An ammonium nitrate explosion occurred at a fertilizer company in West Texas in April and in June an explosion at a Louisiana Chemical Plant killed one and injured several. These are only a couple of several tragic chemical accidents at facilities across the United States this year.
On August 1, 2013, in response to the recent tragedies involving chemical accidents at U.S. facilities, President Obama issued an Executive Order. This Executive Order is entitled “Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security.” It establishes a Chemical Facility and Security Working Group that is co-chaired by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Secretary of Labor. The purpose of this order is for executive departments and agencies with regulatory authority to further improve chemical safety and security in coordination with owners and operators.
Read more at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/01/executive-order-improving-chemical-facility-safety-and-security