The Suffolk Life [1] reports that New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo [2] is filing a lawsuit against the US Environmental Protection Agency [3] for its relaxation of rules regarding the disclosure of toxic chemical disposal information.

[4]Currently, companies file Form R; the new regulations will only require Form A, which excludes pertinent facts concerning how chemicals are used, disposed of, and transferred. The new rules could affect six companies in the Suffolk area. Nonetheless, Cuomo emphasizes the lawsuit's focus on freedom of information as opposed to the legality of actions undertaken by the affected companies. In response, the EPA claims that using Form A will save money in administrative costs and streamline the process. However, the US Government and Accountability Office [5] challenged this assertion, stating that annual savings will reach a mere $900. John Stephenson, director of natural resources and environment for the US GAO, epitomizes the Attorney General's position as he notes that the new process will "provide less information to the public without any cost savings to the public."