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How can an expanded community right-to-know program better protect workers and the public from accidental releases of toxic chemicals from industrial facilities?

Expanded community right-to-know programs in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Eugene, Oregon, go beyond the federal TRI by requiring industrial facilities to report the types and total amounts of toxic chemicals they use on an annual basis. This data is a much better indicator of the risks posed by these chemicals than are releases or wastes.

Information about the quantities of toxic chemicals used by an industrial facility can be of critical importance to local emergency planning committees, as well as to workers, fire fighters, and police officers, who are often the first to respond in the event of a fire, spill, or other chemical accident. Information on toxic chemical use by industrial facilities can also help facility workers prevent occupational exposures to dangerous substances and recommend safer alternatives. Finally, it can help community organizations and policy-makers engage in an informed dialogue with plant managers about the steps these facilities are (or are not) taking to minimize the risk of accidental exposures at the plant site.

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