State officials are investigating whether a man who recently inspected a chemical plant in Chattanooga was an official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as he claimed, or an impostor.
BASF's safety manager said that a man identifying himself as a federal inspector called to ask about some tanker rail cars at the plant. The safety manager told the man to "bring some identification" to the plant, where he could get his questions answered in person. Several days later the man, armed and wearing a uniform, arrived at the plant.
Tennessee's homeland security chief said the Department of Homeland Security had not informed his office of any plans to inspect industrial plants in Tennessee.