Moore: Liability for toxic substances bill goes far beyond what is reasonable

By Bill Moore

As an organization that advocates on behalf of its members, the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce follows issues on the local, state and federal level. One bill making its way through the legislative process may have ramifications that far exceed the intent the legislation. It has been introduced in response to the chemical contamination around the former Chemfab (Saint-Gobain) facilities.

The bill in question is S.197, An Act Relating to Liability for Toxic Substance Exposures or Releases. This act may have an impact on any business or individual that uses chemicals of any kind, whether for cleaning, as a part of the manufacturing process, dyeing, painting, engine maintenance or repair, personal services, dry cleaning, salon processes or any other use.

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Bill Moore is president and CEO of the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce.

Importantly, the liability extends into the future, should a chemical allowed in use today be deemed harmful in one, five, 20, 50, or 100 years or more into the future.

In its simplest form, this means that if you use a chemical to clean with today, and you or your employees are exposed to the fumes and in 2033 that chemical is deemed to be harmful to human health, you could be liable for damages. You could also be liable for the cost of providing medical monitoring for anyone who was exposed to those fumes any time after the enactment of the law, regardless of whether you followed strict adherence to the instructions while using the chemical for cleaning.

The bill provides strict liability for any personal injury or property damage resulting from the intentional or unintentional release of any toxic substance into the air, water or ground. The liability accrues regardless of whether a permit was in place or required, or how safely the product was being used. The bill treats the careful handler the same as the intentional polluter.

Strict liability as applied in this act means that no matter how carefully a defendant uses a substance, if there is the potential for harm, the defendant is liable. In addition to strict liability, the measure calls for joint and several liability. This means that a defendant that is responsible for 1 percent of the exposure is potentially liable for all damages.

The bill also provides that the defendant will be responsible for medical monitoring for anyone who has been exposed to a chemical if a preponderance of evidence shows that the person was exposed to a toxic substance; there is a probable link between exposure to the toxic substance and a disease or diseases; the person’s exposure is the result of another’s tortious conduct including negligence, battery, strict liability, trespass and nuisance; the person’s exposure to the toxic substance increases the risk of developing a disease; diagnostic testing is reasonably necessary.

A person does not need to prove that the disease is certain or likely to develop as a result of the exposure. Testing is reasonably necessary if a physician would prescribe such testing for the purpose of detecting or monitoring the disease.

To discuss the impact that this legislation could have on business and future development in Vermont, the Chamber will be holding a meeting at 7:30 a.m. Friday, March 23 in the Conference Center at Beaulieu Place, the Chamber offices. Admission is free, but limited seating is available and reservations are required.

Those interested in attending can register by sending an email, or you may register at centralvt.com.

Bill Moore is president and CEO of the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce.

Images courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps/Public domain and Vote for Vermont

3 thoughts on “Moore: Liability for toxic substances bill goes far beyond what is reasonable

  1. Hey all the Liberals Parents out there, take your snowflake kids aside and show them how to
    read the LABELS on any item that’s DISTRIBUTED in the US and by the way if your little
    darling is doing the “Tide Pod Challenge.” …….. they are an IDIOT !!

    One more thing your little darling having that cell phone glued to there head , might not be
    that SAFE either …………… Take it away from them , if you can stand the crying .

  2. This sounds like a horrible bill. We all use chemicals, and every industrial process that provides things we depend on does too.
    Reasonable care to avoid environmental contamination or human exposure is already required, but having an open-ended path to liability suits seems like a tort lawyer’s wet dream.
    Might as well just outlaw all industries, and go back to cave dwelling.
    Lawyers and lawmakers are making me sick. Can I sue them?

    • Here, I disagree. WE DON’T ACTUALLY HAVE MUCH IF ANY CONTROL OF THE 1000s OF UNTESTED TOXINS WE ARE ALL BEING EXPOSED TO EVERYDAY……THE SPECIES IS
      MUTATING….BEING DE-SEXED AND GETTING ALL SORTS OF DISEASES…. FROM BOTH APPROVED AND UNAPPROVED TOXINS THAT ARE EVERYWHERE……in air, food and water
      AND THIS HAS TO STOP FAST….NOW…

      Dennis Morrisseau
      USArmy Officer [Vietnam era] ANTI-WAR

      Lieutenant Morrisseau’s Rebellion
      FireCongress.org
      LIBERTY UNION founder
      Second Vermont Republic, VFM
      POB 177, W. Pawlet, VT 05775
      dmorso1@netzero.net
      802 645 9727 9727

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