New Arizona Law Limits Disclosure of Companies' Environmental Self-Audits

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) signed into law April 12, 2012, a bill (H.B. 2199) shielding companies from having to disclose information about their environmental infractions when it is produced by their own self-audits.

The information would still have to be provided to the state. Companies would not gain immunity from enforcement merely by auditing themselves. Many other states have enacted some form of the so-called environmental audit and immunity laws.

• "Companies Can Shield Environmental Reports Under New Ariz. Law," Associated Press, April 14, 2012.
• Text of Arizona H.B. 2199 and legislative history.
• Previous Story: WatchDog of August 20, 2008.
• EPA webpage on Compliance Incentives and Auditing; includes links to EPA audit and disclosure policy.
• EPA Region V list of state environmental audit privilege and immunity laws.