Toxics Release Inventory: Difference between revisions

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	The '''Toxics Release Inventory''' (TRI) is a publicly available database from the ] that contains information on ] ] releases and other waste management activities reported annually by certain covered industry groups as well as federal facilities. This inventory was established under the ] of 1986 (]), and expanded by the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. The law grew out of concern surrounding ] releases of toxic gases in the ] ] and a smaller ] release in ],		The '''Toxics Release Inventory''' (TRI) is a publicly available database from the ] that contains information on ] ] releases and other waste management activities reported annually by certain covered industry groups as well as federal facilities. This inventory was first proposed in a 1985 ] op-ed piece<ref>''Too Little Toxic Waste Data'', New York Times, Oct 7, 1985, pg A31</ref> written by David Sarokin and Warren Muir, researchers for an environmental group, INFORM<ref></ref>. TRI was established under the ] of 1986 (]), and later expanded by the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. The law grew out of concern surrounding ] releases of toxic gases in the ] ] and a smaller ] release in ]<ref>http://www.epa.gov/tri/whatis.htm</ref>

	Each year, companies across a wide range of industries (including chemical, mining, paper, oil and gas industries) that produce more than 25,000 pounds or handle more than 10,000 pounds of a listed toxic chemical must report it to the TRI. The TRI threshold was initially set at 75,000 pounds annually. If the company treats, recycles, disposes, or releases more than 500 pounds of that chemical into the environment (as opposed to just handling it), then they must provide a detailed inventory of that chemical's inventory.		Each year, companies across a wide range of industries (including chemical, mining, paper, oil and gas industries) that produce more than 25,000 pounds or handle more than 10,000 pounds of a listed toxic chemical must report it to the TRI. The TRI threshold was initially set at 75,000 pounds annually. If the company treats, recycles, disposes, or releases more than 500 pounds of that chemical into the environment (as opposed to just handling it), then they must provide a detailed inventory of that chemical's inventory.

	Proposed changes in late ] would lower the reporting standards for TRI. Several state attorney generals wrote the EPA asking that the standard not be altered. This move came under fire from ] who said ""Public disclosure has proven to be a strong incentive for polluters to reduce their use of toxic chemicals,this move by EPA appears to be yet another poorly considered notion to appease a few polluting constituents at the expense of a valuable program." EPA originally proposed to reduce the required reporting frequency from every year to every other year. This drew intense criticism, and the idea was dropped.		Proposed changes in late ] would lower the reporting standards for TRI. Several state attorney generals wrote the EPA asking that the standard not be altered. This move came under fire from ] who said ""Public disclosure has proven to be a strong incentive for polluters to reduce their use of toxic chemicals,this move by EPA appears to be yet another poorly considered notion to appease a few polluting constituents at the expense of a valuable program." <ref>http://www.wastenews.com/headlines2.html?id=1137434127</ref> EPA originally proposed to reduce the required reporting frequency from every year to every other year. This drew intense criticism, and the idea was dropped.

		⚫	However, the EPA went forward with another part of the plan that initially did not receive much attention. Companies were previously required to disclose any release over 2000 pounds (907 kg) on a more detailed "Form R" rather than the less detailed "Form A". With the new regulations, the minimum reporting requirements for Form R have been increased to 5000 pounds (2268 kg), thus reducing the amount of information available. Although this move was widely criticized by the public as well as many officials, EPA went ahead with the new rule anyway.<ref>http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/3670/1/474</ref> EPA claimed that the comments submitted opposed to the Form R requirements were invalid because nearly all the people who had commented did so on both the change in reporting frequency as well as the minimum amounts required for Form R.



		⚫	==References==
			<references/>



⚫	However, the EPA went forward with another part of the plan that initially did not receive much attention. Companies were previously required to disclose any release over 2000 pounds (907 kg) on a more detailed "Form R" rather than the less detailed "Form A". With the new regulations, the minimum reporting requirements for Form R have been increased to 5000 pounds (2268 kg), thus reducing the amount of information available. Although this move was widely criticized by the public as well as many officials, EPA went ahead with the new rule anyway. EPA claimed that the comments submitted opposed to the Form R requirements were invalid because nearly all the people who had commented did so on both the change in reporting frequency as well as the minimum amounts required for Form R.

⚫	== References ==
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Revision as of 19:47, 20 August 2007

**TRI-ME**, the TRI computer reporting program

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a publicly available database from the EPA that contains information on toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities reported annually by certain covered industry groups as well as federal facilities. This inventory was first proposed in a 1985 New York Times op-ed piece written by David Sarokin and Warren Muir, researchers for an environmental group, INFORM. TRI was established under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA), and later expanded by the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. The law grew out of concern surrounding Union Carbide's releases of toxic gases in the 1984 Bhopal disaster and a smaller 1985 release in Institute, West Virginia

Each year, companies across a wide range of industries (including chemical, mining, paper, oil and gas industries) that produce more than 25,000 pounds or handle more than 10,000 pounds of a listed toxic chemical must report it to the TRI. The TRI threshold was initially set at 75,000 pounds annually. If the company treats, recycles, disposes, or releases more than 500 pounds of that chemical into the environment (as opposed to just handling it), then they must provide a detailed inventory of that chemical's inventory.

Proposed changes in late 2005 would lower the reporting standards for TRI. Several state attorney generals wrote the EPA asking that the standard not be altered. This move came under fire from Eliot Spitzer who said ""Public disclosure has proven to be a strong incentive for polluters to reduce their use of toxic chemicals,this move by EPA appears to be yet another poorly considered notion to appease a few polluting constituents at the expense of a valuable program." EPA originally proposed to reduce the required reporting frequency from every year to every other year. This drew intense criticism, and the idea was dropped.

However, the EPA went forward with another part of the plan that initially did not receive much attention. Companies were previously required to disclose any release over 2000 pounds (907 kg) on a more detailed "Form R" rather than the less detailed "Form A". With the new regulations, the minimum reporting requirements for Form R have been increased to 5000 pounds (2268 kg), thus reducing the amount of information available. Although this move was widely criticized by the public as well as many officials, EPA went ahead with the new rule anyway. EPA claimed that the comments submitted opposed to the Form R requirements were invalid because nearly all the people who had commented did so on both the change in reporting frequency as well as the minimum amounts required for Form R.

References

Too Little Toxic Waste Data, New York Times, Oct 7, 1985, pg A31
INFORM
http://www.epa.gov/tri/whatis.htm
http://www.wastenews.com/headlines2.html?id=1137434127
http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/3670/1/474

Category:

United States federal environmental legislation