Where The Law Has Failed   Right To Know Act   What You Can Do

What Does the "Right to Know" law prove? The Community Right-to-Know Act requires companies to report on releases to the air, water or land of a broad range of chemicals. The annual data is available on-line in the "Toxic Release Inventory"(TRI). The TRI is considered one of the most successful environmental laws. Although the law has no substantive requirements for treatment or waste reduction, it is credited with encouraging companies to voluntarily decrease their use of toxic chemicals and the resulting hazardous wastes. Between 1986 and 1997 chemical releases of TRI chemicals have decreased 47% much of it credited to the publicity that accompanies the annual publication of the TRI results. However, detailed analysis shows that the success of the TRI has not been uniform. Releases of many chemicals that are regulated under RCRA as hazardous wastes have decreased dramatically, whereas the use of many toxic chemicals just as harmful but un-regulated by RCRA have stayed relatively level or even increased. Companies are placing their priority on decreasing the use of RCRA regulated chemicals and replacing them with other chemicals that are not regulated under RCRA. What chemicals should be added? Protection of the public health and environment requires significant expansion of the regulated chemicals so that EPA can move quickly on the most dangerous chemicals. EPA has the data and tools to properly choose which high priority hazardous chemicals should quickly be regulated. << Back Next >>