Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-24.4-2. Purpose and findings

(a) It is found that the health and safety of the people of the state are threatened by the proliferation of hazardous substances and that the people can begin to control exposure to these substances and to remediate the effects of that exposure only by knowledge of what hazardous substances are being produced, used, stored, emitted, discharged, or transported within the state. It is further found that, while the department of environmental management is taking steps to make known to residents all available information on hazardous discharges or emissions within the state, residents of the state have no established means of access to employers' lists of hazardous substances and material safety data sheets and that residents should have access to those lists and sheets.

(b) It is declared in the public interest and the policy of the state that residents of the state have access to those lists and safety sheets.