Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA Title III) established
a new federal approach to managing toxic chemical hazards. This legislation required industry to
disclose the type and quantity of such chemicals and also required the establishment of state and
local government organizations to receive those data, evaluate community vulnerability, develop
local emergency response plans, and communicate with the public. This paper reviews the law’s
historical context and empirical studies of its implementation. The available evidence suggests
that significant progress has been made in reducing chemical hazards but there is considerable
variation across jurisdictions in the effectiveness of the law’s implementation. The research results
reviewed here suggest a variety of ways in which SARA Title III implementation can be improved.
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