Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
Public Data Release Report
EPA 260-R-04-003
June 2004
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What is the Toxics Release Inventory?
The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a database that
contains detailed information on nearly 6511
chemicals and chemical categories that over
2i 1.1 ii ii i industrial and other facilities
manage through disposal or other
releases, recycling, energy recov-
ery or treatment (see Figure 1). ,
The data are collected from ^
industries including mami- ^J?
tacturing, metal and coal <$O
mining, electric utilities.
commercial hazardous
waste treatment, and
other industrial sectors.
Figure 1: Information Collected Under TRI
%
Underground >
. Injection
RecycUng
Land
E
Energy
Recovery
Air
\
Treatment
Surface
Water
^TRANSFERS ^
Ife
Section 313 of the
Emergency Planning
and Community Right
to Know Act (EPCRA)
of 1986 \vas enacted
to facilitate emergency
planning, to minimize the
effects of potential toxic
chemical accidents, and to
provide the public with in-
formation on releases of toxic
chemicals in their communities.The
Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) of 1990
mandates collection of data on toxic chemi-
cals that are treated on-site, recycled, and com-
busted for energy recovery. Together, these laws require
facilities in certain industries, which manufacture, process, or use toxic chemicals above specified amounts.
to report annually on disposal or other releases and other waste management activities related to these chemicals.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains this information in a national database called the
Toxics Release Inventory, which is available to the public via the Internet www.epa.gov/tri.
'Publicly-Owned Treatment Works
What are the benefits of TRI data?
The TRI 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.
TRI data help the public, government officials and industry:
• identify potential concerns and gain a better understanding of potential risks;
• identify priorities and opportunities to work with industry and government to reduce toxic chemical
disposal or other releases and potential risks associated with them; and
• establish reduction targets and measure progress toward reduction goals.
TRI data are widely used across EPA programs. For example, the National Partnership for Environmental
Priorities, an element of the Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC), uses TRI data to identity facilities
that may present pollution prevention opportunities.TRI data are also used by EPA in the Risk Screening
Environmental Indicator (RSEI) tool, which provides users with additional understanding of chronic human
health and potential exposures associated with TRI chemicals.You can learn about other EPA programs and
tools that utilize TRI data by visiting EPA's Web Site at www.epa.gov or from EPA's publication Hi'ir .mj ilic
7i>.v/o Rr/t'ibr Iiii'cniory Ddtd I "M'I/? at www.epa.gov/tri/guide_docs/2003_datausepaper.pdf.
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What do TRI data show for
reporting year (RY) 2002?
For RY 2(H 12. a total of 24,379 facilities, including Federal
facilities, reported to EPA s TRI Program. They reported
4.79 billion pounds of on-site and off-site disposal or other
releases of the almost 650 toxic chemicals, as shown in Table
1. Over 89 percent of the total was disposed of or other\\ ise
released on-site. with almost 1 1 percent sent in waste off-site for
disposal or other releases, as shown in Figure 2.
FBT chemicals accounted tor 451.9 million pounds ot reported on- and off-site
disposal or other releases in 2( H)2. Ot that total, lead and lead compounds accounted
tor 98 percent or 441.8 million pounds.Total disposal or other releases tor mercury
and mercury compounds were 5.3 million pounds and, tor dioxin and dioxin-like
compounds, they were 452.209 grams. One facility, however, reported 311.022
grams of total disposal or other releases of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in
error for RY 2002. Without the report by this one facility, total disposal or other
releases of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds were 141,187 grams.
All federal facilities, whether operated by federal agencies or contractors (e.g. mili-
tary bases), are required to report to EPA's TRI Program. For RY 2o()2, a total of
315 federal facilities submitted 1,002 forms and reported S5.2 million pounds ot
total on- and off-site disposal or other releases.
How did the TRI data change over time?
While the database shows a 15% decrease (819.4 million pounds) in total disposal or
other releases nationwide from 2oo 1 to 2002, the decrease is largely attributable to a
court decision affecting the metal mining sector. Without metal mining, there was a
5".. increase from 2001 to 2002. largely due to increases reported by one facility. Pro-
duction-related waste decreased by 4% from 2001 to 2002 or by 0.3% without metal
mining.After correcting for certain facility reporting errors, P13T chemicals show a 3%
increase in disposal or other releases for lead and lead compounds and a 5% decrease
in dioxin and dioxin-like compounds. Mercury and mercury compounds increased by
10%, however, air emissions of mercury and its compounds decreased by 4%.
Metal mining accounted for 26% of the total disposal or other releases on- and
off-site in 2002. This sector reported an overall decrease of 43% from 2001,
largely related to the court's decision in Barrick Goldstrike Mines v. EPA.
The electric utilities sector accounted for 23% of total disposal or other
releases in 2002 compared to 19% in 2001, making it the second largest
industry segment behind metal mining.
Federal facilities showed an overall increase in disposal or other releases of 6.8
million pounds or 9 percent. Total production-related waste managed at fed-
eral facilities decreased by 13.2 million pounds or 6 percent from 200] to 2002.
Starting in 1998, additional industries were required to report, including electric utilities,
metal and coal mines, commercial hazardous waste treatment facilities and solvent recov-
ery facilities, chemical wholesale distributors and petroleum terminals and bulk stations.
From 1998 to 2oo2,allTRI facilities, including those from the sectors added in 1998, have
reported a reduction of 37 percent, as shown in Figure 3.
Manufacturing facilities have been required to report to EPA's TRI Program
since the beginning of the Program in 1987. From 1988 to 2002. manufac-
turing facilities decreased their on- and off-site disposal or other releases by
49 percent, .is shown in Fimire 4.
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Toxics Release Inventory, 2002
24.379
TRI facilities
reported 4.79 billion
pounds of on- and
off-site disposal
or other releases
for RY 2002
On-site Disposal to
Class I Underground Injection Wells.
RCRA Subtitle C Landfills.
and Other Landfills
127.
ON-SITE
Figure 2: Distribution of TRI Disposal or Other Releases. 2002
Off-site Disposal to
Underground Injection
Wells. RCRA Subtitle C Landfills.
and Other Landfills
67.
OFF-SITE
Other Off-site Disposal
or Other Releases
5Z
Other On-site Disposal
or Other Releases
111
IXu.i are from TRI Form R, Section 5 (all
parts) and 6.1 (metals and metal compounds
only) .ind 6.2 (disposal codes only and metals
and metal compounds reported under codes
M40 and M61) as of April, 2<>i>4.
What do TRI data show over a
longer period of time?
Figure 3: Total On- and Off-site Disposal or Other Releases. 1998-2002
6.933
Metal Mining
Electric Utilities
| All Others
Total
on- and oft-site
disposal or other
releases from all facilities
decreased by 37':<.
from W8-2002.
Figure k- Total On- and Off-site Disposal or Other Releases. 19B8-2002
Data are trom FKI Form R. Sections 5 (all parts) and 6.1 (metals and met-
al compounds only) and 6.2 (Disposal codes only and metals and metal
compounds reported under codes M40 and MM). Does not include P13T
chemicals, vanadium and vandium compounds. Does not include transfers
Co disposal or other releases sent Co other TRI facilities that reported the
amounts as on-^ite disposal or other relcasev D;u,i as of April 2(M»4.
2.
00
2,325
2.
58
Lift
1.!
to ,.
32 1.902 1.BU
1786
1.7
1.135 1.591
1.1
07
Total
on-and off-site
disposal or other releases
of the original chemicals
from the original
types of manufacturing
facilities decre.i-.ed by 49%
from 1988-20(12.
Data are from TRI Form, Sections 5 (all parts) and fi.l (metals .ind metal com-
pounds only) and o.2 (1 )isposal codes only and metals and metal compounds re-
ported under codes M4(l and MM i. 1 >ocs not include delisted chemicals, chemi-
cals ,uldcd in ]'>'«>, 1'1'M and I'W.S, aluminum oxide, jmmonia. hydrochloric acid,
I'UT chemicals, sutfuric acid, v.inadiuni and \Miiadium compounds. For the years
1'WS and after, dni-s not include industries, other than manufacturing industries.
that are rcejiimd to report tor I'l'.is .nul Liter vc.if. onK I ).u.f .is nt April 2
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TABLE 1: TRION-SITE AND OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES. 2002
ON-SITE DISPOSAL TO CLASS I UNDERGROUND INJECTION WELLS. RCRA SUBTITLE C LANDFILLS. AND OTHER LANDFILLS
Class I Wells
RCRA Subtitle C Landfills
Cither On-site Landfills
OTHER ON-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
Fugitive Air Emissions
Point Source Air Emissions
Surface Water Discharges
Class II-V Wells
Land Treatment
Surface Impoundment
Other Land Disposal
TOTAL ON-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
OFF-SITE DISPOSAL TO UNDERGROUND INJECTION WELLS. RCRA SUBTITLE C LANDFILLS. AND OTHER LANDFILLS
Underground Injection
RCRA Subtitle C Landfills
Other Landfills
OTHER OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
Storage Only
Solidification/Stabilization (Metals and Metal Category Compounds Only)
Wastewater Treatment (Excluding POTWs) (Metals and Metal Category Compounds Only)
Transfers to POTWs (Metals and Metal Category Compounds Only)
Surface Impoundments
Land Treatment
Other Land Disposal
Other Off-site Management
Transfers to Waste Broker for Disposal
Unknown
TOTAL OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
TOTAL ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
POUNDS
597.147.619
201.816.839
123.161.569
272.169.211
3.681.638.975
209.779.007
1.422.167.217
229.976.391
20.520.746
21.861.484
795.053.151
982.280.979
4.278.786.594
272.583.110
9.483.341
37.192.833
225.906.936
241.140,625
9.126.232
126.677.019
3.566.759
1.969.565
16.754.521
9.712.740
39.724.984
15.179.036
12.917.807
5.511.962
513.723.735
4.792.510.329
Note: Data are from TRI Form R, Section 5 (all parts) and 6.1 (metals and metal compounds only) and 6.2 (disposal codes only and metals and
metal compounds reported under codes M40 and M61) as of April 2004. Off-sice Disposal or Other Releases transferred to otherTRI facilities
reporting such transfers as on-site disposal or other releases are not included.
These 24,379 facilities reported almost 26.2 billion pounds of TRI chemicals in waste managed during
2002. Almost 30 percent was recycled on-site, 28 percent was treated on-site and 19 percent was disposed
of or otherwise released on- and oft-site, as shown in Table 2.
TABLE 2: QUANTITIES OF TRI CHEMICALS IN WASTE BY WASTE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY. 2002
WASTE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY
Quantity Recycled On-site
Quantity Recycled Off-site
Quantity Used for Energy Recovery On-site
Quantity Used for Energy Recovery Off-site
Quantity Treated On-site
Quantity Treated Off-site
Quantity Disposed of or Otherwise Released On- and Off-site
TOTAL PRODUCTION-RELATED WASTE MANAGED
Non-production-related Waste Managed
POUNDS
7.732.267.995
1.983.001.794
2.879.971.103
804.043.747
7.256.791.037
608.002.430
4.904.042.338
26.168.120,444
25.065.757
PERCENT
29.5
7.6
11.0
3.1
27.7
2.3
18.7
100.0
Note: Data aie t'romTRl Fnrm R, Section S. as of April 2111)4.
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What can I expect in the future?
EPA plans to modernize its TRI Program as an ongoing effort to provide the highest quality data to U.S.
communities.TheTR1 Program will:
• Continue enhancements to TRI Explorer that allow users to sort TRI data based on user preferred
methods;
• Provide RY2003TRI data to the public earlier by releasing facility specific, form-by-form data through an
electronic facility data release (eFDR) in November, 2004; and
• Pilot web-basedTRI-ME reporting software that may provide pre-populated reporting forms with prior
year's data, electronic signature, and instant error notification and data quality alerts.
EPA has also updated its reporting form to provide more contextual information for TRI data and resulting
reports. The TRI program strives to continue to provide the public with important information about toxic-
chemical releases and other waste management activities in our communities.
Where can I find more information?
TRI Explorer: It's On-line! It's Easy! It's Your Right to Know!
TRI Explorer provides fast and easy access to the TRI data and can answer your questions about a
chemical, facility, geographic area, or industry sector. Find out what chemicals are released to the air by
facilities in your state in 2002. what facilities reported in your zip code or what progress has been
made in reducing TRI chemicals since I9S8. TRI Explorer provides customized reports on these and
many other topics from the TRI data. Users of TRI data can also customize maps of states or coun-
ties within a state to their preference. Each report can be quickly and easily sorted by total disposal or
other releases, by fugitive air emissions, by surface water discharges, by disposal to RCRA Subtitle C
landfills, etc. Electronic state fact sheets with 2002 data are also available for each state. Visit the TRI
Explorer home page to begin creating your own report on TRI data at www.epa.gov/triexplorer.
Customize reports.
research data
quickly and easily
from your own computer:
www.epa.gov/triexplorer
3 EPA TRI Explorer Chemical Report -
File Edit View Favorites Tools Help
4-Bac*- -* J j] $ $Searcf! J^ Favorites (jMedia
Address Q
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency —
Chemical Report
.
Geographic Location GD
| All of United States
Chemical Released J]
| All Chemicals
Industry QD
[ Ail industries
Year of Data (JJ
\2WJ2 \+]
Generate Report
Report colums to include ill
0 Total On-site Disposal or Other Releases
Details
0 On-Site Disposal to Class I Wells. RCRA
Subtitle C Landfills, and Other On-Siie Landfills
0 Other On-Site Disposal or Other Releases
0 Total Off-site Disposal or Other Releases
Details
0 Ofl-Srte Disposal to Underground Injection
Wells, RCRA Subtitle C Landfills, and Other Landfills
0 Other Off-site Disposal or Other Releases
0 Total On- and Off-Site Disposal or Other Releases
Where can I find contact information?
-
There are three other options tor finding more detailed information:
• You can find out more information about the TRI program by contacting the toll-free Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know (EPCRA) Call Center at 1-800-424-9346. or
• You can seek assistance in accessing and using TRI data by contacting the TRI User Support Service
202-566-0250 or e-mailing your questions to tri.usftf epa.gov. or
* You can find vour state or regional TRI coordinator by visiting EPA'sTRI svcb Mtc ar www.epa.gov/tri.
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What are the limitations of the TRI data?
Users iif TRI data should be aware that TRI data reflect disposal or
other releases and other waste management activities of chemicals.
not whether for to what degree) the public has been exposed
to those chemicals. Both the toxicity of a chemical and expo-
sure considerations should be taken into account when using the
data.
• TRI chemicals vary widely in toxicity, or their potential to
produce toxic effects. Some high-volume releases ot less toxic
chemicals may appear to be a more serums problem than lowcr-
volume releases ot highly toxic chemicals, when just the opposite
may be true.
• The potential tor exposure may be greater the longer the chemical
remains unchanged in the environment. Sunlight, heat, or microorgan-
isms may or may not decompose the chemical. Smaller releases of a per-
sistent, highly toxic chemical may create a more serious problem than larger
releases of a chemical that is rapidly converted to a less toxic form.
For more detailed information on this subject refer to TlieToxics Release Inventory (I RI)
and factors ft' Consider \\1ien UsingTRI Data document at
www.epa.gov/tri/tridata/index.htm.
What should I know about the different types of disposal or other
releases?
The TRI Program collects data on a number ot different types of disposal or other releases, as well as on cer-
tain waste management and recycling practices. Disposal or other releases of chemicals into the environment
occur through a range of practices that may ultimately affect the potential for human exposure to the toxic
chemicals. Facility releases may include discharges to air. water, and land. Facilities limit contamination and
human exposure by disposing ot or otherwise releasing waste in certain ways. For example:
• Disposal of harmful materials to Class I Underground Injection wells located in isolated formations be-
neath the lowermost underground source of drinking water, which limits potential for contamination:
and
• Disposal to landfills that are designed with liners, covers, leak detection systems, and groundwater monitor-
ing systems also limit the potential for human exposure to the contents ot the landfill.
Most disposal or other release practices are subject to a variety of regulatory requirements designed to
limit environmental harm. Please refer to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and factors to Consider ll'hcu
( 'siti^ 1 RI Data (www.epa.gov/tri/tridata/index.htm) tor more information on the differences ot these
data elements.
What should I know about persistent bioaccumulative toxic
(PBT) chemicals?
Starting in 20(i(), EPA established more stringent reporting thresholds for persistent bioaccumulative toxic
(PBT) chemicals originally on. or added to, the TRI chemical list. PBT chemicals are ot particular concern
not only because they are toxic but also because they remain in the environment tor long periods of time, are
not readily destroyed, and build up or accumulate in body tissue.The TRI PBT chemicals include dioxin and
dioxin-like compounds, lead and lead compounds, mercury and mercury compounds, polycyclic aromatic
compounds (PACs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and certain pesticides, among other chemicals.
For more information about the Agency's multimedia strategy for priority PBT chemicals, visit EPA's Office
of Prevention. Pesticides, and Toxic Substances web site at www.epa.gov/opptintr/pbt/pbtstrat.htrn.
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