Proposition 65 Safe Drinking Water & Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986

Passed by voter initiative, this act requires the Governor to publish and annually update a list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.

For listed chemicals, businesses with 10 or more employees are required to comply with the requirements listed below. Certain exemptions may apply.

Regulations: H&S, Div. 20, Ch. 6.6; CCR, Title 22, Div. 21.5, sec. 12000

Summary of Requirements:

• Discharge Prohibition -- Knowing discharge of listed chemicals to sources of drinking water is prohibited 20 months after listing.
• Exposure Warning -- Clear and reasonable warning for knowing and intentional exposure to listed chemicals is required within 12 months after listing. The warning requirement applies to potential employee, visitor, and community exposures, as well as consumer exposure through use of a product.

Resources Available From Cal/EPA Office of Environmental Health Assessment:

• Current list of Prop 65 chemicals
• Prop 65 Summary and Progress Report
• Copy of the state statute (law)

Other Available Resources:

• Proposition 65 Compliance, 1992 (’94 soon), CA Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-331-8877. (How-to handbook for nontechnical business managers.) $40

Call Cal/EPA's Office of Environmental Health Assessment for further iformation.