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Arlington, VA |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Susannah Williams swilliams@acd-chem.com |
Arlington, VA –This week, members of the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) joined federal, state, local, and industry partners for a tabletop exercise led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) focused on strengthening chemical safety preparedness, collaboration, and emergency response.
The West Virginia Chemical Sector Tabletop Exercise, hosted at Brenntag North America, Inc.’s facility in Nitro, West Virginia, brought together chemical distribution companies, emergency responders, and government partners to examine procedures for responding to a potential safety incident. In addition to Brenntag, ACD members CITCO Water and LBB Specialties participated in the exercise.
The exercise focused on three key areas: pre-incident intelligence and information sharing; emergency response procedures, including physical security, hazardous materials response, evacuation, and public communications; and post-incident recovery and business continuity. The exercise was designed to strengthen coordination among public- and private-sector stakeholders and enhance readiness to address complex challenges facing the chemical sector.
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Participants in the West Virginia Chemical Sector Tabletop Exercise review crisis scenarios.
“Safety is at the heart of everything our members do, and that commitment extends beyond the walls of their facilities to the communities where they operate,” said Eric R. Byer, President and CEO of ACD. “ACD members invest significant time and resources to ensure they are prepared for the unexpected. Exercises like this give our members an important opportunity to put that preparation into practice alongside emergency responders and government partners, strengthen coordination, and identify ways to continuously improve. We thank Brenntag for hosting this exercise and CISA for its continued partnership and commitment to the safety of our industry.”
Matthew Fridley, Vice President of Government Affairs at Brenntag North America, Inc. and Vice Chair of ACD’s Board of Directors, said, “At Brenntag, safety comes first, and preparedness is a critical part of that commitment. We were proud to host this exercise and provide an opportunity to strengthen coordination and share best practices with partners across industry and government. Exercises like this help us evaluate our plans, learn from one another, and continuously improve how we prepare to protect our employees, facilities, and surrounding communities.”
William Ryan, CISA Region 3 Regional Director, said, “Collaboration and preparedness are the foundation of our mission at CISA. This exercise in West Virginia demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in strengthening chemical safety and emergency response. By bringing together federal, state, local, and industry partners, we are not only enhancing our ability to respond to incidents, but also building lasting relationships that help protect our communities and critical infrastructure. I commend the Alliance for Chemical Distribution members, Brenntag North America, and all participants for their commitment to safety and continuous improvement. Together, we are advancing readiness and resilience across the chemical sector”
ACD members recognize the importance of crisis preparedness. 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.
The West Virginia exercise builds on ongoing collaboration between ACD members, CISA, and government partners to strengthen chemical-sector security and emergency preparedness. It was not in response to any specific threat. Earlier this year, ACD members participated in a similar CISA-led tabletop exercise in Los Angeles alongside federal, state, and local emergency agencies. 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 DistributionTM. For more information, visit www.acd-chem.com.