Findings

Findings. (a) The General Assembly finds: (1) that significant opportunities may exist for industry to eliminate or reduce the generation of toxic substances at the source through modifications in production, operation and raw materials use; (2) that such modifications may offer significant savings through reduced raw materials, insurance and pollution control costs and are likely to improve worker health and safety; (3) that toxic pollution prevention opportunities are not realized because (i) existing regulations focus on treatment and disposal of wastes that have already been generated, rather than reducing the use of toxic substances at the source; (ii) existing regulations do not emphasize multimedia management of waste; and (iii) industries may need technical assistance for toxic pollution prevention; (4) that State environmental agencies can help promote toxic pollution prevention by disseminating information about such strategies to a range of industries, both large and small; and (5) that some industries may require on-site technical assistance from the State. (b) It is the purpose of this Act to reduce the disposal and release of toxic substances which may have adverse and serious health and environmental effects, to promote toxic pollution prevention as the preferred means for achieving compliance with environmental laws and regulations, to establish State programs that provide high-level attention to toxic pollution prevention policy initiatives, to integrate existing regulatory programs to promote toxic pollution prevention, and to stimulate toxic pollution prevention strategies by industry. (Source: P.A. 86-914.)