What is the Toxic Release Inventory
(TRl)? The Emergency Planning and Community Right-
To-Know Act (also known as the Title III of the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986) provides for
the collection and public dissemination of information about
the release of toxic chemicals into the nation's communities.
Section 313 applies to manufacturing facilities in Standard
Industrial Classification Codes 20-39 with 10 or more full-
time employees that manufacture, process, or use over 300
chemicals and 20 chemical categories above threshold
quantities established by law. Facilities are required to
report environmental releases of these chemicals to the
EPA and state environmental agencies annually. In 1987,
the first reporting year, over 77,000 reports (called Form
R's) were filed by 20,000 facilities.
Who can benefit from using the TRI?
The TRI may be of interest to a broad-based audience
including manufacturers, environmental consulting firms,
trade associations, labor groups, health professionals,
state and local environmental agencies. Local Emergency
Planning Committees, and other Federal agencies.
Another important user group is concerned citizens who,
on their own or through public interest groups, can use
TRI to answer questions about chemical releases in
their communities.
How can I obtain access to the TRI?
To meet the needs of this disparate user community, TRI
data is released in a variety of formats. The TRI national
report, published by EPA annually, provides a detailed
analysis of TRI data at the national level. The TRI on
microfiche contains extensive indexing to allow for easy
examination of individual facility submissions. The most
up-to-date source for TRI data is the National Library of
Medicine's online TOXNET system. In addition, the TRI
data base is available on magnetic tape, CD-ROM, and
on floppy disks in either dBase or Lotus 1 -2-3 format.
TRI information products are available from the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and the
U.S. Government Printing Office. In many communities,
the TRI is available in one or more formats at a local
library.
Who can I call for more information
abOUt the TRI? This pamphlet lists several
resources that are available to you for obtaining more
information about the TRI and assistance to meet your
individual needs.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency (TS-793)
August 1991
EPA 560/7-91-005
USER ASSISTANCE
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TOXIC RELEASE
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SOURCES FOR TRI ASSISTANCE
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-
Know (EPCRA) Information Hotline - Call 1-800-
535-0202 or (703) 920-9877 in VA and AK.
* Provides information to industry and the public
concerning EPA's regulations, policies, and
guidance related to EPCRA;
* Best source for guidance for companies that are
unsure of TRI filing requirements or need
assistance in completing the forms;
* Information for obtaining published TRI reports and
electronic products (e.g., tapes, floppy disks, and
CD-ROMs) from sources in your community, for
example, local libraries and universities, or
purchasing copies from the Government Printing
Office or the National Technical Information
Service;
* Source for TRI-related publications and brochures
published by EPA;
* Good starting point for general information about
TRI or when you don't know who to consult
D
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TRI User Support Service - Call (202) 260-1531
Offers specialized assistance to individuals seeking
TRI data analyses or customized reports;
Conducts limited searches of the online TRI data
base to retrieve release data reported by specific
facilities;
Duplicates floppy disks containing TRI data for
specific states in dBase or Lotus format;
Produces customized reports (as resources permit)
showing detailed or summary TRI data for portions
of the TRI data base, based on conditions specified
by the user.
National Library of Medicine (NLM) Specialized
Information Service - Call (301) 496-6531
Provides complete instructions for setting up a
user account for NLM's TOXNET system, which
provides public online access to TRI;
Offers advice on search strategies for users who
need assistance in finding specific information on
the TRI/TOXNET data base;
Provides searching aids, such as Training Manual,
Quick Reference Guide, and Demo Disk, to aid in
utilizing TRI/TOXNET features;
* Provides free training in the use of TRI/TOXNET.
EPCRA (Title III) Reporting Center-
Call (202)488-1501
* Receives, processes, and stores Form R submissions;
t
Provides photocopies or computer-generated facsimiles
of TRI reports, based on facility location, SIC code,
chemical name, etc.;
* Operates a reading room where assistance is provided
to members of the public in identifying desired records
and retrieving them from the data base;
Nominal fee may be charged for large requests.
TRIS User Support - Call (202) 260-9419
* Assigns passwords to authorized users of the Toxic
Release Inventory System (TRIS), the in-house EPA
system that provides access to TRI data. (TRIS
authorization is generally limited to EPA employees
and designated state and local officials);
* Answers questions about using TRIS, including
logon/logoff procedures, file structures, conducting
online queries, and requesting printed reports;
* Handles special requests for adhoc programming
to accomplish unique or highly complex data
retrieval or calculations;
* Provides copies of TRIS documentation, TRIS
training schedules, and TRI magnetic tape
specifications.
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