A new report by the Working Group on Community Right-to-Know estimates that 3.5 million Americans living near some 225 non-nuclear power plants are at risk from leaks or releases of gaseous ammonia or chlorine. It calls for these plants to switch to safer alternatives to ensure the safety of surrounding communities. The Working Group analyzed information submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from individual facilities. Facilities are required to assess the dangers they pose to the surrounding communities. In addition to the 3.5 million people at risk, the report found that two two-dozen power plants account for two-thirds of the people in danger. Also that California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Rhode Island, Virginia, and New Jersey each have more than 100,000 people living in power plants' vulnerability zones Congress has considered, and continues to consider, legislation that would require facilities that store large quantities of dangerous chemicals, including power plants, to reduce the danger from chemicals by reducing storage and switching to safer alternatives when possible. This type of policy would move past the Risk Management Program, which currently simply collects information from these facilities. This report utilized the risk management plans (RMPs) filed by facilities. Unfortunately, Congress has been unable to decide on a course of action on this issue. Industry has significantly contributed to this inaction by continually lobbying against new safety requirements and using the threat of terrorism as an excuse to try and dismantle to RMP program. The report, Unnecessary Dangers: Emergency Chemical Release Hazards at Power Plants, demonstrates the power and usefulness of information to help make communities safer. It is available at www.crtk.org.