October 13, 2023

Every October, manufacturers throughout the Pittsburgh region and beyond, including our Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council (PCIC) members, celebrate National Manufacturing Month and the positive contributions manufacturing has on our society. The economic impacts are significant. According to the American Chemistry Council, the chemical and plastics industries inject over $14 billion, support over 90,000 direct and indirect jobs, and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes annually.

The impacts on our daily lives may not be as obvious. How the products we purchase from a retail shelf or online service are made is often overlooked. Manufacturing starts with chemistry, which is the building block for nearly every product we use daily. When you think about it, chemistry is responsible for nearly every healthcare product, as the building blocks for cleaner energy options, high-performing building materials, food packaging, electronics, clothing, vehicles and more.

Modern society needs continued chemical and plastics production and demand is expected to increase. The good news is that every year, manufacturers are finding new and innovative ways to make their products more sustainable. Our PCIC members are advancing sustainability, expanding advanced recycling and decarbonizing supply chains, driving substantial environmental benefits.

While innovative companies are leading the way to harness new technological innovations to reduce emissions, reduce waste, and recycle more, legislators and regulators at the state and federal levels must enact sound policies that advance sustainability efforts. Forced mandates and ultimatums stifle innovation. A better path is taking a collaborative approach.

Our members, including those in Western Pennsylvania, aren’t waiting for others to lead the way when it comes to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

July 27, 2023

For Immediate Release  

Harrisburg, Pa. –  “The Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council commends the Environmental Hearing Board for dismissing a legal attempt to call into question Pennsylvania’s advanced recycling legislation that was signed into law by former Democratic Governor Tom Wolf in 2020. 

Plastics are critical to every aspect of modern life, from health care products, medical equipment, clothing, and food packaging, to energy efficiency products, renewable energy, battery storage, microchips, and electric vehicles. Our members invest hundreds of millions of dollars to advance new technologies and real solutions to reduce, reuse and recycle more. 

Reducing plastic waste while manufacturing the products consumers rely on every day will take collaboration and innovative solutions. Economic growth and sustainability can work hand-in-hand. However, continued litigation brought forward by groups like the Clean Air Council will not lead us to real environmental progress. 

We are encouraged that Pennsylvania’s bipartisan advanced recycling legislation that was signed into law has now been affirmed by the Environmental Hearing Board.” 

For Background

Pennsylvania is one of 24 states nationwide to appropriately regulate advanced recycling technologies as manufacturers and not waste facilities. This important distinction provides regulatory certainty to attract new economic investment such as Encina’s proposed $1.1 billion facility while ensuring full compliance with PA DEP and EPA permitting requirements.   

Contact: 

Steve Kratz, President, PCIC

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June 29, 2023

As the president of the Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council, representing chemical manufacturers in Pennsylvania, we are asking members of Congress to support legislation to reauthorize the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) before the program expires on July 27^th, 2023.

Our members are a critical sector of Pennsylvania’s economy and are essential to making the chemicals and products that make everyday life possible. They are leading the charge to advance new innovations with a focus on sustainability, circularity, and aggressive carbon reduction goals while continuing to prioritize the safety of the industry, its workers, and the communities where they operate. This is why we are urging Congress to pass a long-term authorization of this critical CFATS program. Securing the future of CFATS will help provide the regulatory stability and certainty needed for companies to continue to make sound financial decisions and capital investments in safeguarding their facilities.

CFATS provides a strong yet flexible approach by setting a consistent national standard. Under CFATS, companies must develop and submit security plans to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for approval. The program establishes practical security performance standards to address a wide range of potential threat scenarios, including a physical attack, theft and diversion, and cyberattacks. The standards allow facilities to tailor their approach to address unique security risks and they are adaptable to help address emerging threats.

CFATS has a solid 15-year regulatory history, and the program has delivered solid results. According to a recent analysis by the DHS, security measures at CFATS-regulated facilities have increased by 60%. As a result, communities across our state are safer. This program is vital to national security and should not be allowed to expire. CFATS has been reauthorized by Congress four times with strong bipartisan support and this time should be no different. Recently, U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Carper (D-DE), and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced bipartisan legislation to extend this critical program. We urge Congress to support a long-term reauthorization for CFATS.