[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 32 (Monday, August 14, 1995)]
[Pages 1400-1401]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Community Right-To-Know Initiatives

August 8, 1995

Memorandum for the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
and the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject: Expediting Community Right-to-Know Initiatives

    The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (42 
U.S.C. 11001-11050) (``EPCRA'') and the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 
(42 U.S.C. 13101-13109) provide an innovative approach to protecting 
public health and the environment by ensuring that communities are 
informed about the toxic chemicals being released into the air, land, 
and water by manufacturing facilities. I am committed to the effective 
implementation of this law, because Community Right-to-Know protections 
provide a basic informational tool to encourage informed community-based 
environmental decision making and provide a strong incentive for 
businesses to find their own ways of preventing pollution.
    The laws provide the Environmental Protection Agency with 
substantial authority to add to the Toxics Release Inventory under 
EPCRA: (1) new chemicals; (2) new classes of industrial facilities; and 
(3) additional types of information concerning toxic chemical use at 
facilities. Community Right-to-Know should be enhanced wherever possible 
as appropriate. EPA currently is engaged in an on-going process to 
address potential facility expansion and the collection of use 
information. I am committed to a full and open process on the policy 
issues posed by EPA's exercise of these authorities.
    So that consideration of these issues can be fully accomplished 
during this Administration, I am directing the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Office of 
Management and Budget and appropriate Federal agencies with applicable 
technical and functional expertise, as necessary, to take the following 
actions:
      (a) Continuation on an expedited basis of the public notice and 
      comment rulemaking proceedings to consider whether, as appropriate 
      and consistent with section 313(b) of EPCRA, 42 U.S.C. 11023(b), 
      to add to the list of Standard Industrial Classification (``SIC'') 
      Code designations of 20 through 39 (as in effect on July 1, 1985). 
      For SIC Code designations, see ``Standard Industrial 
      Classification Manual'' published by the Office of Management and 
      Budget. EPA shall complete the rulemaking process on an 
      accelerated schedule.
      (b) Development and implementation of an expedited, open, and 
      transparent process for consideration of reporting under EPCRA on 
      information on the use of toxic chemicals at facilities, including 
      information on mass balance, materials accounting, or other 
      chemical use date, pursuant to section 313(b)(1)(A) of EPCRA, 42 
      U.S.C. 11023(b)(1)(A). EPA shall report on the progress of this 
      effort by October 1, 1995, with a goal of obtaining sufficient 
      information to be able to make informed judgments concerning 
      implementation of any appropriate program.
    These actions should continue unless specifically prohibited by law. 
The head of each executive department or agency shall assist the 
Environmental Protection Agency in implementing this directive as 
quickly as possible.
    This directive is for the internal management of the executive 
branch and does not create any right or benefit, substantive or 
procedural, enforceable by any party against the United States, its 
agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or employees, or any person.
    The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is authorized 
and directed to publish this Memorandum in the Federal Register.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11 a.m., August 10, 
1995]

Note: This memorandum was published in the Federal Register on August 
11.

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