Pima County Health Department

Many of us have driven past an industrial plant and wondered what is happening inside. Did you ever think to yourself, "Wonder what they make in there?" or "Could they be using any dangerous chemicals and if there is an accident, will they be able to warn me and my family about toxic gasses?" If questions like these have occurred to you, you are not alone. More and more people have become concerned about hazardous materials in the last few years, and as a citizen, you have the right to have your questions answered.
In the past, citizens who wanted to know more about the hazardous and toxic chemicals in their communities had to depend on the coopration of industry for information. Some companies were willing to answer questions and even opened their doors for public tours a few times a year. But if a company was not willing to share information about its operaitons with its neighbors, there was not much a concerned citizen could do about it.

All that has changed since the 1984 tragedy in Bhopal, India, where a release of toxic gas killed and injured thousands of people. In November of 1986, Congress passed a law designed to help America's communities deal safely and effectively with many hazardous substances that are used throughout our society. The law is called the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA), and it has two purposes: to encourage and support emergency planning for responding to chemcial accidents; and to provide local governments and the public with information about possible chemical hazards in their communities.

For the law to work, industry, interested citizens, environmental and other public-interest organizations, and government at all levels must work together to reduce the risk to the public from releases of toxic chemicals into the environment.

EPCRA established an ongoing forum at the local level for discussion and focus for action-the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

As a citizen, you have the right-to-know about the chemicals in your community. Yes, you have the right to make your own deicsions as to whether these chemicals are a threat to your health or environment. The more each of us learns about, understands, and participates in managing chemical hazards, the safer our communities will be for everyone.

For additional information regarding hazardous materials reporting requirements, contact the Pima County Local Emergency Planning Committee at 520-798-0600.