Chemical plant protection legislation on the way.

Key Senate players plan to bring comprehensive government oversight to chemical plants, a move that would regulate security at the sites at the federal level.

The chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), said she would introduce legislation this fall to increase protection at domestic chemical facilities. Currently, she said, only the federal government regulates a fraction of these sites' security measures.

"We have learned that the United States is home to thousands of facilities that manufacture, use, or store chemicals for legitimate purposes that could cause devastation if turned against us as weapons," Collins said. "We also have learned that voluntary measures and a patchwork of state laws, while helpful, are not enough. Federal regulation is dearly necessary."

During hearings before the committee, key representatives of the chemical industry expressed support for federal legislation to fully regulate security at chemical facilities, including oversight and enforcement by the Department of Homeland Security.

One early issue will be counting and classifying the nation's at-risk chemical plants.

The Environmental Protection Agency has listed some 15,000 chemical facilities that produce, use or store large quantities of hazardous chemicals. DHS, using a different methodology, has identified 3,400 facilities that could potentially affect more than 1,000 people if attacked, and nearly 300 chemical facilities where a toxic release could potentially affect 50,000 or more people.

Since administration officials testified in support of the regulations and Democrats on and off the committee signaled support, the legislation is likely to become law.