Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012, October 02, 1997, Page 3, Image 3

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    Kitzhaber stands behind toxic chemical measure
The toxics board plans to
make its report public by
April 1, 1999
By Nicole Kristal
Oregon Daily Emerald
Governor Kitzhaber promised
to support statewide toxics right to
know legislation at a Eugene Toxi
cs Board meeting Wednesday.
After expressing his apprecia
tion for the Eugene Toxics Board’s
efforts, Kitzhaber discussed his
plans for a future toxics right to
know task force. Kitzhaber also
stressed the need for business and
environmental advocates to work
together.
“If we have a good-spirited dia
logue through this task force, we
can end up with something that
preserves the public health and
also does not pose an onerous
burden on the business communi
ty,” Kitzhaber said.
The 13 member task force will
represent the interests of the busi
ness community, environmental
advocates and the general public,
according to Kitzhaber.
Kitzhaber intends to preserve
citizens’ right to know about
chemicals in their community,
while maintaining a working rela
tionship with the business com
munity as well.
“1 think we’ve got a pretty good
process here that’s going to hope
fully balance the public health is
sues with the ability of business to
comply,” Kitzhaber said.
Although the toxin reporting
measure was passed last year, the
report, which contains informa
tion about the use of toxic sub
stances, will not be made public
until April 1, 1999. Environmen
tal advocates on the toxics board
OOMEBNOR
CHAD PATTESON/Emerald
Governor John Kitzhaher discusses statewide toxics right to know legislation at a Eugene Toxics Board meeting Wednesday.
expressed various concerns to the
governor about the results being
made public at such a late date.
"The numbers are what the
public has never had,” board
member Mary O’Brien said. "Not
until April 1,1999 will the public
realize what they've been miss
ing.”
O’Brien believes that citizens of
Eugene will know more than any
community in the nation about
toxic emissions in their environ
ment after the report is made pub
lic.
According to Kitzhaber, there
have been attempts to repeal the
toxics measure in 1997, possibly
because business proponents fear
increased government regulation.
Kitzhaber said businesses are
concerned the measure will place
them at a disadvantage in relation
to competition in other parts of
the state. Companies fear they
will have trouble collecting the
information the board requires for
their report and lawsuits and
fines will put them out of busi
ness.
“The development of a
statewide toxic right to know bill
is one that has to be done in a con
structive fashion and can’t be
couched as an industry versus en
vironmental debate,” Kitzhaber
said. “It has to be put higher than
that in a discussion of what’s in
the best interests of public
health."
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