ACD Press Release

ACD Members Join Federal, State, and Local Officials in California for Chemical Safety Exercise

Arlington, VA –This week, members of the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) participated in a tabletop exercise this week led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to explore, assess, and enhance chemical safety procedures.

The exercise took place in Los Angeles, California, and involved representatives from federal, state, and local emergency agencies, as well as some of the country’s leading chemical companies. ACD members who participated in the event included A. G. Layne, Inc., Brenntag North America, Inc., HASA, Phillips 66, TriiSO, Univar Solutions, and Weber Logistics.

In this photo, left to right: Robyn Brooks (The Chlorine Institute), Lizka Mendoza (City of Los Angeles Office of Emergency Management), Matthew Fridley (Brenntag North America, Inc.), Michael Madrigal (Transportation Security Administration), and David Smith (Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction)

“Collaboration between the private sector, local law enforcement, and other key stakeholders is critical to keeping chemical facilities and communities safe and ensuring businesses remain vigilant against evolving threats,” said Eric R. Byer, President and CEO of ACD. “ACD’s participation in this week’s exercise reflects our organization’s strong partnerships with CISA and officials from federal, state, and local governments. Conducting these kinds of drills further strengthens these relationships and underscores our members’ commitment to the security and well-being of the communities where they operate.”

Matthew Fridley, Vice President of Government Affairs at Brenntag North America, Inc. and Vice Chair of ACD’s Board of Directors, said, “Brenntag believes strong partnerships between industry and emergency responders are essential to protecting lives, maintaining business continuity, and strengthening community resilience during crisis.  When industry and emergency responders collaborate in a trusted environment, preparedness improves, response times strengthen, and communities benefit. Brenntag is committed to ongoing outreach with our responding communities and assisting them in their preparation for the unexpected.”

ACD members recognize the importance of being prepared for a crisis. A critical component of ACD’s Responsible Distribution™ program is the emergency response and public preparedness requirements, which require members to document and regularly review a variety of preparedness policies and procedures that serve as best practices for any organization handling chemicals. ACD members uphold the highest safety standards, going beyond regulatory requirements to invest in systems, training, and continuous improvement to protect employees, communities, and the environment.

This exercise was part of an ongoing partnership among the participants and was not in response to any specific threat. Additional resources and tools are available on the agency’s website, CISA.gov.

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The Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) partners with our more than 400 chemical distribution industry members to provide the education, connection, standards, and advocacy they need to responsibly move the essential products our world depends on. As leaders in the $27B+ chemical distribution industry, ACD member companies commit to the highest standards in quality, safety, sustainability, and performance through ACD Responsible Distribution^TM. For more information, visit www.acd-chem.com.