The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its annual report on the amount of toxic releases discharged by facilities throughout the country. The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) for 1999, the year of the most recent data, shows continued good news with decreases in emissions in several industries. The one-year decrease from 1998 to 1999 was 2.5 percent in the manufacturing industries, 9.7 percent in coal-mining facilities, and 5.5 percent in petroleum terminals and bulk storage facilities.
Looking at all types of wastes, though, the total quantity increased by 5 percent since 1991. The largest increase in total releases from 1998 to 1999 was reported by metal mining—an increase of 11.7 percent. Other increases were 28.3 percent among chemical wholesale distributors, 2.7 percent among waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, and 2.2 percent among electric generating facilities.
The largest volume of chemical releases for all industries was reported by facilities in Nevada.
To facilitate industry reporting requirements, EPA has introduced a new computer software product, “TRIAL,” which provides reporting facilities easier access to all TRI reporting regulations and guidance on interpreting those regulations. This system is available on EPA’s TRI Web site and is included in the software package provided to companies for the reporting process required by Congress under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, which requires industrial facilities each year to publicly report the quantities of toxic chemicals released into the air, water, and land.
For more information, contact EPA.
