Public Saftey 6-29-07

A bill that would require stricter oversight of hazardous waste storage sites was signed into law this week. The bill, House Bill 36, protects residents by requiring hazardous waste sites to take financial responsibility and conduct preventative screenings for environmental contamination when hazardous materials are released. The bill was filed in response to an explosion and fire at a hazardous waste storage facility in Apex late last year that resulted in the evacuation of thousands of people. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said this week that mislabeled oxygen generators in the plant probably fueled the fire.