§ 25b-1

(a) The General Assembly finds: (1) That many industrial facilities in the State may be emitting or discharging toxic chemicals into the environment on an ongoing basis, and that such releases may pose a chronic threat to public health and the environment. (2) That members of the general public have a right to know about the toxic chemical emissions and discharges in their communities so that they can determine the implications on public health from exposure to such chemicals and participate in public policy decision-making. (3) That the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 requires certain industries to provide information to the State on the types and quantities of toxic chemicals released into the air, ground and water. (4) That the federal Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 requires that the same industries file an annual source reduction and recycling report to provide information to the State on source reduction, as defined in such Act, and recycling activities which were conducted during the previous calendar year. (b) It is the purpose of this Title to provide for the coordinated State implementation of the federal programs that require the disclosure of information about routine releases, source reduction, and recycling of toxic chemicals, and to provide an orderly procedure whereby the public may gain access to this information.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 87-1213.)