March 25, 2020

Critical Infrastructure Lobbying

More Than 100 Industry Groups Urge President, And Elected Officials At All Levels To Uniformly Apply Department of Homeland Security Critical Infrastructure Definition

News provided by

Mar 25, 2020, 11:02 ET

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The American Chemistry Council (ACC) today joined more than 100 other business and trade associations representing a wide swath of the business community in pressing the White House, Governors, Mayors, and other elected officials to come together with uniform practices and policies by adopting the definition of “critical infrastructure” as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In addition to ACC, the letter was signed by groups including, the American Cleaning Institute; the American Petroleum Institute; the Biotechnology Innovation Organization; the Consumer Brands Association; and the National Association of Manufacturers, as well as many others. DHS has made clear that the chemical manufacturing sector and its workers are identified as Essential Critical Infrastructure. The DHS guidance also explicitly states that those supporting the chemical and industrial gas supply chain, including those working in distribution, transportation, packaging, and maintenance are included, in addition to anyone supplying the production of protective cleaning and medical solutions, and personal protective equipment.

The letter urges: 1) national coordination; 2) prevention of artificial barriers to the safe shipment of goods; and, 3) freedom for a healthy workforce to get to and from manufacturing facilities and retailers during all necessary hours of operation.

The role of chemistry is particularly important today. Chemicals enable countless products that will be needed to support life-saving medical care, including personal protective gear for front line health workers; chemical biocides and disinfectants that are the active ingredients in cleaning products that eliminate bacteria and viruses on a personal, household and industrial scale: and plastic products and packaging that help prevent contamination of food, medicine, personal care and medical products while helping prevent person-to-person transmission of disease-causing microorganisms.

As state and local governments make their decisions regarding COVID-19 we fully expect them to rely on this DHS guidance and not place any undue restrictions that would impede chemical production, including the ability of employees to travel to work and the transportation of material to and from chemical facilities.

www.americanchemistry.com

SOURCE American Chemistry Council

More Than 100 Industry Groups Urge President, And Elected Officials At All Levels To Uniformly Apply Department of Homeland Security Critical Infrastructure Definition

News provided by

American Chemistry Council

Mar 25, 2020, 11:02 ET

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The American Chemistry Council (ACC) today joined more than 100 other business and trade associations representing a wide swath of the business community in pressing the White House, Governors, Mayors, and other elected officials to come together with uniform practices and policies by adopting the definition of “critical infrastructure” as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In addition to ACC, the letter was signed by groups including, the American Cleaning Institute; the American Petroleum Institute; the Biotechnology Innovation Organization; the Consumer Brands Association; and the National Association of Manufacturers, as well as many others. DHS has made clear that the chemical manufacturing sector and its workers are identified as Essential Critical Infrastructure. The DHS guidance also explicitly states that those supporting the chemical and industrial gas supply chain, including those working in distribution, transportation, packaging, and maintenance are included, in addition to anyone supplying the production of protective cleaning and medical solutions, and personal protective equipment.

The letter urges: 1) national coordination; 2) prevention of artificial barriers to the safe shipment of goods; and, 3) freedom for a healthy workforce to get to and from manufacturing facilities and retailers during all necessary hours of operation.

The role of chemistry is particularly important today. Chemicals enable countless products that will be needed to support life-saving medical care, including personal protective gear for front line health workers; chemical biocides and disinfectants that are the active ingredients in cleaning products that eliminate bacteria and viruses on a personal, household and industrial scale: and plastic products and packaging that help prevent contamination of food, medicine, personal care and medical products while helping prevent person-to-person transmission of disease-causing microorganisms.

As state and local governments make their decisions regarding COVID-19 we fully expect them to rely on this DHS guidance and not place any undue restrictions that would impede chemical production, including the ability of employees to travel to work and the transportation of material to and from chemical facilities.

www.americanchemistry.com

SOURCE American Chemistry Council

Even as states limit economic activity, the chemical industry is a key and essential industry and is demanded to keep operating. Everchem is in PA and is an essential business and remains open to keep our customers supplied during this crisis, while putting in place protections for our employees. So stay confident that your business will be supplied with the same level of service you are used to. Logistics will probably get stressed during this crisis, so plan ahead! If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with your Everchem representative.

As an example, here are the exempt chemical businesses in California:

CHEMICAL:

Workers supporting the chemical and industrial gas supply chains, including workers at chemical manufacturing plants, workers in laboratories, workers at distribution facilities, workers who transport basic raw chemical materials to the producers of industrial and consumer goods, including hand sanitizers, food and food additives, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and paper products. • Workers supporting the safe transportation of chemicals, including those supporting tank truck cleaning facilities and workers who manufacture packaging items • Workers supporting the production of protective cleaning and medical solutions, personal protective equipment, and packaging that prevents the contamination of food, water, medicine, among others essential products • Workers supporting the operation and maintenance of facilities (particularly those with high risk chemicals and/or sites that cannot be shut down) whose work cannot be done remotely and requires the presence of highly trained personnel to ensure safe operations, including plant contract workers who provide inspections • Workers who support the production and transportation of chlorine and alkali manufacturing, single-use plastics, and packaging that prevents the contamination or supports the continued manufacture of food, water, medicine, and other essential products, including glass container manufacturing.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-20/these-are-the-jobs-and-sector-exempted-from-californias-coronavirus-stay-home-order

March 20, 2020

The Chemical Industry is Essential

Even as states limit economic activity, the chemical industry is a key and essential industry and is demanded to keep operating. Everchem is in PA and is an essential business and remains open to keep our customers supplied during this crisis, while putting in place protections for our employees. So stay confident that your business will be supplied with the same level of service you are used to. Logistics will probably get stressed during this crisis, so plan ahead! If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with your Everchem representative.

As an example, here are the exempt chemical businesses in California:

CHEMICAL:

Workers supporting the chemical and industrial gas supply chains, including workers at chemical manufacturing plants, workers in laboratories, workers at distribution facilities, workers who transport basic raw chemical materials to the producers of industrial and consumer goods, including hand sanitizers, food and food additives, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and paper products. • Workers supporting the safe transportation of chemicals, including those supporting tank truck cleaning facilities and workers who manufacture packaging items • Workers supporting the production of protective cleaning and medical solutions, personal protective equipment, and packaging that prevents the contamination of food, water, medicine, among others essential products • Workers supporting the operation and maintenance of facilities (particularly those with high risk chemicals and/or sites that cannot be shut down) whose work cannot be done remotely and requires the presence of highly trained personnel to ensure safe operations, including plant contract workers who provide inspections • Workers who support the production and transportation of chlorine and alkali manufacturing, single-use plastics, and packaging that prevents the contamination or supports the continued manufacture of food, water, medicine, and other essential products, including glass container manufacturing.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-20/these-are-the-jobs-and-sector-exempted-from-californias-coronavirus-stay-home-order

March 20, 2020

NACD Statement on Potential State Mandated Closures

NACD Sends Letter To President Trump Regarding Chemical Industry Operations

National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) has sent a letter to President Donald Trump and all 50 U.S. governors urging them to keep chemical distribution operations open because of the industry’s crucial role in ensuring the well-being of both citizens and businesses across the country.

After the letter was issued, NACD President and CEO Eric R. Byer released the following statement:

“Chemical distributors play a vital role in the U.S. economy, delivering products to more than 750,000 customers across the country. Many of these customers are in industries critical to public health, such as food, personal care, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, water treatment, and more. As cities and states across the nation respond to the COVID-19 crisis, it is imperative that chemical distributors are allowed to continue their important work to support their communities by delivering valuable products that keep the U.S. economy functioning and can help mitigate the worst impacts of this coronavirus.

“Without the chemical products and transportation services supplied by the distribution sector, supply chains will be severely strained and many manufacturers will be unable to run at full capacity in producing the goods so many people need to survive the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, critical municipal infrastructure like water treatment plants, which many distributors supply necessary products to for their operations, could be negatively impacted if chemical distributors are forced to reduce their operations at exactly the moment the healthcare system braces for an increased number of cases.

“NACD and our member companies stand ready to work with our partners in industry and government to support communities across the nation in their efforts to combat the growing threat of COVID-19. Therefore, we urge President Trump and every governor across the country to include the chemical distribution industry in their crisis response plans, ensuring that goods vital to facilitating that response are able to make it to the people who need them the most and help stem the tide of this rapidly spreading illness.”

https://www.cleanlink.com/news/article/NACD-Sends-Letter-To-President-Trump-Regarding-Chemical-Industry-Operations–25302

Government Regulation

More Than 100 Industry Groups Urge President, And Elected Officials At All Levels To Uniformly Apply Department of Homeland Security Critical Infrastructure Definition

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More Than 100 Industry Groups Urge President, And Elected Officials At All Levels To Uniformly Apply Department of Homeland Security Critical Infrastructure Definition

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NACD Sends Letter To President Trump Regarding Chemical Industry Operations

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