Frank Lautenberg: “I rise to clarify the congressional intent with respect to S. 880, the Chemical Safety Information, Site Security and…”

“I rise to clarify the congressional intent with respect to S. 880, the Chemical Safety Information, Site Security and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act of 1999, as we pass it and send it to the President. Balance between the right-to-know effect and risks of criminal activity (New section 112(r)(7)(H)(ii)): The amendment directs the President to promulgate regulations governing the disclosure of the off-site Consequence Analysis (OCA) information in a way that minimizes the likelihood of releases of the regulated chemicals, whether these releases are accidental or the result of criminal activity. In other words, the amendment calls for a balancing of the risk-reducing effect of public disclosure (the ``Right-to-Know Effect'') against the potential of increased risk of criminal activity associated with the posting of the OCA information on the Internet. Most importantly, reducing the threat of criminal activity is not the sole or even primary focus of the rule-making. Rather the objective is to minimize the release of regulated chemicals, which requires a balanced approach, and nothing in this Act necessarily precludes the eventual electronic dissemination of the information.”