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Key Provisions Of California's Proposition 65

KEY PROVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA'S
PROPOSITION 65

BAN ON DISCHARGES
INTO WATER

No person may discharge or release into drinking
water a significant amount of a chemical known to
cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.

REQUIRED WARNINGS
FOR CHEMICAL EXPOSURE

No person may knowingly expose another person to a
significant amount of a chemical known to cause cancer
or reproductive toxicity.

DEFINITION OF SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT FOR CHEMICALS
THAT CAUSE CANCER

Exposure must cause no significant risk assuming lifetime
exposure at the level in question.

DEFINITION OF
SIGNIFICANT RISK

NONE.

DEFINITION OF SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT FOR CHEMICALS
THAT CAUSE REPRODUCTIVE
TOXICITY

Exposure must result in no observable effect at 1,000 times
the exposure level in question.

WARNING LABEL FOR

CARCINOGENS

"WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State
of California to cause cancer."

WARNING LABEL FOR
REPRODUCTIVE TOXINS

"WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the
State of California to cause birth defects and other reproductive harm."

ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS:

CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

Government employees who learn of an illegal discharge must
notify the local Board of Supervisors and the local health officer.
Failure to comply carries criminal penalties.

NOTIFICATION OF THE
NEWS MEDIA

Local health officers who learn of an illegal discharge must notify
the local news media.

CIVIL PENALTIES FOR
PRIVATE VIOLATORS

For each violation, a fine of $2,500 per day may be imposed.

BOUNTY HUNTER
PROVISION

Any private citizen who brings a successful suit against a violator
shall be paid 25 percent of the penalty.

BURDEN OF PROOF
ON THE DEFENDANT

Defendants under the act shall have the burden to prove that a discharge
or chemical exposure without warning caused no significant risk.


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