New Jersey § 34:5a-2

§ 34:5a-2.

The Legislature finds and declares that the proliferation of hazardous substances

in the environment poses a growing threat to the public health, safety, and welfare;

that the constantly increasing number and variety of hazardous substances, and the

many routes of exposure to them make it difficult and expensive to adequately monitor

and detect any adverse health effects attributable thereto; that individuals themselves

are often able to detect and thus minimize effects of exposure to hazardous substances

if they are aware of the identity of the substances and the early symptoms of unsafe

exposure; and that individuals have an inherent right to know the full range of the

risks they face so that they can make reasoned decisions and take informed action

concerning their employment and their living conditions. The Legislature further declares that local health, fire, police, safety and other

government officials require detained information about the identity, characteristics,

and quantities of hazardous substances used and stored in communities within their

jurisdictions, in order to adequately plan for, and respond to, emergencies, and enforce

compliance with applicable laws and regulations concerning these substances. The Legislature further declares that the extent of the toxic contamination of the

air, water, and land in this State has caused a high degree of concern among its residents;

and that much of this concern is needlessly aggravated by the unfamiliarity of these

substances to residents. The Legislature therefore determines that it is in the public interest to establish

a comprehensive program for the disclosure of information about hazardous substances

in the workplace and the community, and to provide a procedure whereby residents of

this State may gain access to this information.