After snuffing out two raging chemical fires in six months and hosing down the resulting storm of media attention, a coalition of government institutions yesterday announced a plan to reduce the risk of accidents at the nation's chemical plants.

The plan comes at a critical juncture – one month after the Suministros Industriales chemical plant in Alajuela, northwest of San José, burned to the ground, raining chemicals on the surrounding neighborhood and leaving lingering questions as to whether rivers and groundwater had been contaminated (TT, May 11).

Such multi-faceted national commissions and comprehensive plans on chemical safety are the norm elsewhere in the world, according to Federico Paredes, President of the Costa Rica Association for Public Health, a non-governmental organization in San José – but have only now taken hold in Costa Rica (TT, May 25).

Environment and Energy Minister Roberto Dobles, who leads the commission, said the problem is relatively new to Costa Rica, but he agreed the plan is urgent.

“It's well known that we've had very disorganized development in recent years, and chemical contamination of our aquifers and rivers is one of the results,” he said. “This plan seeks to better regulate and control the industry and also to reduce pollution,” he said.

The coalition, which includes the Health Ministry, Environment and Energy Ministry (MINAE), National Water and Sewer Institute (AyA), National Firefighter's Corps, National Emergency Commission (CNE), Universidad Nacional (UNA) and School of Chemistry Engineers, among others, will identify key risk areas, inspect each individual plant in the country and ensure that all are properly prepared for accidents.