Gov. Mike Easley today signed into law House Bill 36, “An act to improve the oversight of hazardous waste facilities, as recommended by the Governor’s Hazardous Materials Task Force.” The legislation will require companies that store hazardous waste to provide more information to state and local governments and details on these facilities and the waste being stored are easily available.

“This new law makes our permit requirements stricter and improves communication to make sure our citizens are protected in case of a hazardous waste accident,” Easley said. “Also, the law adds new provisions to make sure hazardous waste facility operators put the health and safety concerns of our citizens as their top priority. I commend the members of the General Assembly for unanimously passing this comprehensive bill. It provides the further protection North Carolinians need to be secure in their neighborhoods and communities.”

Provisions in the new law include requiring those who apply for hazardous waste facility permits to provide information about the facility and its contingency plans to local governments and emergency responders. The law also requires that all information on the waste stored at each facility be available offsite to the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources, local governments and emergency responders. The primary sponsors of the legislation include state Rep. Ty Harrell (D-Wake), Rep. Jennifer Weiss (D-Wake), Rep. Deborah Ross (D-Wake) and Rep. Nelson Dollar (R-Wake). The bill was signed in the Governor’s Office at the State Capitol in Raleigh.

“This legislation adds important oversight to make sure citizens are protected, public agencies are fully informed and businesses appropriately regulated,” said state Rep. Weiss. “We will continue to pay close attention to the needs of communities where these facilities are located so citizens are safe in their homes.”

The legislation developed out of recommendations from the Governor’s Hazardous Materials Task Force. Easley created the 11-member task force last fall following the Oct. 5, 2006 late-night fire at the Environmental Quality Co. (EQ) complex in Apex that forced the evacuation of hundreds of people who lived near the facility. The EQ warehouse was a storage facility for hazardous materials.

Portions of the bill become effective on the governor’s signature, others on July 1, 2007 and the remainder on Oct. 1, 2007.

Click here for a CNN story on the Apex disaster.