Washington, D.C. -- The Vermont Attorney General, William H. Sorrell, sent a letter to Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), EPW Chairman, voicing deep concern about the Udall-Vitter toxics chemical bill. The letter, which is the latest in a series from Attorneys General from across the nation who raised similar concerns about the legislation, states:

"First, the proposed framework to preempt state laws could create a significant void in the regulation of toxic chemicals. Second, the proposed prohibition on state enforcement of federal rules unnecessarily limits the states' ability to complement and assist the federal government's work in protecting the public and the environment. Last, the proposed revisions jeopardize the states' ability to address toxic chemicals, an ability that the current TSCA regulatory system has afforded."

At the March 18th legislative hearing on chemical safety, Senator Boxer released letters from the Attorneys General of California, New York, Massachusetts, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Oregon and Washington, who have also written about the serious threat posed by the bill to states' ability to protect public health and safety.

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