuss science education practices with fellow educators. Bradley promoted the YBTC kit, Challenge, and Lesson Plan Competition.       Back to Top   CEF to Make Presentation at NACD's Southern Region Meeting   CEF Managing Director John Rice will make a presentation at NACD's Southern Region Meeting on June 24 in Amelia Island, FL. Rice will provide an overview of CEF with specific emphasis on the new YBTC kit, the success of the YBTC Challenge, and information on the Lesson Plan Competition, Vanguard Award, and Solutions and Product Stewardship Bulletins.       Back to Top