§ 6-503. Duties of Department

   (a) Duplication of information; repository; access to information. -- The Department shall:

   (1) Duplicate information contained on all chemical information lists and material safety data sheets that the Department receives under § 5-406 of the Labor and Employment Article;

   (2) Maintain this information in a central repository for a period of 40 years; and

   (3) Provide access to this information by the persons who are allowed access under this subtitle.

(b) Persons allowed access. -- On written request to the Department, the following persons may have access to, inspect, and make a copy, at the person's expense, of any chemical information list and material safety data sheet that contains information on hazardous or toxic chemicals and that the Department maintains under this subtitle:

   (1) Any environmental organization that is in the State of Maryland;

   (2) Any civic or consumer organization that is in the State of Maryland; and

   (3) Any individual who lives:

      (i) In a local community where a business stores, produces, or locates hazardous or toxic chemicals; or

      (ii) In the nearest local community to a business that stores, produces, or locates hazardous or toxic chemicals.

(c) Notice of request for information. -- Whenever the Department receives a written request, under this subtitle, for chemical information lists and material safety data sheets submitted by an employer in accordance with § 5-406 of the Labor and Employment Article, the Department shall promptly notify the employer of the request.

HISTORY: 1985, chs. 530, 631; 1993, ch. 5, § 1.