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U.S. EPA ANNOUNCES 1996 TOXICS RELEASE INVENTORY

Release Date: 6/18/1998
Contact Information: Paula Bruin, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1587

U.S. EPA NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS:

     Total industrial releases of toxic chemicals in U.S. communities decreased by 100 million pounds, or four percent, between 1995 and 1996, according to the most recent community Right-to-Know information released today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Community Right-to-Know data provides people, businesses and government with the information necessary to evaluate environmental progress and to make communities safer and cleaner.

     U.S. EPA's Toxics Release Inventory is an annual measure of toxic chemical releases, transfers, and waste generated by manufacturing facilities in communities throughout the United States.  In 1996, which is the most recent data available, about 22 thousand companies reported the quantities of more than 650 toxic chemicals that their manufacturing facilities annually released into the air, water and land.  Facilities are also required to report on pollution prevention activities and chemical recycling.  Based on the premise that people have a right to know about toxic chemical releases in their neighborhoods, U.S. EPA collects industry reports and publishes the data through a range of public information resources, including the Internet.

     The Toxics Release Inventory recently expanded the list of regulated industries to cover seven new industry sectors:  metal and coal mining, electricity generating facilities, commercial hazardous waste treatment, chemical wholesalers, petroleum bulk terminals and solvent recovery services.  These facilities are required to submit toxic release information starting in July, 1999.    

Regional TRI figures revealed:

*    Arizona ranked 20th in the nation for industrial releases of toxic chemicals.  Two hundred and four facilities reported a total of 48 million pounds of toxic releases.  Most of Arizona's toxic chemicals wastes -- about three-quarters -- are released to the land.  About a quarter of the toxic wastes are released to the air, and a small share is released to water.  The top four Arizona facilities for releases to the environment contribute about 93 percent of the state's total.  These facilities are: Cyprus Miami Mining Corporation, Claypool (Gila County) with 11.2 million pounds; ASARCO Inc., Hayden (Gila County) with 11.2 million pounds; BHP Copper Metals  Co., San Manuel (Pinal County) with 5.7 million pounds; and Stone Container Corp., Snowflake, (Navajo Nation) with 2 million pounds.

*    California ranked 18th in the nation for industrial releases of toxic chemicals. Nearly 1,400 facilities reported a total of 50 million pounds of toxic chemical releases in 1996.  The majority of California's releases are to the air.  The top facilities for releases in California are: Quemetco, Inc., City of Industry (Los Angeles County) with 2.6 million pounds of toxic releases; Chevron USA Products, El Segundo (Los Angeles County) with 2.2 million pounds; Louisiana-Pacific Corp., Samoa (Humboldt County) with 1.9 million pounds; and Fitrol Corp., Los Angeles (Los Angeles County) with 1.6 million pounds.

      *    Hawaii ranked 51st in the nation for industrial releases of toxic chemicals.  Thirteen facilities reported 540 thousand pounds of toxic chemical releases.  Most of these releases are to the air.  The top four facilities for releases to the environment contribute 94 percent of the state's total.  Those facilities are: Chevron Products Co., Kapolei (Honolulu County) with 284 thousand pounds of toxic releases; Reynolds Metals Co., Kapolei (Honolulu County) with 137 thousand pounds; U.S. Navy, Pearl Harbour, (Honolulu County) with 57 thousand pounds; and BHP Petroleum Americas, Kapolei (Honolulu County) with 30 thousand pounds.

*    Nevada ranked 45th in the county for toxic chemical releases to the environment.  Forty-eight Nevada facilities reported about four million pounds of toxic chemical releases.  About two thirds of these releases are to the land and one third to the air.  The top four facilities for releases to the environment released 82 percent of the state's total.  These facilities are: Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp., Henderson (Clark County) with 2.1 million pounds of toxic chemicals; Tomkins Industries, Inc., Moapa (Clark County) with 402 thousand pounds; R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co., Reno (Washoe County) with 299 thousand pounds; and Coastal Chem Inc., Battle Mountain (Lander County) with 247 thousand pounds.  

     The Toxics Release Inventory data are available through printed material, CD-Roms, and on-line services.  The TRI database can be accessed on the World Wide Web through ENVIROFACTS on U.S. EPA's Homepage (https://www.epa.gov/enviro) and a site operated by a non-profit organization called the Right-to-Know Network (http://rtk.net).  A brochure for the public entitled "A Citizen's Guide to Reducing Toxic Risks--Using the Toxics Release Inventory," can be accessed through EPA Region 9's web site
(https://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic).  Information on TRI is also available in public libraries or online at www.epa.gov/opptintri/tri or by calling the Hotline number at 1-800-424-9346.