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2004 TRI Public Data Release
eReport
Summary of Key Findings
For full report: epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri04 April 2006
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U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory
Reporting Year 2004 Public Data Release
Summary of Key Findings
U.S. EPA TRI Program
The United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
program collects information on the disposal or other releases and other waste management
activities for over 650 chemicals from industrial sources in all 50 states and the U.S. territories.
The information has been collected annually since 1987. For 2004, the latest year for which data
are available, disposal or other releases of TRI chemicals totaled over 4.24 billion pounds from
over 23,600 U.S. facilities submitting almost 90,000 chemical forms.
The 2004 TRI data are now available online in a searchable, sortable format at
http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer. We invite you to visit our web site and explore the data to learn
more about toxic chemical releases and waste management activities across the U.S., by state,
county or even zip code - and more!
The following information reflects the TRI data as of April 2006.
Overview of the TRI 2004 Public Data Release
The time period covered for this year's data release is January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2004.
These 2004 data were reported to EPA by July 1, 2005, and were released to the public in April
2006. Data for previous years back to 1988 are also available.
A TRI release to the environment includes disposal or other releases. What does this mean?
Based on the definition of release in Section 329 of the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), facilities that place TRI chemicals in on-site underground injection
wells, landfills, surface impoundments, or send them off-site to other facilities for placement in
underground injection wells, landfills, and/or surface impoundments are considered to have
disposed of or otherwise released these chemicals. Metals sent to Publicly Owned Treatment
Works (POTWs) or other waste treatment facilities are also included.
Other ways facilities release TRI chemicals is by discharging them to an environmental medium
on-site such as air emissions and discharges to receiving streams or water bodies.
1
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The diagram below shows the types of data collected under the TRI program. They include on-site
disposal or other releases, off-site disposal or other releases, and other waste management. The
entire body of data is referred to as total production related waste.
iVSWiW0N REi^
Underground
\ Injection
Recycling
Recovery
e:
Surface
On-Site
Off-Site
TRANSFERS
Recycling
Underground
Injection
Recovery
~
POTWs
Non-Metals
^Publicly-Owned Treatment Works
The following categories are used for presenting this information:
Land
Injection
Off-Site
k-; ฆ t.' .
On-site disposal or other releases On-site disposal or other
releases include emissions to the air, discharges to bodies of
water, disposal at the facility to land, and disposal in underground
injection wells. Disposal or other releases are reported to TRI by
media type. (On-site disposal or other releases are reported in
Section 5 of Form R.) Some types of disposal are controlled to
limit potential for human exposures and environmental
contamination. The TRI data can be broken down in some detail
based on how the chemical is managed.
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Off-site disposal or other releases (transfers off-site to
disposal or other releases) An off-site disposal or other
release is a discharge of a chemical to the environment that
occurs as a result of a facility's transferring a waste
containing a TRI chemical off-site for disposal or other
management (reported in Section 6 of Form R). Certain
other types of transfers are also categorized as off-site
disposal or other release because, except for location, the
outcome of transferring the chemical off-site is the same as
disposing of it or releasing it on-site. For each transfer, the
amount of the chemical in the waste, type of management
activity (chosen from a list of codes referred to as "M"
codes) undertaken by the receiving facility, and the address
of the receiving site are reported.
0-
%
^ On-Site
\
Off-Site
I. !:l;
Underground
Injection
( POTWs*- ]
V Metals /
Total on- and off-site disposal or other releases: sum of on-site disposal or other releases and off-
site disposal or other releases.
Other waste management of TRI chemicals On- and off-site information about facilities'
management of TRI chemicals includes amounts of the chemicals recycled, burned for energy
recovery, and treated from Section 8 of Form R.
Recycling
\
Energy -jฃ,
Recovery
aLOn-aw
Off-Site
I !
IHAYSI-HfS
Treatment
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Off-Site
( Recycling )
- vT:.-Ek>
Recovery
( Treatment J
P0TWs*-AV_-/
[ Mon-Metals J ^
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What are the time periods used for presenting TRI data?
To ensure comparable data are used when representing data trends, several different time periods
for data are presented. The data included in each time period differ because the reporting
requirements have changed over time. Chemicals that have been removed from the TRI list are
excluded. Time periods used for the Public Data Release include:
2001-2004 includes all chemicals and all industries reporting for 2001 through 2004
2000-2004: excludes lead and lead compounds because reporting thresholds for lead were
lowered beginning with the 2001 reporting year.
1998-2004 excludes all Persistent, Bioaccumulative, Toxic (PBT) chemicals and vanadium
and vanadium compounds. Some PBT chemicals were added and reporting thresholds were
3
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lowered for others beginning with the 2000 reporting year. The reporting definition for
vanadium was changed and vanadium compounds were added to the list for 2000, however
vanadium and its compounds are not classified as a PBT chemical.
1988-2004: excludes aluminum oxide, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, PBT
chemicals, vanadium and vanadium compounds. These chemicals have had changes to
reporting requirements or have been added to the TRI chemical list since 1988. Also,
excludes chemicals added to the list in 1990, 1994 and 1995. Also, excludes reporting from
industries added to the reporting requirements beginning with the 1998 reporting year
(these industries are metal mining, coal mining, electrical utilities, chemical wholesale
distributors, petroleum bulk terminals/bulk storage, hazardous waste treatment facilities
and solvent recovery facilities).
What are other considerations in looking at the 2004 Public Data Release?
The chemical, methyl ethyl ketone, has been removed from the TRI list as a result of a court
decision. Reports for this chemical are no longer included in the analyses.
Overview of the TRI 2004 Data
What was the total reported for disposal
Over 4.24 billion pounds were disposed of
facilities that are required to report to EPA
managed on-site.
or other releases for 2004?
or otherwise released to the environment in 2004 by
under EPCRA section 313. Most of the chemicals are
Underground
Injection
Surface
! m Site
87% (3.71 billion pounds) was disposed of or
otherwise released on-site, including
~ 1.55 billion pounds (36%) of air emissions
~ 721 million pounds (17%) in surface
impoundments other than RCRA Subtitle C
surface impoundments
~ 602 million pounds (14%) in Class I
(hazardous waste) underground injection
wells, RCRA Subtitle C (hazardous waste)
landfills and other landfills
~ 541 million pounds (13%) of other land
disposal (such as waste piles, spills or leaks)
13% (536 million pounds) was sent off-site for
disposal or other releases, including
~ 350 million pounds (8%) to Class I
(hazardous waste) underground injection
wells, RCRA Subtitle C landfills and other
landfills
~ 78 million pounds (2%) of metals sent for
solidification and/or stabilization
#
%
%
ฃ On-Site
Off-Site
Underground
Injection
<%> V
v'
4
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As noted above, 14% of total disposal or other releases were in on-site Class I
wells, RCRA Subtitle C and other landfills and 8% were in off-site Class I
wells, RCRA Subtitle C and other landfills. These facilities may limit
contamination and human exposure by disposing of or otherwise releasing
waste in certain ways. For example, disposal of harmful materials in Class I
Underground Injection wells located in isolated formations beneath the
lowermost underground source of drinking water limits potential for
contamination. Similarly, disposal to landfills that are designed with liners,
covers, leak detection systems, and groundwater monitoring systems also
limits the potential for human exposure and contamination.
What are the other waste management quantities for 2004?
TRI chemicals managed through recycling, energy recovery or treatment totaled 21.8 billion
pounds in 2004.
9.53 billion pounds was recycled on- and off-site.
9.00 billion pounds was treated on- and off-site.
3.26 billion pounds was combusted for energy recovery on- and off-site.
The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (PPA) requires facilities to report
information about the quantities of TRI chemicals they manage in waste,
both on-and off-site, including amounts reported as recycled, burnedfor
energy recovery, or treated.
How do the 2004 TRI data compare to the 2003 TRI data?
In this section, we will present both net changes from 2003 to 2004, and underlying shifts in
management methods. Sometimes a specific method of handling a chemical may increase, even
though the overall trend is a decrease.
Overall, when compared to quantities reported for the previous year (2003), total disposal or other
releases of TRI chemicals showed a decrease, of 4% (171 million pounds).
On-site disposal or other releases decreased by 198
million pounds (5%).
~ Surface impoundments other than RCRA Subtitle C
surface impoundments decreased by 96 million
pounds (12%),
~ Land disposal other than landfills (such as waste piles,
spills and leaks) decreased by 66 million pounds
(11%),
~ RCRA Subtitle C and other landfills decreased by 46
million pounds (11%)
~ Air emissions decreased by 24 million pounds (2%),
~ However, surface water releases increased by 21
million pounds (10%),
~ Class II-V underground injection wells increased by 5.7 million pounds (26%),
~ Land treatment increased by 3.9 million pounds (25%), and
~ Class I underground injection wells increased by 3.0 million pounds (1%).
Underground
Injection
Surface
Water
. un-oue a .
^kTIUNSFEftS ^ ;W
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5
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Off-site disposal or other releases increased by 27
million pounds (5%).
~ RCRA Subtitle C landfills increased by 13
million pounds (25%),
~ Land disposal other than landfills (such as waste
piles, spills and leaks) increased by 7 million
pounds (23%), and
~ Class I underground injection wells increased
by 4 million pounds (54%).
Off-Site
"I.',', I
Underground
Injection
fcViS*
rOTWs -
What are some of the reasons for the overall decrease in disposal or
other releases from 2003 to 2004?
The metal mining sector had a decrease of 14% (168 million pounds) from
2003. This sector, which also had a large decrease fi'om 2001 to 2003, may
still be adjusting their reporting to conform to a court case, Bar rick v. EPA.
The decrease could also be due to decreases in mining activity or other
factors.
Which industry sectors reported the largest decreases in disposal or other releases, 2003-
2004?
The metal mining sector reported the largest total disposal or other releases in 2004 (1.07
billion pounds) and the largest decrease in disposal or other releases from 2003: 168
million pounds (14%).
Hazardous waste/solvent recovery facilities reported 195 million pounds in 2004 and the
second largest decrease in disposal or other releases from 2003: 38 million pounds (16%)
from 2003.
Electric utilities reported the second largest total disposal or other releases in 2004 (1.05
billion pounds), with a decrease of 16 million pounds (1.5%) from 2003.
Which industry sectors reported the largest increases in disposal or other releases, 2003-
2004?
The paper industry reported 229 million pounds in 2004, an increase of 15.1 million
pounds (7%) from 2003.
The food industry reported 165 million pounds in 2004, an increase of 14.8 million pounds
(10%) from 2003.
Petroleum refiners reported 81 million pounds in 2004, an increase of 10.5 million pounds
(15%) from 2003.
How did total production related waste managed change from 2003 to 2004?
The preferred measure of environmental progress is reduction in TRI releases. To the extent that
releases are still occurring, another measure of progress may be seen in changes in management
practices, in a way that limits potential for human exposure and environmental contamination. We
have seen a shift from 2003 to 2004 in how TRI chemical releases are managed.
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Total production related waste increased by 4% (1.10 billion pounds) from 2003 to 2004. This
included an overall decrease in the quantity disposed of or otherwise released of 4% (188 million
pounds) and increases in some types of other waste managed.
Treatment on-site increased by 11% (828 million
pounds).
Recycling on-site increased by less than 1% (7.8
million pounds.
However, energy recovery on-site decreased by 1%
(20 million pounds).
[ Recycling
lln-Siic
Dff-Site
%
X
Energy
Recovery
y ^
%
Treatment
""XlfiANSFEKS Jfes
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Recycling off-site increased by 22% (419 million
pounds)
Treatment off-site increased by 9% (45 million
pounds)
Energy recovery off-site decreased by less than II
(1.4 million pounds)
uff-Sile
f Recycling I
VIv'.sS
/J?
Energy \
Recovery J ^
( Trealment J
pows--\V
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Which types of facilities had the largest disposal or other
releases in 2004?
As part of the annual PDR, EPA has historically provided a list of facilities that have the largest
disposal or other releases of TRI chemicals to the environment. It is important to note that these
facilities do not necessarily pose the greatest risk to the environment. As explained in detail in the
EPA report, Factors to Consider When Using TRI Data (available at www.epa.gov/tri/tridata).
total quantities of TRI chemicals released or otherwise disposed of is one important factor among
several that determine the potential risk that may be posed.
This year, EPA is presenting the "Top 50" facilities with largest disposal or other releases in charts
that are available on this web site (www.epa.gov/tri). It is important to note that there is a huge
variation in the amounts of TRI chemicals released per facility. In 2004, the range of TRI disposal
or other releases is from 0 to 458 million pounds. The average release of TRI chemicals per
facility is approximately 179,300 pounds. The reason some facilities have releases far in excess of
the average are several:
Certain industry sectors, such as mining, smelting, and the electric power industries,
process large volumes of material and not surprisingly the totals for TRI chemicals are
also larger than average.
Even within a given sector, certain facilities are simply larger (in terms of economic
parameters such as production levels, sales, employment, etc.) and so they process
relatively large amounts of input material to produce large amounts of output material
(product). And,
Facilities differ in their relative efficiency in processing material, i.e., for a given unit of
output, facilities differ in the amount of release or waste that is produced.
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As one might expect, the facilities with the largest disposal or other releases are mining facilities.
In fact, the top 6 facilities, which each have over 45 million pounds of total on and off-site disposal
or other releases, are mining operations. Other facilities in the Top 50 include a variety of
industries, with disposal or other release totals ranging from 11 million to 35 million pounds.
EPA also presents facility rankings taking into account the management methods used for the TRI
chemicals. In addition to presenting the Top 50 facilities with largest total on- and off-site disposal
or other releases, we also present the Top 50 facilities with total disposal or other releases,
subtracting out the totals that are managed in Class I underground injection wells, Subtitle C
landfills, and other landfills. As discussed above, this second group of rankings is perhaps a better,
although still imperfect, indication of the amount of TRI chemicals that may be available to the
environment. In this second group of rankings, a limited number of facilities that manage TRI
chemicals mostly or totally in Class I wells or landfills drop down in the rankings, or drop out of
the Top 50 altogether. (The top 6 mining facilities mentioned above remain the top 6 in these
rankings, however.)
Finally, for similar reasons, EPA has provided two sets of rankings (top 20) of US counties with
the largest releases. One set of rankings shows total disposal or other releases, and the second
shows total disposal or other releases, adjusted to subtract out quantities in Class I wells and
landfills. As with facilities, the very top (in this case 5) counties do not change, but there is some
shifting in the next 15 to reflect that some counties are home to Class I wells or landfills, and when
those totals are not counted, they are no longer among the counties with the most TRI chemical
releases.
Federal Facilities
All federal facilities, whether operated by federal agencies or contractors (e.g. some military
bases), are required to report to EPA's TRI Program.
For 2004, 313 federal facilities reported 90 million pounds of total on- and off-site disposal
or other releases.
Disposal or other releases by federal facilities increased by 13 million pounds (16%) from
2003 to 2004.
Total production related waste managed at federal facilities increased by 20 million
pounds or 10% from 2003 to 2004.
What are some of the reasons for the increase from 2003 to 2004?
The Tennessee Valley A uthority utilities reported 77% of the total disposal
or other releases from federal facilities for 2004 and an increase in total
disposal or other releases of 12 million pounds (22%) fi'om 2003 to 2004,
including an increase of 11 million pounds in air emissions, primarily
sulfuric acid.
2004 Chemical Snapshots
PERSISTENT BIOACCUMULATIVE TOXIC (PBT) CHEMICALS
2004 is the fifth year that TRI includes data, at reduced reporting thresholds, on PBT chemicals
such as dioxins, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). It is the fourth year of TRI
reporting data for lead and lead compounds at reduced thresholds.
8
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Why is there particular concern for PBT chemicals?
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
and are not readily destroyed (they persist) and build up or accumulate in
body tissues (they bioaccumulate).
What were the top PBT chemicals disposed of or otherwise released in 2004?
98% (445 million pounds) of total disposal or other releases of PBT chemicals in 2004 was
accounted for by lead and lead compounds.
Other disposal or other releases of PBT chemicals in 2004 included:
~ 4.8 million pounds of mercury and mercury compounds,
~ 2.4 million pounds of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), and
~ 1.9 million pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
111,472 grams (approximately 246 pounds) of total disposal or other releases of PBT
chemicals in 2004 were accounted for by dioxin and dioxin-like compounds.
What were the total PBT disposal or other releases for 2004?
Total disposal or other releases of PBT chemicals reported were 455 million pounds in 2004.
93% (425 million pounds) were disposed of or otherwise released on-site, including
~ 55%) (250 million pounds) in other land disposal (such as waste piles, spills or leaks).
~ 27%o (121 million pounds) in on-site surface impoundments other than RCRA Subtitle
C surface impoundments.
~ 9% (42 million pounds) to Class I wells, RCRA Subtitle C landfills and other landfills.
7%> (30 million pounds) were disposed of or otherwise released off-site.
~ 4% (17 million pounds) of off-site disposal and other releases were to Class I wells,
RCRA Subtitle C landfills and other landfills.
How do the 2004 PBT data compare to the 2003 PBT data?
Overall, when compared to quantities reported for the previous year (2003), total disposal or other
releases of persistent bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals decreased by 4.1 million pounds
or 1% from 2003 to 2004.
Lead and lead compounds increased by 17 million pounds (4%)
Mercury and mercury compounds decreased by 1 million pounds (16%>)
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) decreased by 20 million pounds (92%>), including one
hazardous waste facility that reported disposal in RCRA Subtitle C landfill of 16 million
pounds in 2003 but 27,000 pounds in 2004.
Polycyclic aromatic compounds increased by over 185,000 pounds (8%>).
On- and off-site disposal or other releases of PBT chemicals in RCRA Subtitle C landfills, other
landfills and Class I underground injection wells totaled 59 million pounds in 2004 (13%> of total
disposal or other releases). They decreased by 36 million pounds (38%>) from 2003 to 2004.
On-site RCRA Subtitle C landfills decreased by 25 million pounds (51%>)
Other on-site landfills decreased by 11 million pounds (36%)
Other off-site landfills decreased by 1 million pounds (8%>).
However, off-site RCRA Subtitle C landfills increased by 204,526 pounds (6%>) and
Class I wells on- and off-site increased 55,202 pounds (14%>).
9
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LEAD AND LEAD COMPOUNDS
The reporting threshold for lead and lead compounds was lowered beginning with the 2001
reporting year so this is the fourth year of reporting under the lowered threshold.
What were the total reported disposal or other releases of lead and lead compounds for
2004?
Total disposal or other releases of lead and lead compounds were 445 million pounds for 2004.
Surface
xVsr Underground
Co Injection
Land
*V
%
%
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94% (417 million pounds) was disposed of or
otherwise released on-site, including:
~ 247 million pounds (56%) of other land disposal
(such as waste piles, spills or leaks);
~ 120 million pounds (27%) to surface
impoundments, other than RCRA Subtitle C
surface impoundments; and
~ 1.1 million pounds (0.3%) of air emissions.
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6% (28 million pounds) were off-site disposal or
other releases
On-Site
Off-Ste
ฆ
Underground
Injection
POTns
Metals
How do the 2004 data compare to 2003 and to 2001 (the first year of reporting under the
lower threshold) for lead and lead compounds?
From 2003 to 2004 disposal or other releases for lead and lead compounds increased by 17
million pounds or 4%.
The metal mining sector accounted for 83% of the total di sposal or other releases in 2004
and an increase of 8% from 2003 to 2004.
Without the metal mining sector, total on- and off-site disposal or other releases of lead and
lead compounds decreased by 11% from 2003 to 2004.
Some industry sectors reported decreases, including:
~ Hazardous waste management facilities, with a decrease of 18% from 2003 to 2004;
~ Primary metals facilities, with a decrease of 12% from 2003 to 2004; and
~ Electric utilities, with a decrease of 5% from 2003 to 2004.
On- and off-site disposal or other releases of lead and lead compounds in RCRA Subtitle C
landfills, other landfills and Class I underground injection wells totaled 110 million pounds in
2004 (25% of total disposal or other releases). They decreased by 31 million pounds (22%) from
2003 to 2004.
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On-site RCRA Subtitle C landfills decreased by 8 million pounds (27%)
Other on-site landfills decreased by 6 million pounds (26%)
Other off-site landfills decreased by 1.4 million pounds (11%).
However, off-site RCRA Subtitle C landfills increased by 246,967 pounds (10%) and
Class I wells on- and off-site increased by 54,753 pounds (14%).
Lead and lead compounds disposal or other releases increased by 25 million pounds or 6% from
2001 to 2004
The metal mining sector had an increase of 10% from 2001 to 2004.
Without the metal mining sector total disposal or other releases of lead and lead
compounds decreased by 10% from 2001 to 2004.
Some industry sectors reported decreases, including:
~ Primary metals facilities, with a decrease of 24% from 2001 to 2004; and
~ Electric utilities, with a decrease of 13% from 2001 to 2004.
Facilities reporting zero disposal or other releases represented about 18% of all facilities
(1,525 facilities) reporting lead and lead compounds in 2004 and about 20% in 2001 (1,789
facilities).
What were the other waste managed totals for lead and lead compounds for 2004?
Total production related waste managed for lead and lead compounds was 1.2 billion pounds for
2004. Most of the lead waste was recycled.
63% (768 million pounds) was recycled, mostly
recycling on-site (468 million pounds).
~ 349 million pounds was recycled on-site by
primary metals facilities.
37% (452 million pounds) was the quantity of lead
and lead compounds managed as on-site disposal or
other releases.
~ Metal mining had 369 million pounds, mainly as
on-site disposal or releases other than to landfills
or underground injection.
Recycling
Recovery
Treatment
On-Site
(sz)
~ 189 million pounds was recycled off-site by
electronic/electrical equipment manufacturers.
On-Site
Off-Site
( Recycling J
Recovery
Trealment j
poiwt-Av__v/
\ Non-Metals /
Total production related waste managed for lead and lead compounds decreased by less than 1%
(7 million pounds) from 2003 to 2004 and had an overall decrease of 2% (25 million pounds) from
2001 to 2004.
11
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Recycling decreased by 3% from 2003 to 2004 and by 6% from 2001 to 2004.
Quantity disposed of or otherwise released increased by 4% from 2003 to 2004 and by 6%
from 2001 to 2004.
Of the industry sectors reporting the largest amounts of lead and lead compounds:
Total production related waste managed by the metal mining sector increased by 7% from
2003 to 2004 and by 10% from 2001 to 2004.
Total production related waste managed by the electronic/electrical equipment sector
increased by 14% from 2003 to 2004 but had an overall decrease of 7% from 2001 to
2004.
Total production related waste managed by the primary metals sector decreased by 11%
from 2003-2004 and by less than 1% from 2001 to 2004.
MERCURY AND MERCURY COMPOUNDS
The reporting threshold for mercury and mercury compounds was lowered to 10 pounds beginning
with reporting year 2000, so this is the fifth year of reporting under the lowered threshold.
What were the total mercury and mercury compounds
disposal or other releases for 2004?
Total disposal or other releases of mercury and mercury
compounds were 4.8 million pounds in 2004.
96% (4.6 million pounds) were on-site disposal or
other releases, including
~ 2.6 million pounds (54%) of other land
disposal (such as waste piles, spills or leaks)
~ 1.5 million pounds (31%) of surface
impoundments, other than RCRA Subtitle C
surface impoundments
~ 140,697 pounds (3%) of air emissions
Two metal mining facilities accounted for 64% (3.1 million pounds) of the total on- and
off-site disposal or other releases of mercury and mercury compounds for 2004.
~ These facilities reported disposal or other releases mainly to on-site surface
impoundments and on-site landfills other than RCRA Subtitle C landfills.
Underground
Injection
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On-site
Surface
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4% (216,402 pounds) were off-site disposal or
other releases.
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12
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Which industry sectors reported the largest disposal or other releases of mercury and
mercury compounds in 2004?
The metal mining industry reported the largest disposal or other releases of mercury and
mercury compounds (85% of the total mercury and mercury compounds disposal or other
releases).
Electric utilities reported the largest air emissions of any industry sector, with 67% of all
air emissions of mercury and mercury compounds.
Hazardous waste/solvent recovery facilities reported the largest off-site disposal or other
releases (off-site transfers to disposal) of mercury and mercury compounds with 74% of all
off-site disposal or other releases.
How do the 2004 data compare to data for 2003 for mercury and mercury compounds?
From 2003 to 2004, disposal or other releases for mercury and mercury compounds decreased by
16% (over 950,000 pounds).
Without the two largest metal mining facilities, total on- and off-site disposal increased
18%) (over 267,000 pounds).
Total on-site disposal or other releases decreased by 17% (1.0 million pounds), including
~ a decrease of 1.1 million pounds (29%) in other land disposal (waste piles, spills and
leaks).
~ However, on-site air emissions increased by 2,640 pounds (2%).
Total off-site disposal or other releases increased by 12% (23,884 pounds).
What caused the increase in on-site air emissions of mercury and
mercury compounds?
Electric utilities reported 67% of all air emissions of mercury and
mercury compounds in 2004 and increased these emissions by 4,268
pounds, from 90,337pounds in 2003 to 94,605pounds in 2004.
On- and off-site disposal or other releases of mercury and mercury compounds in RCRA Subtitle
C landfills, other landfills and Class I underground injection wells totaled 474,229 pounds in 2004
(10%) of total disposal or other releases). They increased by almost 110,000 pounds (30%) from
2003 to 2004.
On-site RCRA Subtitle C landfills increased by 74,290 pounds (29%)
Off-site RCRA Subtitle C landfills increased by 48,384 pounds (135%).
However, other off-site landfills decreased by 14,625 pounds (44%).
From 2000 to 2004 (over five years), disposal or other releases for mercury and mercury
compounds increased by 29% (1.1 million pounds).
Total on-site disposal or other releases increased by 34% (1.2 million pounds)
~ Two metal mining facilities reported a combined increase of almost 1 million pounds
from 2000 to 2004.
~ Without reporting by these two facilities, disposal or other releases of mercury and
mercury compounds increased by 10% (162,301 pounds) from 2000 to 2004.
On-site air emissions of mercury and mercury compounds decreased by 20,000 pounds
(12%) from 2000 to 2004.
13
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DIOXIN AND DIOXIN-LIKE COMPOUNDS
Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds were added to the TRI list for reporting year 2000 at a lowered
reporting threshold of 0.1 grams.
What were the total disposal or other releases for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in 2004?
Total disposal or other releases for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds were 111,472 grams
(approximately 246 pounds) in 2004.
60% (66,815 grams or 147 pounds) were on-site
disposal or other releases, including
~ 1,234 grams or 2.7 pounds (1%) of air
emissions
%.
%
underground
Injection
&
Surface
On-Site
Off-Site
^ TRANSFERS A
j iMt, <
On-Site
Off-Site
JndergrflUrd
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%
40% (44,657 grams or 98 pounds) were off-
site disposal or other releases, including
~ 41,365 grams or 91 pounds of disposal in
RCRA Subtitle C and other landfills
How do the 2004 data compare to data for 2003 and 2000 (the first year of reporting under
the lowered threshold) for dioxins and dioxin-like compounds?
From 2003 to 2004, total disposal or other releases of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds
decreased by 155,164 grams or 342 pounds (58%).
One facility reported a decrease of 137,087 grams or 302 pounds from 2003 to 2004 due to
transferring waste, such as telephone poles, off-site in 2003.
On-site disposal or other releases decreased by 1% (464 grams or 1 pound).
~ On-site air emissions decreased by 1,211 grams or 2.7 pounds (50%) from 2003 to
2004.
Off-site disposal or other releases decreased by 78% (154,700 grams or 341 pounds).
On- and off-site disposal or other releases of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in RCRA Subtitle
C landfills, other landfills and Class I underground injection wells totaled 100,170 grams or 221
pounds in 2004 (90% of total disposal or other releases). They decreased by 156,736 grams or 346
pounds (61%) from 2003 to 2004.
Off-site landfills other than RCRA Subtitle C landfills decreased by 152,978 grams or 337
pounds (82%)
Off-site RCRA Subtitle C landfills decreased by 4,104 grams or 9.1 pounds (33%)
On-site RCRA Subtitle C landfills decreased by 4,299 grams or 9.5 pounds (12%)
However, other on-site landfills increased by 4,709 grams or 10.4 pounds (21%).
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From 2000 to 2004, total disposal or other releases of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds increased
by 12,616 grams or 28 pounds (13%).
On-site air emissions decreased by 2,515 grams or 5.6 pounds (67%) from 2000 to 2004.
Looking at TRI data over the years
TRI DATA, 1998-2004
Over the six years from 1998 to 2004, total on- and off-site disposal or other releases of TRI
chemicals decreased by 45 % (by 3.00 billion pounds).
The metal mining sector reported an overall decrease of 2.3 million pounds {11%).
Without the metal mining sector, total disposal or other releases decreased by 18% (by 679
million pounds).
Total production related waste managed decreased by 10% (2.85 billion pounds) from 1998 to
2004.
Quantity disposed of or otherwise released decreased by 44% (3.00 billion pounds)
Recycling on- and off-site decreased by 4% (390 million pounds)
Energy recovery on- and off-site decreased by 6% (216 million pounds)
However, treatment on- and off-site increased by 9% (755 million pounds)
Average per facility, 1998-2004
1998
2004
% Change
Pounds/facility
Pounds/facility
Percent
Total Production Related Waste Managed
All Industry Sectors
1,182,962
1,212,575
+2.5%
Without metal mining/primary metals
1,003,765
1,133,205
+ 13%
Total Disposal or Other Releases
All Industry Sectors
291,983
186,882
-36%
Without metal mining/primary metals
148,477
141,649
-5%
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TRI DATA, 1988-2004
Over the seventeen years from 1988 to 2004, total on- and off-site disposal or other releases of TRI
chemicals decreased by 57 percent (by 1.71 billion pounds), looking at trends in the industries and
chemicals that have been consistently reported since that time. The number of facilities reporting
decreased by 15 percent over that same time period. This decrease only takes into consideration
the 1988 core set of chemicals (i.e., those chemicals that have been on the TRI list 1988 and have
had the same reporting definition since 1988).
Total Disposal or Other Releases/Number of Facilities Reporting
(0
T3
O
Q.
4.500
25.000
4.000
20,000 ai
3.500
3.000
15,000 io
2.500
2.000
10.000 *
1.500
1.000
5.000
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Year
I Total Disposal or Other Releases
Number of Facilities
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 delisted chemicals, chemicals added in 1990, 1994 and 1995, aluminum
oxide, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, PBT chemicals, sulfuric acid, vanadium and vanadium
compounds. For the years 1998 and after, does not include industries, other than manufacturing
industries, that are required to report for 1998 and later years only. Data as of April 2006.
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