Pres. Clinton announced plans on Saturday to make companies that handle even relatively small quantities of certain toxic materials provide fuller public disclosure when they discharge the potentially dangerous chemicals into the air or water. Clinton talked up the new regulations, which will expand the federal Toxics Release Inventory program on Jan. 1, as a way to get info to the public so it can work to fight pollution. The new rules will require reports by companies that use as little as 10 pounds a year of 27 persistent bioaccumulative toxics, including for the first time dioxin. Enviros, who in the past have pointed out that loopholes allow significant levels of toxic pollution to go unreported, were generally supportive of the move.
