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Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
Public Data Release Report
                              \
EPA 260-R-08-001

February 2008

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                                                                Figure 1: Information Collected Under TRI
                                                                WU^
What is the Toxics Release Inventory?

The Toxics Release Inventory  (TRI) is a database
that contains detailed information on nearly
650 chemicals and chemical  categories
that 22,880  industrial and other fa-
cilities manage through  disposal
or other releases, recycling, en-
ergy  recovery  or  treatment
(see Figure l).The data are
collected  from industries
including manufacturing,
metal and coal mining,
electric  utilities, com-
mercial hazardous waste
treatment,  and  other
industrial sectors.

Section   313  of  the
Emergency   Planning
and Community Right
to Know Act (EPCRA)
of 1986  was enacted to
facilitate  emergency plan-
ning,  to  minimize the ef-
fects of potential toxic chem-
ical accidents, and to  provide
the public with information on
releases  of toxic chemicals in  their
communities. The Pollution Prevention
Act (PPA) of 1990 mandates collection of
data on toxic chemicals that are treated on-site, re-
cycled, and combusted 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).
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 dis-
  posal 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 Environmen-
tal Priorities, an  element of the Resource  Conservation Challenge (RCC), uses TRI data to identify fa-
cilities that may  present  pollution prevention opportunities. EPA also uses TRI data in the Risk Screen-
ing Environmental Indicator (RSEI) tool,  which compares toxic chemicals  released to the environment
from industrial  sources.  Using RSEI, you can examine rankings and trends,  and set priorities  for fur-
ther action. You can search for  other EPA programs  and tools that utilize TRI data by visiting  EPA's
Web Site at: www.epa.gov or from EPA's publication How are the Toxics Release Inventory Data Used? at:
www.epa.gov/ tri/guide_docs/2003_datausepaper.pdf.

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What are the limitations of the TRI  data?

Users of TRI data should be aware that TRI data reflect disposal
or other releases and other waste management of chemicals, not
whether (or to what degree) the  public has been exposed to
them. Both the toxicity of a chemical and exposure consider-
ations 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  of less toxic
  chemicals may  appear to be more serious than lower-volume
  releases of highly toxic chemicals, when just the  opposite may
  be true.

• The potential for exposure may be greater the longer the chemical re-
  mains unchanged in the environment.  Sunlight, heat, or microorganisms
  may or may not decompose the  chemical. Smaller  releases of a persistent,
  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 TheToxics Release Inventory (TRI) and
Factors to Consider When Using TRI Data document  at: www.epa.gov/tri/tridata.

What should  I  know  about the different types of disposal or

other releases?

The TRI Program collects data on  a number  of 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 of 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, limits potential for contamination; and

• Disposal to landfills that are designed with liners, covers, leak-detection systems, and groundwater monitor-
  ing systems also limits the potential for human exposure to the contents of 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 When Using TRI
Data (www.epa.gov/tri/tridata) for more  information on the differences of these data elements.

What should  I  know  about persistent  bioaccumulative toxic

(PBT) chemicals?

Starting in 2000,  EPA established more  stringent reporting thresholds for persistent bioaccumulative toxic
(PBT) chemicals originally on, or added to, the TRI chemical list. PBT chemicals are of particular concern
not only because they are toxic but also because they remain in the environment for 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  detailed 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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                  f   What does TRI data show for 2006?
Disposal or other releases of PBT chemicals decreased by 5% from 2005 to 2006. However, while
air releases of mercury and mercury compounds decreased by 4%, total disposal or other releases of
mercury and its compounds increased by 17% from 2005 to 2006.Total disposal or other releases of
dioxin and dioxin-like compounds increased by 52%.

Disposal or other releases of carcinogens decreased by 11% (104 million pounds) from 2005 to 2006,
including a decrease of 39% (72 million pounds) in arsenic and arsenic compounds
and a decrease of 5% (25 million pounds) in lead and lead compounds.Air releases
of carcinogens decreased by 7% (7 million pounds).

Federal facilities showed an overall decrease in  disposal or other releases of
almost 624,000 pounds or 1% from 2005 to 2006.Total production-related waste
managed at federal facilities increased by 15 million pounds or 6%.

Overall, from 2001  to 2006, total production-related waste managed decreased by 10%,
as shown in Figure 4.

Manufacturing facilities have been required to report to EPA's TRI Program since 1987.
From 1988 to 2006, manufacturing facilities  decreased  their on- and  off-site disposal or
other releases by 59% based on chemicals that have been consistently reported since 1988

                      For 2006, 22,880 facilities, including federal facilities, reported to EPA's
                     TRI Program. They reported 4.25 billion pounds of on-site and off-site
                    disposal or other releases of the almost 650 toxic chemicals, as shown in Table
           - .j     1. Almost 88% of the total was disposed of or otherwise released on-site; 12%
                 was sent off-site for disposal. Metal mining facilities reported 29% and electric
               utilities reported 24% of the total in 2006, as shown in Figure 2.

         Persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals accounted for 455 million  pounds or
  11% of reported on- and off-site disposal or other releases in 2006. Of that total, lead and lead
compounds accounted for 98% or 446 million pounds of PBT's. Total disposal or other releases
for mercury and mercury compounds were 5.1 million pounds and, for dioxin and dioxin-like
compounds, they were 130,277 grams (287 pounds).

There were 179 known or suspected carcinogens on the TRI list in 2006.They accounted for 820
million pounds or 19% of reported on- and off-site disposal or other releases in 2006. Of that total
for carcinogens, lead and lead compounds accounted for 54% and arsenic and arsenic compounds for
14%. Almost three-quarters (592 million pounds or 72%) were disposed of or otherwise  released to
some form of on-site land disposal. Styrene air emissions were 45% of the total  105 million pounds
of air emissions of carcinogens.

All federal facilities are required to report to EPA's TRI Program.  For 2006, a total of 306 federal
facilities submitted 1,015 forms and reported 106 million pounds of total on- and off-site disposal
or other releases.

How did the TRI data  change  over time?
From 2005 to 2006, total disposal or other releases on- and off-site decreased by 105 million pounds
or 2%. On-site disposal or other releases and off-site disposal or other releases both decreased by 2%.

From 2005 to 2006, total production-related waste managed, which focuses on waste management
practices rather than ultimate disposition of a chemical, decreased by 2%. From 2005 to 2006, the
quantity of production-related waste recycled  increased by 2% (156 million pounds), the  quantity
used for energy recovery increased by 4% (133 million pounds), while the quantity treated decreased
by 7% (642 million pounds) and the quantity disposed of or otherwise released decreased 1% (65
million pounds).


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Toxics  Release Inventory, 2006
                                                     Figure 2:2006 TRI Total Disposal or Other Releases
                                                                    425 billion pounds
                                                           All Others 10%
              22.880
          TRI facilities
      reported 4.25 billion
       pounds of on-and
        off-site  disposal
        or other releases
           for RY 2006
              Food 47.
  Hazardous Waste/
Solvent Recovery 57.
       Paper 57.
 Primary Metals 117.
Metal Mining 297.
                                                     Electric Utilities 247.
              Chemicals 127.
                                                          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 February 2008.
TABLE 1: TRI ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES, 2006
 ON-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
                                                        POUNDS
                PERCENT
   Air
  •
   Water
   Underground Injection
   Land
 TOTAL ON-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
                                                   1,408,281,830
                                                   _^^H
                                                    242,951,617
                                                    219,785,762
                                                   1,854,526,427
                                                   3,725,545,636
                    33.1
                     5.7
                     5.2
                    43.6
                    87.7
 OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
   Underground Injection
   Lan
   POTWs and Wastewater Treatment
   Other
                                                     16,551,995
                                                    361,308,179
                                                      5,000,334
                     0.4
                                                    140.459.086
                     3.3
 TOTAL OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
                                                    523,319,595
                    12.3
 TOTAL ON- AND OFF-SITE DISPOSAL OR OTHER RELEASES
                                                   4.248.865.230
                   100.0
 Note: Data are from TRI Form, Sections 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).Does not include transfers to disposal or other releases sent to otherTRI facilities that reported the amounts as on-site disposal
   other releases. Data as of February 2008.

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                These 22,880 facilities reported Ik billion pounds of TRI chemicals in total production-related
                  waste managed during 2006. As shown in Figure 3: Waste Management Hierarchy. Source
                  Reduction is the preferred approach to managing waste, followed by recycling. Waste that
                        cannot be prevented or recycled can be used for energy recovery or treated.


 Figure 3: Total Production-Related Waste Managed, by Waste Management Hierarchy, 2006
                                          Source Reduction
                                             Recycling
                                         8.84 billion pounds (36.3Z)
                                          Energy Recovery
                                         3.15 billion pounds (12.98
                                             Treatment
                                         7.97 billion pounds (32.71)
                                             Disposal or
                                           Other Releases
           Data are from TRI Form R, Section 8, as of February 2008. Quantity disposed of or
           otherwise released on- and off-site is different from total on- and off-site disposal or
           other releases because the amounts in Table 1 do not include amounts sent off-site to
           other TRI facilities that report that amount disposed of or otherwise  released on-site.
           Also, the amounts in Table 1 may include amounts reported as non-production-related
           waste managed in thisTable.The numbers may also be different due to the differences in
           reporting requirements for Section 5 and 6 and Section 8.
What do  TRI  data  show  over  a  longer period  of time?
     Figure 4: Total Production-related Waste Managed, 2001-2006
   S.   15-
   §   10-
                                                                                                                30,000
                                                                                                                25,000
                                                                                                                20,000
                                                              15,000  «
                2001              2002
                   I Recycled On- and Off-site

                   I Energy Recovery On- and Off-site
2003              2004
  '     i Treated On- and Off-site
2005
      2006
•Number of Facilities
       I Disposed of or Otherwise Released On- and Off-site
      Note: Data are fromTRI Form, Section 8, for year indicated. Data as of February 2008.This figure covers those years for which comparable data on all
      currently listed TRI chemicals, including PBTs, are available. Tables encompassing a wider range of years include only those chemicals for which data
      are comparable (i.e., the chemical must have been consistently reported for the entire time covered) and can be generated using TRI Explorer.
                                  From 2001-2006, total production-related waste managed
                          decreased by 107. and the number of facilities reporting decreased by 111

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 What other information is available on the Public Data Release?
 EPA has also developed an electronic report (eReport) for the 2006 Public Data Release. This report offers
 detailed information on the 2006  Public Data release and is available on the TRI Web site. The eReport
 includes:

 •  a summary of key findings which provides a detailed look at the 2006 data; and
 •  additional tables and charts which provide a look at the top chemicals, industries, and facilities for 2006.

 To access this report and other information on the TRI the TRI Program, please visit our Web site at:
 •www. epa. gov/tr i.


 How  can I access TRI data?

 TRI Explorer: Its  On-line! Its Easy! Its 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. It also provides  further details and breakdown on the type of
 disposal or other releases reported. Find out what chemicals were released  to the air by facilities in your state
 in 2006, what facilities reported in your zip code, or what progress has been made in reducing TRI chemicals
 since 1988. TRI Explorer provides customized reports on these and many other topics using the TRI data.
 Users ofTRI data can also customize maps of states or counties within a state to their preferences. 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 2006 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/tr iexplorer.
       Customize reports
          research data
       quickly and easily

    from your own computer:

www.epa.gov/triexplorer
Rle _Edit View Favorites Tools JHelp

.HBack .   J J J ^Se,,oh

  5 1  http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer
             .JMedi, J £. J J .
                                                                    U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Data Set
H Sefecf 2006 PDR data set (frozen on October 12,
2007 and released to the public March 12, 2008)
                               Report colums to include [J

                               H Total On-site Disposal or Other Releases
                                 Details
                                  H On-Site Disposal to Class I Wells, RCRA
                                 Subtitle C Landfills, and Other On-Site Landfills
                                  H Other On-Site Disposal or Other Releases
                               BJ Total Off-site Disposal or Other Releases
                                 Details
                                  H Off-Site Disposal to Underground Injection
                                 Wells, RCRA Subtitle C Landfills, and Other Landfills
                                  H Other Off-site Disposal or Other Releases
                               H Total On- and Off-Site Disposal or Other Releases
 Where can I find contact information?
 There are three other options for 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.us@epa.gov, or
 • You can find your state or regional TRI coordinator by visiting EPA's TRI web site at www.epa.gov/tri.

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