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Public Meetings on Reassessment of PCB Use Authorizations
EPA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking related to potential reassessment of PCB use authorization under the Toxic Substance Control Act. Public comments are due on July 6; EPA will also be holding public meetings. Learn more here…
EPA Proposes Adding 16 Chemicals to the TRI Chemical List
On April 6, 2010, EPA took another important step toward providing communities with additional information about toxic chemicals being released to the environment.
EPA is Providing Communities with Additional Information about the Release of Hydrogen Sulfide into the Environment
The Agency is announcing that it is considering lifting the 1994 Administrative Stay of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements for hydrogen sulfide. EPA is now presenting its rationale for why the Stay should be lifted, based on an updated evaluation that includes new information on human health and environmental effects of hydrogen sulfide. Learn more here...
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2008 TRI Data and National Analysis
Every year, EPA through the TRI database provides the public with unprecedented access to information about toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities on a local, state, regional and national level. EPA released the 2008 TRI Data on December 8, 2009.
What does the TRI data show for 2008?
- Persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals accounted for 498 million pounds or 13% of reported on- and off-site disposal or other releases in 2008.
- Of that total, lead and lead compounds accounted for 98% or 486 million pounds of PBT's.
- Total disposal or other releases for mercury and mercury compounds were 6.2 million pounds and, for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, there were 33,702 grams, or 74 pounds.
For 2008, 21,695 facilities, including federal facilities, reported to the TRI Program. They reported 3.9 billion pounds of on-site and off-site disposal or other releases of the almost 650 toxic chemicals, as shown in Table 1. Over 87% of the total was disposed of or otherwise released on-site; 13% was sent off-site for disposal. Metal mining facilities reported 30% and electric utilities reported 23% of the total in 2008.
There were 179 known or suspected carcinogens on the TRI list in 2008. They accounted for 776 million pounds or 20% of reported on- and off-site disposal or other releases in 2008. Of that total for carcinogens, lead and lead compounds accounted for 63% and arsenic and arsenic compounds for 10%. Over three-quarters (598 million pounds or 77%) were disposed of or otherwise released to land on-site. Styrene air emissions were 39% of the total 76 million pounds of air emissions of carcinogens.
All federal facilities are required to report to the TRI Program. For 2008, a total of 389 federal facilities submitted 1,240 forms and reported 101 million pounds of total on- and off-site disposal or other releases.
For more information on the 2008 TRI National Analysis, see http://www.epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri08/national_analysis/index.htm.