Tracking toxic plumes

Tracking toxic plumes

By Peter Boyle

MELBOURNE — Fred Millar's specialty is tracking the likely paths of toxic plumes. As director of US Friends of the Earth toxics project, he has been involved in many campaigns, including one that jolted federal politicians by demonstrating that an accident to a rail tanker carrying chlorine through Washington DC would exterminate everybody in Congress at the time.

Millar, who was a speaker at the recent Ecopolitics VI conference, is a member of the Washington DC Local Emergency Planning Committee, which publicises worst case toxic accident scenarios as part of emergency planning processes.

Many chemical companies have also worked out such scenarios but keep them secret on the pretext that they don't want to cause alarm. Millar recommends that environment and community groups demand the publication of worst-case scenarios so the public is aware of the risks.

Millar says that even without right to know legislation, companies can be forced to reveal information. Activist groups can work out risks for themselves, sketching accident scenarios, drawing plume maps and taking direct action against chemical companies. Such activities can result in "good neighbour" agreements including right-to-know provisions.

From GLW issue 77