News Releases from Region 09
U.S. EPA Releases Annual Toxic Release Inventory Report for Pacific Southwest
Data available for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii and Pacific Territories
SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, which shows releases of toxic chemicals into the air fell 56% from 2005-2015.
Of the over 443 million pounds that were disposed of or otherwise released to the environment in the Pacific Southwest Region, approximately 94 percent went to land, 3 percent to air, less than 1 percent to water, and 2 percent was transferred to other facilities.
"In 2015, nearly 1,700 facilities submitted data to EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory in the Pacific Southwest region,” said Alexis Strauss, EPA’s Acting Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “It’s crucial for communities to have access to this valuable data and year-to-year trends.”
In the TRI, a "release" generally refers to a chemical that is emitted to the air, water, or placed in some type of land disposal unit. Most of these releases are subject to a variety of regulatory requirements designed to limit human and environmental harm.
Pacific Southwest highlights:
California: A total of 1,242 California facilities reported 334.7 million pounds of production-related chemicals, a decrease of 233.8 million pounds when compared to 2014 data. Clean Harbors in Buttonwillow and Chemical Waste Management in Kettleman City were the top two facilities for total on-site and off-site releases. California's total releases (on-site and off-site) were 31.2 million pounds. For detailed California information and the list of the top facilities, please visit: http://go.usa.gov/x9PkW
Arizona: A total of 264 Arizona facilities reported 145.7 million pounds of production-related chemicals in 2015. Asarco LLC Ray Complex/Hayden Smelter and Freeport-McMoran’s Miami mine were the top two facilities for total on-site and off-site releases. Arizona’s total releases (on-site and off-site) were 85.5 million pounds. For detailed Arizona information and the list of the top facilities, please visit: http://go.usa.gov/x9PkR
Nevada: A total of 141 Nevada facilities reported 504.8 million pounds of production-related chemicals. Newmont Mining Corporation’s Twin Creeks Mine in Folconda and Robinson Nevada Mining Company were the top two facilities for total on-site and off-site releases. Nevada’s total releases (both on-site and off-site) were 323.5 million pounds. For detailed Nevada information and the list of the top facilities, please visit: http://go.usa.gov/x9Pky
Hawaii: A total of 32 Hawaii facilities reported seven million pounds of production-related chemicals. Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Hawaiian Electric Company in Kahe Point were the top two facilities for on-site and off-site releases. Hawaii’s total releases (both on-site and off-site) were 2.5 million pounds. For detailed Hawaii information and the list of the top facilities, please visit: http://go.usa.gov/x9Pkv
Territory Highlights:
America Samoa: In 2015, American Samoa total releases were 59,000 pounds from one facility, Star Kist Samoa Co. For detailed American Samoa information, please visit: http://go.usa.gov/x9PkG
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands: A total of eight facilities reported 4,900 pounds of toxic chemical releases during 2015, a decrease of more than 10,000 pounds compared to 2014 data. Mariana Acquisition Corp’s Saipan Terminal, a petroleum bulk terminal, and Mobil Oil Mariana Island’s Saipan Terminal were the top two facilities for on-site and off-site releases. For detailed CNMI information and the top facilities, please visit: http://go.usa.gov/x9Pks
Guam: A total of ten facilities reported 467,000 pounds of toxic chemical releases during 2015. Naval Base Guam's Apra Harbor wastewater plant and Guam Power Authority, an electric generation utility, were the top two facilities for on-site and off-site releases. For detailed Guam information and the list of the top facilities, please visit: http://go.usa.gov/x9PkH
EPA, states, and tribes receive TRI data annually from facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste management. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), facilities must report their toxic chemical releases for the prior calendar year to EPA by July 1 of each year. The Pollution Prevention Act also requires facilities to submit information on pollution prevention and other waste management activities of TRI chemicals. Nearly 22,000 facilities submitted TRI data for calendar year 2015.
The TRI National Analysis website includes new interactive features such as an automated “flipbook” [/trinationalanalysis/30-year-anniversary-tri-program-slideshow] depicting how the TRI Program has evolved over the past 30 years, and a new embedded dashboard that allows users to build customized visualizations of TRI data by a chemical or a sector. These features are intended to promote more user engagement and exploration of TRI data.
To access the 2015 TRI National Analysis, including local data and analyses, visit www.epa.gov/trinationalanalysis
Information on facility efforts to reduce toxic chemical releases is available at www.epa.gov/tri/p2