Maine state senators last week listened to the horror stories about how requiring businesses to reduce toxic emissions could drive them into bankruptcy. Then they looked at the actual experiences of businesses thriving under the law since 1990 and voted overwhelmingly in support of this important program.

The House is expected to vote today on the Toxics Use Reduction law. It, too, should support the continued reduction of toxic discharges in the environment.

Dire predictions from business organizations to the countrary, the toxics-reduction program has been a terrific success. Where the 1990 law required businesses to reduce toxic emissions by 20 percent, Maine industry cut them by more than 50 percent. One reason: Being more careful with toxic discharges meant finding more efficient production processes, which in turn saved money.

The bill being considered would continue the program and expand the number of toxics covered by the statute. It contains business-friendly amendments that should make it easy to support. For instance, any company that achieves a 51 percent reduction in discharge between 1990 and 2001 is exempt from further reduction requirements. More than 100 companies already have met this goal. If a company achieves this reduction and then backslides, instead of a penalty, the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection is directed to offer technical assistance to help the company get back in compliance.

The reauthorization of this law is necessary because, despite the reduced discharges by industry, there are still a lot of dangerous toxins out there. More than 400 million pounds of these chemicals were used in Maine workplaces in 1995; and 10 million pounds of that eventually ended up in Maine’s air, water or soil. The law urges slow, continuous improvement for companies using these chemicals until significant reductions are attained.

In addition to passing the measure 25-8 last week, the Senate strengthened the original proposal by tightening confidentiality rules for industry reporting and assuming that new facilities with state-of-the-art equipment already meet all standards. Exemptions for companies that can demonstrate why it is essential to their products that they not reduce toxins further or at all were in the original law and are in this bill.

Requiring toxic-discharge reductions levels the playing field for companies that want to treat Maine’s environment with respect. It has proved to be a real success among countless firms already because it is fair and thorough. Its renewal will help Maine continue to cut toxins and make industry and the environment safer places to work and live.