Israel is ill-equipped to handle a major hazardous material leak, the Environmental Protection Ministry warned this week.
Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan saidthat the recent – still unexplained – incident, which saw a strong odor waft through central Israel lastThursday, "Should serve as a warning sign."
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According to Yedioth Ahronoth report, a letter sent by Danny Cariboo, director of budgets at the Public Security Ministry, to the Treasury just two days prior to the event, stated that "The current ability to meet any hazardous material-related event is insufficient and must be upgraded."
Both the Public Security and Environmental Protection ministries have formulated a plan meant to address such incidents, especially should one involve a hazardous airborne material.
The plan, however, had to be suspended, since the Treasury refused to funnel the necessary funds.
The Environmental Protection Ministry was tasked with heading all hazardous material-related incidents, but its limited resources impede its ability to handle large-scale or nationwide events.
- Minister Erdan ordered a review of the hazardous materials office following the devastating Carmel Fire of December 2010. The review recommended subjecting the office to the Fire and Rescue Services, which it said is best equipped to handle leaks due to its nationwide deployment and rapid-response experience.
The Public Security Ministry was reluctant at first, but eventually agreed on the move, which was slated to cost some NIS 30 million (roughly $7.9 million), but with a 50% cut in overhead expenditure, due to increased efficiency.
The Treasury said that "We have no objection to this change as long as the respective ministries bear the costs."
"What happened last week has to serve as a giant warning sigh for all of us – and first and foremost for the Treasury, which in impending the upgrade of the hazardous materials center."