2022 TRI National Analysis


j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI	March 2024

2022 TRI National Analysis

1

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

^HQ www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/

\w LI # March 2024

Introduction to the 2022 TRI
National Analysis

Industries and businesses in the U.S. use many chemicals to make the products we depend on,
such as pharmaceuticals, computers, paints, clothing,
and automobiles. While most chemicals on the Toxics
Release Inventory fTRI) chemical list are managed by
facilities in ways that minimize releases into the
environment, releases still occur as part of normal
business operations.

It is your right to know what TRI chemicals are being
used in your community, how the chemical waste is
managed—including through environmental releases—
and whether these quantities have changed over time.

The TRI tracks how industries manage certain toxic
chemicals. Information facilities report each year to EPA
provides insights into how chemicals are managed by
facilities conducting industrial activities such as
manufacturing, metal mining, generation of electric
power, and hazardous waste management. TRI data are
publicly available. For calendar year 2022, more than
21,000 facilities reported to the TRI Program.

Each year, in support of its mission to protect human
health and the environment, EPA analyzes the most
recent TRI data, conducts comparative analyses with
TRI data for previous years, and publishes its findings
in the TRI National Analysis. Check out the Catalog of
Applied TRI Data Uses to learn more about how EPA
and others have used TRI data.

Overview of the 2022 TRI data

The two pie charts below summarize the most recent TRI data: the chart on the left shows the
total amount of TRI chemical waste managed through recycling, energy recovery, treatment,

TRI Reporting

Under Section 313 of
the Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act
(EPCRA1 and Section 6607 of the
Pollution Prevention Act £PPA),
facilities that meet TRI reporting
requirements must report details
about their pollution prevention
and waste management
activities—including releases—of
TRI-listed chemicals that occurred
during the calendar year by July 1
of the following year.

Watch a short video about the TRI Program and your right to know.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

and disposal or other releases. The chart on the right shows the proportions of TRI chemical
waste released to air, water, and land, and transferred off site for disposal.

TRI Waste Managed, 2022
28.6 billion pounds

Disposal or Other Releases, 2022
3.S billion pounds

Energy Recovery:
10%

Off-site Disposal and
Other Releases: 12%

On-site Air Releases:
17%

On-site Surface Water
Discharges: 6%

88% of waste was managed by preferred methods rather than released to the environment

Note: 1) Percentages do not sum to 100% due to rounding. 2) To avoid double counting, the Disposal or Other Releases pie chart
on the right excludes quantities of TRI chemicals that are transferred off site from a TRI-reporting facility and subsequently
released on site by a receiving facility that also reports to TRI.

• Facilities reported managing 28.6 billion pounds of TRI-listed chemicals as waste during
2022. Waste managed is the quantity of TRI chemicals in waste resulting from routine
operations. Facilities manage this waste through recycling, combustion for energy
recovery, treatment, and disposing of or otherwise releasing the waste into the
environment.

• Of this total, 88% was recycled, combusted for energy recovery, or treated, while 12%
was disposed of or otherwise released into the environment.

• For TRI chemicals in waste that were disposed of or otherwise released, facilities report
the quantities of these releases and whether the releases were to the air, water, or land.
Most releases of TRI chemicals occur on site at facilities. However, waste containing TRI
chemicals may also be shipped off site for disposal, such as to a landfill. As shown in the
pie chart on the right, most TRI chemical waste was disposed of to land, which includes
landfills, underground injection, and other land disposal practices.

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI	March 2024	

What's new in TRI for 2022?

•	The TRI Program expanded coverage of the natural aas processing sector to include all
natural gas processing facilities that receive and refine natural gas. In prior years, only
natural gas processing facilities that primarily recovered sulfur from natural gas were
required to report. For 2022, 305 facilities in the sector reported managing 115 million
pounds of TRI chemicals as waste, most of which (89 million pounds) were released.

•	EPA extended TRI reporting reguirements to cover certain contract sterilization facilities
that use ethylene oxide. These facilities collectively reported releasing 9,166 pounds of
ethylene oxide into the air in 2022.

•	Four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were added to the TRI chemical list. To
learn more, see the PFAS Chemical Profile.

•	For the complete list of changes to the TRI reporting requirements for 2022, see the
2022 TRI Reporting Forms and Instructions.

4

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Where are the Facilities that Reported to TRI for 2022
Located?

All Facilities

Releases

#	> 1,000,000 lb

+ 100,000 - 1,000,000 lb

#	10,000 - 100,000 lb
1,000 - 10,000 lb

< 1,000 lb



Gulf of

^Guadalajara

	Mayirn fiht

onolulu

View Larger Map

5

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

TRI Data Considerations

As with any dataset, there are multiple factors to consider when reviewing results or using
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data. Key factors associated with the data presented in the TRI
National Analysis are summarized below; for more information see Factors to Consider When
Using Toxics Release Inventory Data.

• Covered chemicals and sectors: TRI does not
include information from all facilities or industry
sectors that may manage TRI chemicals in waste,
nor does it cover every chemical manufactured,
processed or otherwise used by facilities in the
United States. The complete TRI chemical list and a
list of the sectors covered bv the TRI Program are
available on TRI's GuideME website.

• Reporting thresholds: Facilities in covered sectors
that manufacture, process, or otherwise use TRI-
listed chemicals above listed threshold quantities
within a calendar year and employ at least ten full-
time equivalent employees are required to report to
the TRI Program. For most TRI chemicals, the
threshold quantities are 25,000 pounds of the
chemical manufactured or processed, or 10,000
pounds of the chemical otherwise used during a
calendar year.

• TRI trends: The TRI National Analysis presents
trends for the last ten years (2013-2022). While the TRI chemical list has changed since
2013, the quantities of the newly added chemicals released account for less than 0.1%
of national totals. To simplify the trend presentations and to enable reproducibility, all
chemicals are included in the trend figures, including those that have not been on the
TRI chemical list for all ten years of the trend.

• Risk: TRI data can be a useful starting point to help evaluate whether chemical releases
may pose potential risks to human health and the environment. However, the quantity
of a chemical release alone is not necessarily an indicator of exposure to the chemical,
or the potential health or environmental risks posed by the chemical. Note that:

o Chemicals on the TRI list vary in toxicity; and

TRI Reporting is
Required

TRI reporting is required for
facilities that meet the
reporting criteria under Section
313 of the Emergency Planning
and Community Right-to-Know
Act fEPCRAl. EPA investigates
cases of EPCRA non-
compliance and may issue civil
penalties, including monetary
fines. Since the TRI Program's
creation, EPA has taken more
than 3,500 TRI-related
enforcement actions. For more
information, see the TRI
Compliance and Enforcement
webpage.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

o The extent of exposure to a chemical depends on many factors such as where the
chemical is released, how it is released (i.e., into the air, water, or land), the
chemical's properties, and what happens to the chemical in the environment,
o For more information on the use of TRI data in exposure and risk evaluations, see
the TRI and Estimating Potential Risk webpage and Potential Risks from TRI
Chemicals in the Releases section.

• Data quality: Facilities use their best available data to determine the quantities of
chemicals they report to TRI. Each year. EPA conducts an extensive data quality review
that includes contacting facilities about potential errors in reported information. This
data quality review process helps ensure that the TRI National Analysis is based on
accurate and complete information.

• Data presentation: The National Analysis is intended to convey key messages from
the TRI data submitted by facilities. At times, the National Analysis may simplify certain
technical details when they don't have a significant impact on the information presented.

• Late submissions, revisions, and withdrawals: TRI reporting forms submitted to
EPA or revised after the July 1 reporting deadline may not be processed in time to be
included in the National Analysis. After EPA's data quality review, the TRI data are
frozen in October and this dataset is used to develop the National Analysis. Any
revisions, late submissions, or withdrawals made after this date are not reflected in the
National Analysis but are incorporated into the TRI dataset during the spring data
refresh and will be reflected in the next year's National Analysis.

Impact of Late Submissions and Revisions on the National

Analysis

EPA compared the data released in October 2022 and used for the 2021 National Analysis to the
updated version of these data released in October 2023. This allowed EPA to assess how late
submissions and revisions to submitted data might have changed the information presented in the
2021 National Analysis, had they been included in the dataset. National waste management and
release quantities were 0.1% and 1.5% different, respectively, than what was shown in the 2021
National Analysis.

-------
kvEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis

www .eoa, oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Quick Facts for 2022

2022 TRI Qu

Energy
Recovery:

Treatment:
7.78

Disposal or
Other Releases:
3.30 billion lb

Total:
3.28 billion lb

Total Disposal
or Other
Releases



billion

Total Waste Managed:
28.6 billion lb

On-site:
2.87 billion lb

0

Off-site:
0.41 billion lb

©

Water:
0.20 billion lb

Air:

0.57 billion lb



Land:
2.11 billion lb

In this figure, the value for "Disposal or Other Releases" in the waste managed pie chart (3.30
billion lb) is greater than the value for "Total Disposal or Other Releases" (3.28 billion lb).
There are several reasons why these quantities differ slightly, including;

• Double counting: Total disposal or other releases (the 3.28 billion pound value in the
figure) removes "double counting" that occurs when a facility reports transfers of TRI
chemicals in waste to another TRI-reporting facility. For example, when Facility A
transfers a chemical off site for disposal to Facility B, Facility A reports the chemical as

8

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

transferred off site for disposal while Facility B reports the same chemical as disposed of
on site. In processing the data, the TRI Program recognizes that this is the same
quantity of the chemical and includes it only once in the total disposal or other releases
metric. The waste managed metric in TRI, however, considers all instances where the
TRI chemical in waste is managed (first as a quantity sent off site for disposal and next
as a quantity disposed of on site), and includes both the off-site transfer and the on-site
disposal. Typically, double counting accounts for most of the difference between the two
release quantities shown in the TRI Quick Facts figure.

• Non-production related waste managed: Non-production-related waste refers to
TRI chemical waste that results from one-time events, remedial actions, catastrophic
events, or other events rather than standard production activities. Facilities typically
report managing these waste quantities as on-site releases or transfers off site which
are included in a facility's total disposal or other releases but not in the overall total for
waste managed.

For more information on TRI, the chemicals and industry sectors it covers, the reporting
requirements, and to access TRI data, visit the TRI website.

9

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI	March 2024

Pollution Prevention

Pollution prevention, also known as "P2" or "source reduction," is any practice that reduces or
eliminates pollution at its source prior to waste management. With less waste being created,
the likelihood of impacts to human health and the environment is reduced. Additionally, it is
often less expensive for facilities to prevent pollution from being created than to pay for control,
treatment, or disposal of wastes.

Under the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 fPPAI. facilities that report to the Toxics Release
Inventory (TRI) Program are required to include information on any newly implemented P2
activities. Many facilities also choose to include additional details that further describe their P2
actions. As a result, TRI serves as a robust tool for identifying effective P2 practices and
highlighting pollution prevention successes.

2022 Highlights

•	TRI facilities implemented 3,589 new source reduction activities.

•	Facilities implemented source reduction activities for almost 200 different chemicals.

As with any dataset, there are many factors to consider when using TRI data. Find a summary
of key factors associated with the data used in the National Analysis in the Introduction. For
more information see Factors to Consider When Using Toxics Release Inventory Data.

10

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Source Reduction Activities

Facilities are required to report any source reduction activities that they initiated or completed
during the reporting year to TRI. Source reduction information can help facilities learn from
each other's best practices and potentially lead to better environmental stewardship and
implementation of more P2 actions. When reporting source reduction activities to TRI, facilities
choose from 24 codes that describe the activities they implemented. These codes are grouped
into the five categories shown in the graph below. EPA's recent analysis Measuring the Impact
of Source Reduction shows the efficacy of different types of source reduction activities.

Source Reduction Activities Reported, 2022

Process and Equipment
Modifications

Operating Practices and Training

Material Substitutions and
Modifications

¦ Inventory and Material
Management

¦ Product Modifications

Note: Facilities report their source reduction activities by selecting from a list of 24 codes that describe their activities. These codes
fall into one of five categories listed in the graph legend and are defined in the TRI Reporting Forms and Instructions.

• In 2022, 1,759 facilities (8% of all facilities that reported to TRI) implemented a
combined 3,589 new source reduction activities.

• The most reported source reduction category was Process and Equipment
Modifications.

o For example, an adhesive manufacturing facility used historical data to optimize
batch sizes which reduced the quantity of methyl methacrylate waste managed.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

• Facilities also report how they identified the opportunity to implement each pollution
prevention activity. The most reported methods for finding these opportunities were
Participative Team Management and Internal Pollution Prevention Audits.

The map below shows facilities that reported implementing one or more source reduction
activity during 2022.

\ r

Detroit

f'eveland

UNITED
STATES

\ • ' n- <

jnH 10* ¦i:?C°k"Ttf)u-

• ftln&r lati
lAisvilie

Toronto
. .

>•

* - Mow York

"3" • • <

'^delphia

/ashlngton

Richmond
Norfolk

iklSfoma (

San Diego

#Phoenix

• i Tenflesse/ «.p •

V" •' • • \v /•

- T. Tta ^SoiiTri* *
• ' . ^7arj|nT«

A Look at Source Reduction Activity in 2022

oe ;e $

Additional Resources

• For more information on how facilities report source reduction to TRI, see the TRI

Source Reduction Reporting weboaae.

• See the TRI P2 Data Overview Factsheet for more information on source reduction
reporting in recent years.

• Facilities may have implemented source reduction activities in earlier years that are
ongoing or have been completed. To see details about these activities, use the TRI P2
Search Tool.

• Facilities interested in exploring source reduction opportunities can reach out to their
EPA Regional P2 Coordinator to arrange a free, confidential P2 assessment with a third-
party P2 expert.

• The TRI Pollution Prevention Reporting Guide provides examples of source reduction
activities at facilities and guidance to improve reporting.

• The TRI Green Chemistry and Green Engineering weboage has information about green
chemistry and engineering principles and examples of activities that facilities have
reported to TRI.

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

•	EPA partners with the American Chemical Society's Green Chemistry Institute® to
present Green Chemistry Challenge Awards to organizations that have advanced green
chemistry.

•	The Solvent Substitutions Reported to TRI webpaae is an interactive resource that
allows users to find information about specific substitutions for TRI-listed solvents to
other solvent chemicals, mixtures, or solvent-free processes.

13

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Source Reduction Activities by Chemical and Industry
Source Reduction Activities by Chemical

This figure shows the number of source reduction activities for the chemicals with the highest
source reduction reporting rates over the last five years by the type of activity.

4->
I—

U
<
c
o

'+J

o
3

(D
ai

500

400

300

200

100

Styrene

n-Butyl Alcohol

Antimony Methyl Isobutyl Ketone Dichloromethane

Note: 1) Limited to chemicals with at least 100 reports of source reduction activities from 2018 to 2022. 2) In this figure, antimony
is combined with antimony compounds, although metals and compounds of the same metal are listed separately on the TRI list. 3)
Facilities report their source reduction activities by selecting from a list of 24 codes that describe their activities. These codes fall
into one of five categories listed in the graph legend and are defined in the TRI Reporting Forms and Instructions.

From 2018 to 2022:

• Facilities reported 16,462 source reduction activities for more than 240 chemicals and
chemical categories.

• Chemicals with the highest source reduction reporting rates included styrene, /7-butyl
alcohol, antimony, methyl isobutyl ketone, and dichloromethane.

• The types of source reduction activities implemented for these chemicals vary depending
on the chemicals' characteristics and how they are used. For example:

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI	March 2024	

o Process and Equipment Modifications, including optimizing reaction conditions
and modifying equipment, layout, or piping, can help reduce the amount of solvents
such as /7-butyl alcohol, needed for a process,
o Material Substitutions and Modifications include the use of alternative
materials in the manufacturing process, such as replacing styrene, a chemical used
to make plastics, and replacing antimony compounds, which are used as a
component of flame retardants, batteries, and electronics.

Facilities may also report additional details about their source reduction activities in an optional
text field of the TRI reporting form.

Examples of optional source reduction information for 2022:

•	Styrene: A plastics plumbing fixture manufacturer improved operating temperatures by
shifting employees' casting schedules, which reduced the amount of styrene managed
as waste.

•	Antimony: An electronic connector manufacturing facility reduced the amount of
antimony compounds managed as waste by replacing old equipment with newer and
more efficient equipment.

•	Methyl isobutyl ketone: An automobile manufacturer changed to a purge solvent
with lower volatile organic compound (VOC) content, reducing the amount of methyl
isobutyl ketone managed as waste.

You can compare facilities' waste management methods and trends for any TRI chemical by
using the TRI P2 Search Tool.

15

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Source Reduction Activities by Industry

This figure shows the number of source reduction activities reported by the industries with the
highest source reduction reporting rates over the last five years.

1,200

Source Reduction Activities by Industry, 2018-2022

Product Modifications ¦ Inventory and Material Management

Material Substitutions and Modifications ¦ Operating Practices and Training

Process and Equipment Modifications

¦a

(D
cc

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Examples of optional source reduction information for 2022:

• Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing: In 2020, a rubber product
manufacturer began testing alternative manufacturing aids to reduce the usage of TRI-
reportable chemicals. The facility has since eliminated the use of ammonia as a
manufacturing aid in a dipping process.

• Computers and Electronic Products Manufacturing: An optical communication
device manufacturing facility increased bath life which reduced chemical drains
containing N-methyl-2-pyrrolidine waste.

• Furniture Manufacturing: A wood cabinet manufacturer reduced its use of /7-butyl
alcohol by installing a new flat line finishing system that is recognized in the industry as
state of the art technology.

You can view all reported pollution prevention activities and compare facilities' waste
management methods and trends for any TRI chemical by using the TRI P2 Search Tool.

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Green Chemistry and Engineering Activities

Green chemistry is the design of chemicals, products, and processes that use safer inputs,
create more benign outputs, and minimize energy use and the creation of waste. Green
engineering considers all stages of the lifecycle of a material, product, process, or system and
also aims to reduce pollution, promote sustainability, and minimize risk to human health and
the environment without sacrificing economic viability and efficiency. For more information, see
TRI Green Chemistry and Green Engineering Reporting.

Advancements in green chemistry and green engineering allow industry to prevent pollution in
innovative ways. Implementation of these techniques is required to be reported as source
reduction to TRI. Ten of the codes that facilities use to report source reduction to TRI are
specific to green chemistry and green engineering activities, although these practices may also
fit under other codes. The figure below shows the TRI chemicals with the highest number of
green chemistry and green engineering activities reported over the last five years, by sector.

Green Chemistry and Engineering Activities by Chemical and Industry, 2018-

2022

500

13 400

t
o

a>
cc

300
a>

<
4—

a>
si

200

100

Lead

I Fabricated Metals
i Transportation Equipment

Chromium Copper

Chemical Manufacturing
¦ Primary Metals

Toluene Methanol

Computers and Electronic Products
¦ All others

Note: In this figure, the metals (lead, chromium, and copper) are combined with their metal compounds, although metals and
compounds of the same metal are listed separately on the TRI list.

• Since 2018, facilities have reported 3,964 green chemistry and engineering activities for
170 TRI chemicals and chemical categories.

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

o The chemical manufacturing and fabricated metals manufacturing sectors reported
the highest number of activities, reporting 26% and 15% of all green chemistry and
engineering activities between 2018 and 2022, respectively.

• Chemical manufacturers used green chemistry and engineering to reduce or eliminate
their use of TRI solvent and reagent chemicals, such as methanol and toluene. For
example:

o A basic inorganic chemical manufacturing facility optimized process conditions which
reduced the need to use toluene when cleaning equipment.

• Fabricated metal producers and transportation equipment manufacturers applied green
engineering techniques to reduce or eliminate their use of metals. For example:

o A fabricated metal parts manufacturer purchased new laser cutting machines in
2021, and in 2022 used these machines along with water jet cutting machines
which reduced the amount of nickel scrap sent to recycling.

Additional Resources

Source reduction practices such as green chemistry that prevent or reduce the creation of
chemical wastes are preferred to downstream pollution control technologies or waste
management activities. These resources have more information on green chemistry and green
engineering:

• EPA's TRI Toxics Tracker: green chemistry and green engineering examples for a
specific chemical and/or industry.

• EPA's Green Chemistry program: information about green chemistry and EPA's efforts to
facilitate its adoption.

• EPA's Safer Choice program: information about consumer products with lower hazard.

• For more details on the types of green chemistry activities reported to TRI and trends in
green chemistry reporting, see The Utility of the Toxics Release Inventory CTRI) in
Tracking Implementation and Environmental Impact of Industrial Green Chemistry
Practices in the United States.

• Solvent Substitutions Reported to TRI: an interactive resource that allows users to find
information about specific substitutions for TRI-listed solvents to other solvent
chemicals, mixtures, or solvent-free processes.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Reported Barriers to Source Reduction

Facilities have the option to inform EPA of barriers that prevented them from implementing new
source reduction activities by selecting from nine codes that describe common barriers.
Analyzing the barrier information that facilities report helps EPA and others identify where more
research is needed to address technological challenges or develop viable alternatives. It may
also allow for better collaboration between those with knowledge of source reduction practices
and those seeking additional assistance. This figure shows the types of barriers facilities
reported for metals and for all other (non-metal) TRI chemicals.

Barriers to Source Reduction Reported for Metals and All Other
Chemicals, 2018-2022

Metals Non-metals

¦ Source Reduction Unsuccessful
Regulatory Barriers

¦ Product Quality Concerns

¦ Other Barriers

¦ No Known Substitutes

¦ Technical Information Needed

¦ Insufficient Capital

¦ Further Source Reduction Not Feasible

¦ Reduction Not Technically Feasible

Note: Facilities have the option to report barriers to source reduction by selecting from nine codes. These codes are defined in
the TRI Reporting Forms and Instructions.

From 2018 to 2022:

• Facilities reported barriers to implementing source reduction for 300 TRI chemicals and
chemical categories.

• No Known Substitutes was the most frequently reported barrier for both metals and
non-metals.

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

o Excluding metals, facilities reported No Known Substitutes most frequently for
nitrate compounds. Facilities often report that nitrate compounds are produced
during sanitization or waste treatment processes for which there are no known
alternatives.

• For the No Known Substitutes barrier for metals, many facilities reported the
presence of the TRI metal in their raw materials (e.g., metal alloys) as the reason they
could not implement source reduction activities. Examples include:

o A farm equipment manufacturing facility reported that lead is an impurity in the

steel purchased to manufacture equipment,
o A basic organic chemical manufacturer is exploring alternatives, but reported that
currently there are no viable substitutes nor alternative technologies for a process
using chromium compounds in a catalyst.

• Reduction Not Technically Feasible was a common barrier for metals and non-
metals. Facilities select this barrier code when additional reductions do not appear
feasible. For example:

o A dental equipment and supplies manufacturing facility reported that after
implementing dry salination in the manufacturing of new composites to reduce
methanol use, further source reduction is not feasible because of regulations for
Class II Medical Devices.

• You can view source reduction barriers for any TRI chemical bv using the TRI P2 Search
Tool.

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Source Reduction Activities by Parent Company

Facilities are required to report their parent company information to TRI. For TRI reporting, a
parent company is defined as the highest-level company located in the United States that
directly owns at least 50% of the company's voting stock. EPA groups facilities by parent
company to assess waste management at the parent company level and identify companies and
industries that regularly implement source reduction activities.

The figure below shows the parent companies whose facilities implemented the most source
reduction activities for 2022. Facilities outside of the manufacturing sector, such as electric
utilities and coal and metal mines, are not included in this chart because those facilities'
activities do not lend themselves to the same source reduction opportunities as the activities at
manufacturing facilities.

-------
oEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Source Reduction Activities for Top Parent Companies, 2022

Silgan Holdings Inc
(20 facilities)

3M Co
(41 facilities)

LyondellBasell

Industries
(27 facilities)

Thomas Concrete Inc
(28 facilities)

Koch Industries Inc
(96 facilities)

Holcim Participations
(US) Inc
(94 facilities)

Great Plains
Manufacturing Inc
(7 facilities)

Berkshire Hathaway
Inc

(207 facilities)

Parker Hannifin Corp
(65 facilities)

Amphenol Corp
(13 facilities)

10 20 30 40

Number of Source Reduction Activities Reported

Operating Practices and Training Process and Equipment Modifications

I Inventory and Material Management ¦ Material Substitutions and Modifications

I Product Modifications

Note: This figure uses EPA's standardized parent company names.

Operating Practices and Training, such as improving maintenance or scheduling and
installing quality monitoring systems, were the most reported types of source reduction
activities for these parent companies. Process and Equipment Modifications were also
commonly reported.

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Some of the facilities in these parent companies submitted additional text to describe their
pollution prevention activities. Examples include:

• A printed circuit board manufacturing facility owned by Amphenol Corp updated
equipment and optimized a metal plating process to extend plating bath life and reduce
nitric acid usage.

• A farm equipment manufacturing facility owned by Great Plains Manufacturing Inc.
changed the layouts for sheet and plate steel cutting to be more efficient and generate
less scrap metal.

You can find P2 activities reported by a specific parent company and compare facilities' waste
management methods and trends for any TRI chemical by using the TRI P2 Search Tool.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Waste Management

Each year, the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program receives information from more than
21,000 facilities on the quantities of TRI-listed chemicals they recycle, combust for energy
recovery, treat, and dispose of or otherwise release as part of their normal operations. These
quantities are collectively referred to as production-related, waste mamged. or .'waste
m.anaged'-1-.

Looking at waste managed over time helps track facilities' progress toward reducing the amount
of chemical waste they manage. Additionally, these trends show whether facilities are shifting
toward waste management practices that are preferable to disposing of or otherwise releasing
waste into the environment.

Waste Management Hierarchy, is consistent with the

national policy established by the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) of 1990.

How a facility manages its waste depends on multiple factors, such as its size, location, and
production capacity, as well as the type of chemicals being managed. Some facilities have
systems that allow them to manage their waste on site. For example, waste streams may be
recycled to recapture chemicals and extend their useful life, or may be destroyed such as in
incinerators or wastewater treatment systems. Facilities may also pay to transfer their wastes to
specialized waste management companies.

1 Some quantities of waste that are not related to production but are recycled, treated, or combusted for energy recovery on site
may be included in a facility's "waste managed."

EPA encourages facilities to implement source
reduction (or pollution prevention) to reduce or
eliminate the use of TRI-listed chemicals and the
resulting creation of chemical waste. For waste that is
generated, the preferred management methods are
recycling, followed by combustion for energy
recovery, treatment, and, as a last resort, safe
disposal or release of chemical waste into the
environment. This order of preference, called the

Waste Management Hierarchy

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

• Facilities managed 28.6 billion pounds of TRI chemical waste, 88% of which was not
released into the environment due to preferred waste management practices such as
recycling.

• Waste managed increased by 2.0 billion pounds (7%) since 2013, with a 3.5 billion pound
(32%) increase in recycling during this time.

As with any dataset, there are many factors to consider when using TRI data. Find a summary
of key factors associated with the data used in the National Analysis in the Introduction. For
more information see Factors to Consider When Using Toxics Release Inventory Data.

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Trends in Waste Management

Waste streams generated during normal industrial operations may be recycled, combusted for
energy recovery, treated, or released. For example, facilities report the recovery of solvents as
a recycling method, or the destruction of a chemical waste through incineration as treatment.
This figure shows the 10-year trend in on-site and off-site waste managed.

;20

o 15

= 10

TRI Waste Managed

I Disposal or Other Releases Treatment Energy Recovery Recycling 9 Facilities

From 2013 to 2022:

• Waste managed increased by 2.0 billion pounds (7%).

o Recycling increased by 3.5 billion pounds (32%), largely driven by several chemical
manufacturing facilities that each reported recycling more than one billion pounds
annually in recent years,
o Disposal or other releases decreased by 703 million pounds (-18%).
o Treatment decreased by 1.0 billion pounds (-12%).
o Energy recovery increased by 191 million pounds (7%).

• The number of facilities that report to TRI has declined by 2% since 2013. Reasons for
this decrease include facility closures, outsourcing of operations to other countries, and
facilities reducing their manufacture, processing, or other use of TRI-listed chemicals to
below the reporting thresholds.

Facilities report both on- and off-site waste management. The following chart shows the relative
quantities of on-site and off-site waste management methods for 2022.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

On-site and Off-site Waste Managed, 2022

10%

25%

' 43% I On-site Treatment

¦ Off-site Recycling

¦ On-site Recycling

Off-site Energy Recovery
¦ On-site Energy Recovery
Off-site Treatment

Off-site Releases

¦ On-site Releases

Note: Percentages do not sum to 100% due to rounding.

For 2022, 87% of waste was managed on site.

• Most waste managed off site is recycled. Most of this recycling is reported by the
primary and fabricated metals sectors. Facilities in these sectors often send scrap metal
containing TRI chemicals such as zinc and copper off site for recycling.

• The 2022 distribution of waste managed on site and off site is similar to previous years.

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Waste Management by Chemical and Industry

Waste Managed by Chemical

This figure shows the TRI chemicals managed as waste in the greatest quantities from 2013 to
2022.

Cumene
Zinc

Waste Managed by Chemical

¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ I ¦ | ¦ ¦

I Dichloromethane
I n-Hexane

Methanol
Lead

IToluene ¦ Ethylene

I Hydrochloric Acid HAII Others

Note: In this figure, the metals (lead and zinc) are combined with their metal compounds, although metals and compounds of the
same metal are listed separately on the TRI list.

From 2013 to 2022:

• Facilities reported waste managed for almost 600 chemicals and chemical categories.
The graph above shows the nine chemicals managed as waste in the largest quantities.
Together, these chemicals represent 53% of the total waste managed reported to TRI.

• Of the chemicals shown above, facilities reported increased quantities of waste managed
for: cumene, dichloromethane (methylene chloride), ethylene, and /7-hexane.

o Cumene waste managed during 2022 was almost twenty times higher than the
quantity of cumene waste managed during 2013, mostly driven by one facility in the
petrochemical manufacturing sector that reported recycling over 3 billion pounds of
cumene annually from 2014 to 2022.
o Dichloromethane waste managed increased by 803 million pounds (44%). Trends in
dichloromethane waste management were driven by recycling from two plastics

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

material and resin manufacturing facilities which together reported 95% of all
dichloromethane waste managed for 2022.
o Ethylene waste managed increased by 546 million pounds (46%), driven by facilities

in the chemical manufacturing sector,
o /7-Hexane waste managed increased by 652 million pounds (63%). This was mostly
driven by one soybean processing facility which increased its /7-hexane recycling by
almost 600 million pounds since 2013.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Quantities of TRI chemical waste managed increased for several chemicals including:

o /7-Hexane increased by 129 million pounds (8%).
o Toluene increased by 56 million pounds (4%).
o Lead increased by 41 million pounds (4%).

• Quantities of TRI chemical waste managed decreased for several chemicals including:

o Dichloromethane decreased by 435 million pounds (-14%).
o Ethylene decreased by 149 million pounds (-8%).
o Cumene decreased by 63 million pounds (-2%).

• Quantities of TRI chemical waste managed remained about the same for zinc, methanol,
and hydrochloric acid.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Waste Managed by Industry

This figure shows the industry sectors that managed the most TRI chemical waste from 2013 to
2022.

Waste Managed by Industry

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017.. 2018
Year

2019

2020

2021

2022

Chemical Manufacturing
I Metal Mining
Electric Utilities

I Primary Metals
I Food Manufacturing
I Hazardous Waste Management

Petroleum Products Manufacturing
I Paper Manufacturing
All Others

From 2013 to 2022:

• The eight sectors in this chart consistently reported managing the most waste since
2013. The amount of waste managed by these sectors has changed year to year,
especially for the chemical manufacturing sector. The chemical manufacturing sector
accounted for 44% of all waste managed in 2013 and increased to 54% in 2022.

• Two of the sectors shown in the graph increased their quantities of waste managed:

o Chemical manufacturing increased by 3.8 billion pounds (33%).
o Food manufacturing increased by 777 million pounds (54%).

• The quantity of waste generated in some industries fluctuates considerably from year to
year due to changes in production or other factors. For example, quantities of waste
managed reported by metal mining facilities can change significantly based on
differences in the composition of waste rock.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Industry sectors that reported the greatest changes in waste management quantities
were:

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

o Chemical manufacturing decreased by 875 million pounds (-5%).
o Food manufacturing increased by 157 million pounds (8%).
o Electric utilities decreased by 100 million pounds (-10%).

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Non-Production-Related Waste Managed

Sometimes, chemical waste is created by one-time events like remedial actions and natural
disasters rather than routine production processes. Waste generated this way, referred to as
non-production-related waste, is largely unpredictable and less amenable to pollution
prevention. Non-production-related waste is typically reported separately from production-
related waste. Throughout the National Analysis, non-production-related waste managed
through release or disposal is included in a facility's "total disposal or other releases" but not in
its "waste managed." The following graph shows the quantities of non-production-related waste
reported to TRI for 2022.

Non-Production-Related Waste Managed by Industry, 2022

18 million pounds

• For 2022, over 500 facilities reported managing a total of 18 million pounds of non-
production-related waste. This represents 0.06% of the total amount of TRI waste
managed in 2022, which is similar to other years.

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Waste Managed by Parent Company

Facilities that report to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) must provide information about their
parent company. For TRI reporting, parent company means the highest-level company (or
companies) of the facility's ownership hierarchy as of December 31 of the year for which data
are being reported. EPA groups facilities by parent company to assess waste management at
the parent company level and identify companies that regularly implement source reduction
activities.

This figure shows the parent companies whose facilities reported the most waste managed for
2022.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Waste Managed by Parent Company, 2022

1 1 1

Advansix Inc

Sabic US Holdings LP

Incobrasa Industries Ltd

Teck American Inc

Dow Inc
The Chemours Co

¦II

Syngenta Corp

Koch Industries Inc

¦II

Honeywell International Inc

Westlake Corp

¦II

0 12 3

Billions of Pounds

¦ Disposal or Other Releases ¦ Treatment ¦ Energy Recovery ¦ Recycling

Notes: 1) This figure uses EPA's standardized parent company names. 2) Incobrasa Industries Ltd does not report a parent
company but it is included in this figure because it reported a comparable quantity of waste managed.

These parent companies' TRI-reporting facilities mostly operate in the following industry
sectors:

• Chemical manufacturing: Sabic US Holdings LP, Advansix Inc, Dow Inc, The
Chemours Company, Syngenta Corp, Westlake Corp

• Soybean processing: Incobrasa Industries Ltd

• Metal mining: Teck American Inc

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

• Multiple sectors, e.g., pulp and paper, petroleum refining, computer and electronic
products, and chemical manufacturing: Koch Industries Inc, Honeywell International Inc

You can find information about a specific parent company and compare facilities' waste
management methods and trends for any TRI chemical by using the TRI P2 Search Tool.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
\/LI March 2024

Releases of Chemicals

Release or disposal of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) chemicals into
the environment occurs in several ways. Facilities may release
chemical waste directly into the air or water or dispose of it to land.

Some facilities also transfer waste that contains TRI chemicals to
off-site locations for disposal. Facilities releasing or disposing of TRI
chemical waste must comply with a variety of regulatory
requirements and restrictions that are designed to help protect
human health and the environment.

Facilities must report the quantities of TRI-listed chemicals they
release into the environment. Analyzing these release data along
with data from other sources helps to:

• Identify potential concerns in communities.

• Better understand health impacts chemical releases may
pose.

• Identify opportunities to engage with facilities or provide
technical assistance on implementing pollution prevention
techniques.

It is important to understand that the quantity of chemical releases
alone is not necessarily an indicator of human health outcomes or
environmental impacts. Other important factors that contribute to
potential harm and risks from releases of chemicals are discussed in
the Potential Risks from TRI Chemicals section.

The chart below shows 2022 TRI chemical releases by medium. Visit the full TRI National
Analysis data visualization dashboard to explore even more information about releases of TRI
chemicals.

Helpful

Concepts

What is a
release?

In the context of TRI, a
"release" of a chemical
generally refers to a
chemical that is emitted
to the air, discharged to
water, or disposed of in
some type of land
disposal unit. Most TRI
releases happen during
routine production
operations at facilities. To
learn more about what
EPA is doing to help limit
the release of toxic
chemicals into the
environment, see the EPA
laws and regulations
webpaae.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

S3 INDUSTRY CHEMICAL STATE/TERRITORY

Releases, 2022

3,279,632,504 lb

Water

Offsite

Air

Land

2022 Highlights

• Facilities released 3.3 billion pounds of TRI chemicals, a 21% decrease since 2013.

• Air releases decreased 26% in the last 10 years, driven by reductions from electric
utilities.

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Trends in Releases

The following graph shows the latest 10-year trend in total releases (also referred to as "total
disposal or other releases"). Many factors can affect the trend in releases over time, including
changes in facilities' production rates, waste management practices, the composition of raw
materials, and pollution control technologies.

o 3

Total Disposal or Other Releases

• •

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

On-site Air Releases
i On-site Land Disposal
¦Reporting Facilities

i On-site Surface Water Discharges
Off-site Disposal or Other Releases

0)
3
Q.

l/l

From 2013 to 2022:

• Total releases of TRI chemicals decreased by 21%.

o Reduced disposal to land from metal mines contributed most to this decline.

• Air releases decreased by 26%, surface water discharges decreased by 9%, on-site land
disposal decreased by 23%, and off-site disposal decreased by 8%.

• Reductions in air releases from electric utilities drove the overall decrease in air releases.
The number of facilities that reported to TRI declined by 2%.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Total releases increased by 1%, driven by increased land disposal. Releases reported by
facilities in the natural gas processing sector drove this increase. Many facilities in this
sector reported to TRI for the first time for 2022 due to an expansion in the regulatory
requirements for TRI reporting.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Releases by Chemical and Industry

Releases by Chemical

Metals accounted for nearly two-thirds of the 3.3 billion pounds of TRI chemicals released in
2022. Metals are primarily disposed of to land, while most nitrate compounds are discharged to
water and ammonia is primarily released to air.

Total Disposal or Other Releases by Chemical, 2022
3.3 billion pounds

Zinc:

17%

All Others:
28%

Copper:
5%

Ammonia:

Manganese:

Barium:

Note: In this figure, metals are combined with their metal compounds, although metals and compounds of the same metal are
listed separately on the TRI list (e.g., lead is listed separately from lead compounds).

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Releases by Industry

The metal mining sector accounted for 44% of releases (1.43 billion pounds), which were
primarily in the form of on-site land disposal. Learn more about this sector in the Metal Mining
sector profile.

Total Disposal or Other Releases by Industry, 2022
3.3 billion pounds
All Others: 12%^

Paper
Manufacturing: 4%

Food Manufacturing:

Hazardous Waste
Management: 5%

Electric Utilities: 7%

Primary Metals: 9%

Metal Mining: 44%

Chemical
Manufacturing

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

www .eoa, oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Potential Risks from TRI Chemicals

Chemicals that are included on the TRI chemical list can cause harm to humans, organisms, and
ecosystems. Risk is the likelihood that a TRI chemical released into the environment will cause
harm to humans or the environment. Many factors determine the risks that may come from
exposure to toxic chemicals. The figure below lists factors that influence risks posed by TRI
chemicals.

The quantities of TRI chemicals released into the environment do not indicate potential risks to
health because these quantities alone do not consider the extent of exposure or the toxicity of
the chemicals. The chemical release data collected through TRI reporting can be used as a
starting point—along with other resources such as EPA's Risk-Screening Environmental
Indicators fRSEP model—to help evaluate potential harm and risks to health from TRI chemical
exposure.

EPA developed the Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) model to help identify
geographic areas, industry sectors, and chemical releases that may be associated with
significant human health risks and to examine how these potential risks change over time. RSEI
incorporates information from TRI on the amount of chemicals released along with factors such
as how chemicals change and where they go as they move through the environment, each
chemical's relative toxicity, and the potential for human exposure.

Overview of Factors that Influence Risk

-------
oEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

People are most likely to be exposed to TRI
chemicals through the air or water, so RSEI
focuses on releases to air and water, including
releases to air from waste incinerators and
releases to water following transfers to publicly
owned treatment works (POTWs). Using the
release quantities reported to TRI, the RSEI
model produces two primary results—hazard-
based values (RSEI Hazard) and risk-related
scores (RSEI Score)—that enable screening-level
comparisons of relative potential harm and
potential risks to human health from TRI
chemicals.

• RSEI Hazard consists of the pounds of a
chemical released or transferred
multiplied by the chemical's toxicity
weight.

• A RSEI Score is a calculated estimate of relative potential human health risk. It is a
unitless value that accounts for the amount of a chemical released to air or water, what
happens to the chemical in the environment, the size and location(s) of potentially
exposed populations, and the chemical's relative toxicity.

Both RSEI Hazard and RSEI Score provide greater insight on potential health impacts than TRI
release quantities alone. However, RSEI Hazard or RSEI Score values do not provide actual
levels of harm or risks to human health from TRI chemicals. Rather, these screening-level
values are used for relative comparisons, such as the analysis of trends over time or comparison
of sectors. Studies and analyses that use RSEI information can help establish priorities for
further investigation and to look at changes in potential human health impacts over time. More
information on RSEI and its applications is available at EPA's RSEI website.

Helpful Concepts

The hazard of a chemical is its
inherent ability to cause an adverse
effect on health (e.g., cancer, birth
defects).

Exposure is how a person comes
into contact with a chemical (e.g.,
inhalation, ingestion) and can be
described in terms of its magnitude
(how much), frequency (how
often), and duration (how long).

The likelihood that a toxic chemical
will cause an adverse health effect
is often referred to as risk. Risk is a
function of hazard and exposure.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Hazard Trend

RSEI Hazard, also called toxicity-weighted pounds, is a descriptor of relative potential harm to
human health. It is based on the toxicity of a chemical and the quantity of the chemical
released into the environment. Weighting releases based on toxicity gives greater significance
to more toxic chemicals and more context than the release quantities alone. The following
graph shows the 10-year trend in calculated RSEI Hazard compared to the trend in the
unweighted quantity of chemicals used to calculate RSEI Hazard (corresponding pounds).

RSEI Hazard and Corresponding Pounds

T3
£
3
O
Q.
T3
CD
+j
.£
aa
'
-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Risk-Screening Trend

RSEI Scores are indicators of relative potential risk to human health and are intended for use in
comparative analysis. RSEI Scores consider the locations and quantities of TRI chemical
releases as well as the number of people living in the surrounding areas. The scores also
account for what happens to the chemical in the environment, where it might go, and how
much of the chemical people might be exposed to.

The following graph shows the 10-year trend in calculated RSEI Score compared to the trend in
the corresponding pounds of TRI chemicals released or transferred that are used to calculate
the RSEI Score.

600

c 500

400

~ 300

o 200

u
00

£ 100

RSEI Score and Corresponding Pounds

1,600

1,400 c
o

1,200 i|

1,000

800

600

400

T3
£
3
O

CuO
c

£
O
Q.

200

2013

2014

2015

2016

Air Releases (Score)

Transfers to POTWs (Score)

¦Corresponding Pounds Released or Transferred

2017 2018
Year

2019

2020

2021

2022

I Water Releases (Score)
I Transfers to Incineration (Score)

Note: RSEI Score values and corresponding pounds include only on-site air releases (Air Releases), on-site water releases (Water
Releases), transfers to POTWs, and transfers to incineration.

From 2013 to 2022:

• The overall calculated RSEI Score decreased by 24%, while corresponding release
quantities (in pounds) decreased by 12%. This suggests that TRI reporting facilities are:
releasing or transferring fewer pounds of TRI chemicals; releasing fewer pounds of the
more toxic TRI chemicals; or that releases are occurring in areas that are less
populated.

• While RSEI Score does not describe actual risks to human health from TRI chemicals,
the overall decrease in RSEI Score indicates that, at the national level, the relative
potential risk from toxic chemicals reported to TRI has declined from 2013 to 2022.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

• Of the types of releases modeled by RSEI, air releases contribute the most to potential
human health risks based on calculated RSEI Scores.

• The decrease in RSEI Score from 2013 to 2022 was driven in part by large decreases in
air releases of ethylene oxide and chromium and chromium compounds.

RSEI Dashboard

• Use EPA's EasvRSEI Dashboard to view the national trend in RSEI Hazard and RSEI
Score, or use the Dashboard's filter capabilities to view other RSEI information for a
specific chemical or location of interest.

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#A www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Air Releases

Releases of TRI chemicals into the air have declined notably over the last 10 years. These
releases include both fugitive aj.r emjssions and stack ajr emissions.

This graph shows the 10-year trend in the quantity of chemicals released into the air. EPA
regulates air emissions under the Clean Air Act. Facilities must comply with permitting
requirements if they meet certain criteria such as pollutant releases above specified thresholds.

Air Releases (Pounds Released)

Fugitive Air Emissions ¦ Stack Air Emissions

"D
C
3
O
Q.

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ I I I I

2013

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

From 2013 to 2022:

• Releases into the air decreased by 26% (-204 million pounds).

• Air releases of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrogen fluoride, methanol, and toluene
decreased the most.

• The decrease in air releases was driven by reduced releases of hydrochloric acid and
sulfuric acid to air from electric utilities due to: a shift from coal to other fuel sources
(e.g., natural gas); and the installation of pollution control technologies at coal-fired
power plants.

• Note that only those electric utilities that combust coal or oil to generate power for
distribution into commerce are covered under TRI reporting requirements. Electric
utilities that use only fuels other than coal or oil (such as natural gas) are not required
to report to TRI. More information about this sector is available in the Electric Utilities
sector profile.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

• Air releases of chemicals classified as carcinogens by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) increased; see the Air Releases of OSHA Carcinogens figure.

• For trends in air releases of chemicals of special concern, including lead and mercury,
see the Chemical Profiles section.

In 2022:

• The TRI chemicals released into the air in the largest quantities were ammonia and
methanol.

• Air releases of TRI chemicals decreased by 1% since 2021.

• Air releases from the paper manufacturing, primary metals manufacturing, and chemical
manufacturing sectors drove the decrease. For 2022, TRI reporting requirements were
expanded to include additional natural gas processing facilities; air releases from these
newly-covered facilities partially offset the decrease in air releases from other sectors.

This graph shows the 10-year trend in RSEI Scores for TRI air releases.

500
450

= 400

1 350
"w 300

l/l

_0J

•*: 250

200

| 150

£ 100
50
0

• The chemicals that contributed the most to the RSEI Score values for air releases were
chromium and ethylene oxide.

o While the combined quantities of chromium and ethylene oxide released to air
accounted for less than one percent of total air releases in 2022, they accounted for
30% and 27% of total RSEI Score, respectively.

Air Releases (RSEI Score)

¦ Fugitive Air Emissions ¦ Stack Air Emissions

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

The increase in score for air releases from 2020 to 2022 is due in part to increases in
releases of ethylene oxide, nickel, and cobalt compounds.

As shown in the "Pounds Released" chart, facilities reported considerably more stack air
emissions than fugitive air emissions, but their relative contributions to the RSEI Score
values have been similar in recent years, as shown in the "RSEI Score" chart. This is
because chemicals released through stacks tend to be dispersed over a wider area than
fugitive air emissions, resulting in lower average concentrations in the environment. As a
result, surrounding populations are less likely to be exposed to chemicals released
through stacks compared to fugitive emissions like leaks from equipment or releases
from building ventilation systems.

For a complete step-by-step description of how EPA's RSEI model derives RSEI Score
values from stack air emissions and fugitive air emissions, see "Section 5.3: Modeling Air
Releases" of EPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators fRSED Methodology.
For general information on how RSEI Scores are derived, see Potential Risks from TRI
Chemicals.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Air Releases by Chemical and Industry
Air Releases by Chemical

This pie chart shows which TRI chemicals were released into the air in the greatest quantities
during 2022.

Air Releases by Chemical, 2022
571 million pounds

Note: Percentages do not sum to 100% due to rounding.

• The chemicals released to air in the greatest quantities during 2022 were:

o Ammonia: Facilities that manufacture nitrogen-based fertilizers accounted for 42%

of ammonia air releases,
o Methanol: Most air releases of methanol were from paper manufacturing facilities,
o Sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid: Electric utilities released more of these
chemicals into the air than any other sector.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Air Releases by Industry

This pie chart shows the TRI-covered industry sectors that reported the largest quantities of air
releases during 2022.

Air Releases by Industry, 2022
571 million pounds

All Others: 15%

Transportation
Equipment: 5%

Plastics and
Rubber: 6%

Petroleum
Products
Manufacturing: 6%

Food
Manufacturing: 9%

Chemical
Manufacturing:
29%

Electric Utilities:
11%

Paper
Manufacturing:
19%

• Facilities in the following sectors accounted for the largest air releases of TRI chemicals
during 2022. The chemicals released in the largest quantities by these sectors were:

o Chemical manufacturing: ammonia and ethylene,
o Paper manufacturing: methanol,
o Electric utilities: sulfuric acid.

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Water Releases

TRI chemicals released into streams or other water bodies are referred to as "water releases" or
"surface water.djscha.rges." They are regulated by the Clean Water Act, which requires facilities
that discharge pollutants into surface water to obtain permits under the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System CNRDESI.

The following graph shows the 10-year trend in the amount of TRI chemicals directly released
into water bodies.

Surface Water Discharges (Pounds Released)

250

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

From 2013 to 2022:

• Discharges of TRI chemicals into surface water decreased by 18 million pounds (-9%).
Most of this decline was due to reductions in releases of nitrate compounds.

o Nitrate compounds are often formed as byproducts during wastewater treatment
processes such as neutralization of nitric acid, or when nitrification takes place to
meet standards under EPA's effluent guidelines.

In 2022:

• Nitrate compounds alone accounted for 90% of total releases of TRI chemicals to water.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

o Many sectors release nitrate compounds, but facilities in the food manufacturing
sector released the most.

The following graph shows the 10-year trend in RSEI Scores for TRI chemicals directly released
into water bodies.

Surface Water Discharges (RSEI Score)

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

• While total water releases have been fairly steady from 2013 through 2022, associated
RSEI Scores have fluctuated substantially. Nitrate compounds account for most water
releases, and the quantity of nitrate compounds released has not changed significantly
from year to year. Although nitrate compounds can cause serious problems in the
environment like eutrophication, their relatively low toxicity means they do not impact
RSEI Scores as much as more toxic chemicals. Relatively small changes in release
quantities of more toxic chemicals can have large impacts on RSEI Scores but little
impact on the trend in total pounds released.

• The largest chemical contributors to the changes RSEI Scores for water releases
between 2013 and 2022 were arsenic compounds and mercury compounds.

• For a complete, step-by-step description of how EPA's RSEI model derives RSEI Score
values for surface water discharges of TRI chemicals, see "Section 5.4: Modeling Surface
Water Releases" of EPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators fRSED Methodology.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

• For general information on how RSEI Scores are derived, see Potential Risks from TRI
Chemicals.

What Are Nitrate Compounds?

Nitrate compounds are a group of chemicals with relatively low toxicity to humans
compared to many other TRI compounds. However, these compounds have the potential
to cause increased algal growth leading to eutrophication in the aquatic environment. See
EPA's Nutrient Pollution webpaae for more information about the issue of eutrophication.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Water Releases by Chemical and Industry
Water Releases by Chemical

This pie chart shows the TRI-listed chemicals released into water bodies in the largest
quantities during 2022.

Note: 1) In this chart, metals are combined with their metal compounds, although metals and compounds of the same metal are
listed separately on the TRI list (e.g., manganese is listed separately from manganese compounds). 2) The nitrate compounds
category in TRI includes only water dissociable nitrate compounds.

• Nitrate compounds accounted for 90% of the total quantity of TRI chemicals released to
water in 2022. Nitrate compounds are commonly formed as part of facilities' on-site
wastewater treatment processes. The food manufacturing sector contributed 40% of
total nitrate compound releases to water, largely due to the treatment required for
biological materials in wastewater, such as from meat processing facilities.

• After nitrate compounds, manganese, methanol, and ammonia were released in the
largest quantities, accounting for a combined 7% of the chemicals released into water.

Water Releases by Chemical, 2022

196 million pounds

All Others
Ammonia
¦ Barium

¦ Manganese ¦ Methanol

¦ Sodium Nitrite ¦ Zinc

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Water Releases by Industry

This pie chart shows the TRI-covered industry sectors that reported the largest quantities of
TRI water releases during 2022.

Water Releases by Industry, 2022
196 million pounds

All Others: 11%

Paper
Manufacturing: 8%.

Chemical
Manufacturing: 14%.

Primary Metals: 14%

Food Manufacturing:
37%

\_Petroleum Products
Manufacturing: 17%

Note: Percentages do not sum to 100% due to rounding.

• Facilities in the food manufacturing sector accounted for 37% of water releases for 2022
and approximately one-third of annual water releases over the past ten years.

o Nitrate compounds accounted for 99% of the total quantity of water releases from
the food manufacturing sector.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Land Disposal

Facilities report the quantities of TRI chemical waste disposed of in landfills, underground
injection wells, surface impoundments, and other types of containment. Land disposal of
chemicals is often regulated by EPA under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act fRCRAl.
RCRA design standards for hazardous waste landfills and surface impoundments include double
liners, leachate collection and removal systems, and leak detection systems. Operators of these
disposal units must also comply with RCRA inspection and monitoring requirements.

This graph shows the 10-year trend in on-site land disposal of TRI chemicals. The metal mining
sector accounted for most of this disposal.

On-site Land Disposal

o nnn

Millions of pounds

M NJ L

O O C
o o c

D O O C

111

1111

1 II

III

2013 2014 2
¦ All Other Land Disposal

.01.
¦

5 2016 2017 2
Year

Underground Injection

.01

3 2019 2020 2021 2022
¦ Landfills ¦ Surface Impoundments

From 2013 to 2022:

• On-site land disposal has fluctuated over the last ten years, driven by year-to-year
changes from metal mines.

• The "All Other Land Disposal" category in the figure includes spills and leaks to land,
waste rock piles at metal mines, and application of waste to land (such as in agricultural
fertilizer).

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

From 2021 to 2022:

• Land releases increased by 41 million pounds (2%).

• The increase in land disposal was due to the expansion of
TRI reporting requirements to cover all natural gas
processing facilities as of 2022. Facilities in this sector
managed most of their releases through underground
injection.

Land releases from metal mines:

In 2022, the metal mining sector accounted for 68% of land
disposal quantities.

• The TRI chemicals disposed to land by metal mines in 2022
were primarily lead (32%), zinc (28%), and arsenic (16%).

• Metal mining facilities typically handle large volumes of
material. Mines often note that changes in the chemical
composition of extracted ore can result in large fluctuations
in quantities of waste managed. In some cases, small
changes in the ore's composition can impact whether TRI
chemicals in ore qualify for a concentration-based exemption
from TRI reporting in one year but not in the next year or
vice versa.

• Regulations require that waste rock, which contains TRI
chemicals, be placed in engineered piles, and may also
require that waste rock piles, tailings impoundments, and
heap leach pads be stabilized and re-vegetated to provide
for productive post-mining land use.

• For more information on the mining industry, see the Metal
Mining sector profile and the "Explore a Metal Mine"
webpage.

This graph shows the 10-year trend in on-site land disposal,
excluding quantities reported by the metal mining sector. The metal
mining sector accounts for about 70% of the quantities of TRI chemicals disposed of to land in
most years.

Helpful

Concepts

What is underground
injection?

Underground inlection
involves placing fluids
underground in porous
formations through wells.
EPA regulates
underground injection
through its Underground
Injection Control Program
under the Safe Drinking
Water Act.

What is a surface
impoundment?

Surface impoundments are
natural or artificial
depressions, excavations,
or diked areas used to
hold liquid waste.
Construction of surface
impoundments must follow
criteria including having a
double liner and leak
detection system. Surface
impoundments containing
hazardous waste are
regulated through the
Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

On-site Land Disposal Excluding Metal Mines

onn

Millions of Pounds

NJ CD C
O O O C
D O O O C

Mlllliiil

20
¦ All C

13 20
)ther Land

14 20
Disposal

15 20
i Underg

16 20
round 1 njec

17 20

Year

:tion ¦

18 2019 2020 2021 2022
Landfills i Surface Impoundments

From 2013 to 2022:

• Total on-site land disposal for all industries other than metal mining was relatively
steady from 2013 to 2018.

• Since 2018, the decrease in land disposal for industries other than metal mining was
driven by reduced land disposal by facilities in the primary metal and chemical
manufacturing sectors.

In 2022:

• Excluding the quantities of TRI chemicals disposed of to land by metal mines, the
chemicals disposed of on site to land in the largest quantities were: barium (15%),
manganese (11%), hydrogen sulfide (10%), and zinc (8%).

• Excluding metal mines, most on-site land disposal quantities were reported by the
chemical manufacturing, hazardous waste management, electric utilities, and primary
metals sectors.

• The natural gas processing sector reported 72 million pounds of land disposal, most of
which was hydrogen sulfide disposed of by underground injection.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Land Disposal by Chemical and Industry
Land Disposal by Chemical

This pie chart shows the chemicals disposed of to land on site in the greatest quantities during
2022. The metal mining sector accounts for most of this disposal.

Copper: 6%

On-Site Land Disposal by Chemical, 2022
2.1 billion pounds

Arsenic: 11%

Zinc: 22%

All Others: 20%

Lead: 23%

Barium: 8%

Manganese: 10%

Note: In this chart, metals are combined with their metal compounds, although metals and compounds of the same metal are listed
separately on the TRI list (e.g., lead is listed separately from lead compounds).

The metal mining sector alone was responsible for 91% of the lead, zinc, and arsenic disposed
of to land in 2022. These three chemicals made up 56% of the total quantities of TRI chemicals
disposed of to land.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

This pie chart shows the chemicals disposed of on site to land in the greatest quantities during
2022, excluding quantities from facilities in the metal mining sector.

On-Site Land Disposal Excluding Metal Mining, by Chemical, 2022

683 million pounds

• When the metal mining sector is excluded, a wider variety of chemicals make up the
majority of land releases. For example, six different chemicals made up 56% of land
releases when metal mining facilities are excluded, while three chemicals made up 56%
of land releases when these facilities are included (as shown on the "Land Disposal, All
Sectors" chart).

• Barium: Most land releases were from the electric utilities sector.

• Manganese: Most land releases were from the chemical manufacturing, primary metals,
and electric utilities sectors.

• Zinc: Most land releases were from the primary metals sector.

-------
oEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Land Disposal by Industry

This pie chart shows the industry sectors that reported the greatest quantities of on-site land
disposal of TRI chemicals during 2022.

On-site Land Disposal by Industry, 2022
2.1 billion pounds

Chemical
.Manufacturing: 9%

Metal Mining: 68%

Hazardous Waste
Management: 7%

Electric Utilities: 6%

Primary Metals: 4%

All Others: 6%

Metal mines accounted for most of the land disposal in 2022.

The relative contribution by each industry sector to on-site land disposal has not

changed considerably in recent years.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Chemical Profiles

In this section, we take a closer look at some of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) chemicals
of interest to the public, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lawmakers, and industry.
These profiles include chemicals that are classified by the TRI Program as chemicals of special
concern, such as chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBTs), and
carcinogens (chemicals that cause cancer).

PBT chemicals are not only toxic, but they also break down slowly in the environment and tend
to build up (bioaccumulate) in organisms throughout the food web. These organisms are food
sources for other organisms, including humans, which are sensitive to the toxic effects of PBT
chemicals. Reporting thresholds for the PBTs on the TRI chemical list are either 10 pounds or
100 pounds, which is much lower than the reporting threshold for most TRI chemicals. For
dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, the reporting threshold is even lower, at 0.1 gram. The
chemicals of special concern covered in this section are lead and lead compounds, mercury and
mercury compounds, dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS).

You can generate a fact sheet for any TRI chemical using TRI Explorer.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Lead

This chemical profile focuses on releases of lead and lead compounds.

<
iu

What is lead?

Lead is a naturally occurring element that can
be harmful to people, especially children, even
at low levels. While some uses of lead have
been eliminated or substantially reduced, such
as in gasoline and paint, it is still used in some
industrial operations in products like metal
alloys and batteries. Lead
does not degrade and can
remain in contaminated soil
for a long time.

ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Lead

Health effects of exposure

p Affects almost every organ and system
Targets the nervous system (brain)
Impairs children's mental development
May cause cancer

ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Lead

Lead releases in TRI

The metal mining sector reports

the most releases, mostly to land. A A

The primary metals manufacturing sector
reports the most releases to air and water.

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

7,561 facilities submitted TRI forms for lead for 2022

Facilities initiated 1,850 source reduction activities for lead in the past 5 years.

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

Facilities report their management of both lead and lead compounds in waste to TRI. For TRI,
"lead" only includes elemental lead, while "lead compounds" includes lead that is part of
another chemical. Although facilities may report for lead compounds separately from lead, the
two are combined and referred to simply as "lead" in this analysis.

This map shows the locations of the facilities that reported lead to TRI for 2022, sized by their
relative release quantities.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Seattle

>V,

c o

••

» «b

« 1—

Great Pla'ns

1 ^ UNI V 'D '¦

m STATES « •„

y ¦ w '

V. i-rancisco

~~-*Lake
Superior

vf CvO " tL_

. etroit

Ch'-a)

(„hgton

f• •

c-<,

- jg

'''' ^ f ' * o

j&fev'"

i.0°*4l«' fe , .tv.A
~ - o % *> ^

v'la- 3 ^ ^ ^ -

-->J ^ ^ 1,000,000 lb

• 100,000 - 1,000,000 lb

• 10,000 - 100,000 lb

• 1,000 - 10,000 lb
< 1,000 lb

View Larger Map

Each year, EPA receives more TRI forms for lead than for any other chemical, This graph shows
the 10-year trend in lead disposed of or otherwise released by facilities in all TRI reporting
industry sectors.

-------
oEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Total Disposal or Other Releases of Lead

1,000

800

T3
C
3
O
O.

c
o

600

400

200

2013

2014

2015

2016

On-site Air Releases
i On-site Land Disposal

2017 2018
Year

2019

2020

2021

2022

On-site Surface Water Discharges
Off-site Disposal or Other Releases

One parent company erroneously reported tens of thousands of pounds of lead releases to air at four facilities and
has since corrected these reports. These facilities are not included in this chart.

From 2013 to 2022:

• Total releases of lead fluctuated between 2013 and
2022, with substantial increases and decreases
from year to year.

• Land disposal by metal mines drives annual lead
releases. For 2022, metal mines reported 88% of all
releases of lead, almost all of which was disposed
of to land.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Total releases of lead increased by 14%, driven by
an increase in on site lead disposal at metal mines.

Learn more about
lead

Visit EPA's lead homepage for
more information about lead and
EPA's actions to reduce lead
exposures.

Visit the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease
Registry's ToxFAQs for lead to
learn more about the effects of
lead exposure and what you can
do to prevent it.

-------
oEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

This graph shows the 10-year trend in lead released, but excludes quantities reported by the
metal mining sector.

70
60

-3 50
c

£40

<230

= 20
10

Total Disposal or Other Releases of Lead, Excluding Metal

Mining

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

On-Site Air Releases ¦ On-site Surface Water Discharges

i On-site Land Disposal ¦ Off-site Disposal or Other Releases

Facilities from one parent company erroneously reported tens of thousands of pounds of lead releases to air at four
facilities and has since corrected these reports. These facilities are not included in this chart.

From 2013 to 2022:

• For sectors other than metal mining, total releases of lead fluctuated between 2013 and
2022, and increased each year from 2019 to 2022.

o On-site disposal to land and off-site transfers of lead for disposal increased from
2013 to 2022, while air and water releases of lead decreased.

• Among sectors other than metal mining, most releases of lead came from the hazardous
waste management and primary metals sectors.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Air releases, land disposal, and water releases of lead all increased, while off-site
disposal decreased.

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
\/LI March 2024

Lead Air Releases

This graph shows the 10-year trend in air releases of lead.

Air Releases of Lead

800

600

° 400

200

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

Fugitive Air Emissions ¦ Stack Air Emissions

From 2013 to 2022:

• Air releases of lead decreased by 55%. Most of this decrease comes from reduced stack
emissions.

• The primary metals sector, which includes copper smelting and iron and steel
manufacturing, released the largest quantities of lead to air. This sector has also been
the biggest driver of reduced air releases since 2013, although lead air releases have
decreased in most sectors.

• One facility ceased lead smelting operations in 2013. This facility was one of the biggest
contributors to lead air releases reported to TRI, causing a substantial reduction in
nationwide lead air releases for 2014 and beyond, when smelting operations had
ceased.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Air releases of lead increased by 3%.

• In 2022, the primary metals sector accounted for 32% of lead released into the air.

-------
oEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Mercury

This chemical profile focuses on releases of mercury and mercury compounds.

What is Mercury?

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that
travels far when released into the air and can
become concentrated in organisms, especially
in water-dwelling organisms like fish and rice.
Industry mines and processes
mercury to make dental
products, electronics, and
fluorescent lights.

ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Mercury

Health effects of exposure

Impacts on the nervous system

«ll» Impacts on kidney function

Other impacts depend on form of mercury,
length and route of exposure, and
person's age.

ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Mercury

Mercury releases in TRI

The metal mining sector reports
the most releases, mostly to land.

The primary metals manufacturing sector
reports the most releases to air.

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

1,353 facilities submitted TRI forms for mercury for 2022

Facilities initiated 189 source reduction activities for mercury in the past 5 years.

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

Facilities report waste management of both mercury and mercury compounds to TRI. For TRI,
"mercury" only includes elemental mercury, while "mercury compounds" includes mercury that
is part of another chemical. Although facilities may report for mercury compounds separately
from mercury, the two are combined and referred to simply as "mercury" in this analysis.

This profile focuses on air releases of mercury as they are the type of release most likely to
impact human health.

This map shows the locations of the facilities that reported mercury to TRI for 2022, sized by
their relative release quantities to air.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

O
• -

fe &

"pn Francisco

P.'

LL> 'Xngeles

Gulf of

6
>

" - Lake
Superior

® 9

L etroit

Chicago

' «'W6

UNIT-D * - ~ 0 ® » S>

'• * Q {rf4i? -n

,¦» , eo

~ * G •» — ° e

O'1 * - » 0-

STATES m% • jg shlngton

O @

v •> -b

Monterrey

Guadalajara

Facilities Reporting Mercury

Mercury Releases

• > 700 lb

• 400 - 700 lb

• 100 - 400 lb

• 10 - 100 lb
< 10 lb

View Larger Map

This graph shows the 10-year trend in mercury released to air.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Air Releases of Mercury

100,000 -1

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

Fugitive Air Emissions ¦ Stack Air Emissions

From 2013 to 2022:

• Releases of mercury to air decreased by 57%.

• An 85% reduction (-41,000 pounds) in mercury air
emissions from electric utilities drove the overall
decline from 2013 to 2022. The decrease was
driven by a shift from coal to other fuel sources
(e.g., natural gas) and by the installation of
pollution control technologies at coal-fired power
plants.

o Note that only those electric utilities that burn
coal or oil to generate power for distribution
into commerce are covered under TRI reporting
requirements. Electric utilities that do not burn
coal or oil are not required to report to TRI.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Releases of mercury to air decreased by 3%, driven by the primary metals sector.

• For 2022, the primary metals sector, which includes iron and steel manufacturers,
accounted for 36% of the air emissions of mercury. The electric utilities sector
accounted for 21% of mercury air emissions.

Learn more about
mercury

Visit EPA's mercury homepage for
more information about mercury
and EPA's actions to reduce mercury
exposures.

Visit the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry's
ToxFAQs for mercury to learn more
about the effects of mercury
exposure and what you can do to
prevent it.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Dioxins

This chemical profile focuses on releases of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds.

What are dioxins?

Health effects of exposure

Dioxins are a group of chlorinated chemicals

V Cancer

that are produced unintentionally as

Liver damage

byproducts of combustion, incineration.

and other industrial processes including

Impacts on hormones and other
A systems

metal production. Dioxins

- 1

><
O

break down very slowly in

ATSDR Toxicological Profile for chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins

the environment and can
last for years or decades
in soil.

Dioxin releases in TRI

The chemical manufacturing sector t
reports the most releases. |pinl

The primary metals sector reports the most
toxic dioxin releases.

ATSDR Toxicological Profile for chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

797 facilities submitted TRI forms for dioxins for 2022

Facilities initiated 55 source reduction activities for dioxins in the past 5 years.

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022 |

Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds ("dioxins") are a group of chemically-similar compounds that
are typically produced in very small quantities but are toxic at much lower concentrations than
most other chemicals. Additionally, they persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in the
food chain. Dioxins have a lower reporting threshold and are reported in grams instead of
pounds to capture smaller amounts of these chemicals.

This map shows the locations of the facilities that reported dioxins to TRI for 2022, sized by
their relative release quantities.

-------
kvEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis

www .eoa, oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

'1-' /"M

j >•

Seattle

Jh ¦

° ' * •

CO • *

• 7. {''-7'

On, »¦*,

fit.

-c

Lake
Superior

111 - J'w •

_st.ixi\ CL^w 4

OFb
\

'•« w

,"4

»v^vv«

|\ • | V

r% * #& O H.

¦aa^opL
[*.-«# .)

Boston

• I V(|« '-O .':•» 13

\*r> tS# ' - ^

J • «**P ¦ • t

Monterrey

Gu// o/

Miami

Havana

CUBA

Facilities Reporting Dioxins

• > 100 g

• 10 - 100 g

• 1 -10 g

• 0.1-lg
< 0.1 g

t-au-Prince

Carats

View Larger Mao

-------
oEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

TRI requires facilities to report data on the 17
individual members of the TRI dioxin and dioxin-like
compounds category. While each chemical in the
dioxin and dioxin-like compounds category causes
the same toxic effects, some cause these effects at
lower levels of exposure than others because the
chemicals have different toxicities. As a result, one
mixture of dioxins can have a very different toxic
potency than the same amount of a different
mixture. Facilities in different sectors tend to
release different mixtures of dioxins depending on
their operations, so the potential for harm from
their releases may also be different.

EPA accounts for the varying toxicities of the
different dioxins by using Toxic Equivalent Factor
(TEF) and Toxic Equivalency (TEQ) values. TEFs
help to understand the toxic potency of each dioxin.

TEFs are then used to derive TEQs, which add
context to releases of different mixtures of dioxins.

TEQs are most useful when comparing releases of dioxins from different sources or different
time periods, where the mix of congeners may vary.

This graph shows the 10-year trend in the quantity of dioxins that facilities released from 2013
to 2022.

Helpful Concepts

Toxic Equivalent Factor (TEF)

Each individual dioxin is assigned
a TEF that compares that
compound's toxicity to the most
toxic dioxin in the category.

Toxic Equivalency (TEQ)

A TEQ is calculated by multiplying
the reported grams of each
compound by its corresponding
TEF and summing the results,
referred to as grams-TEQ.

Learn more about dioxins at
EPA's Dioxins homepage and
ATSDR's dioxins ToxFAOs.

-------
oEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Total Disposal or Other Releases of Dioxins

120,000

80,000

to
UJ

40,000

1,200

800

400

ro
UJ

2013

On-site Air Releases
i On-site Land Disposal
¦Grams-TEQ

2022

i On-site Surface Water Discharges
Off-site Disposal or Other Releases

From 2013 to 2022:

• Dioxin releases fluctuated over the last ten years, with a decrease of 11% between 2013
and 2022. Toxicity equivalents (grams-TEQ) decreased by 24%, indicating that the
overall toxicity of dioxin releases decreased even more than the quantity released.
This is due to changes in which dioxin congeners were released.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Grams released of dioxins decreased by 23%, driven by decreased releases reported by
an organic chemical manufacturing facility.

o Toxicity equivalents (grams-TEQ) decreased by 18%, similar to the decrease in
grams released.

• In 2022, 55% of dioxin releases were disposed of at off-site locations, primarily in
landfills.

-------
kvEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis

www .eoa, oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Dioxins Releases by Industry

The following two pie charts compare the industry sectors that reported the greatest releases of
dioxins (in grams) to those that reported the greatest releases of dioxins based on toxicity
equivalency (in grams-TEQ).

Releases of Dioxins by Industry, 2022

Grams - Total
Primary Metals:.

All Others:

Hazardous Waste
Management:
19%

Chemical
.Manufacturing:
70%

Grams-TEQ

All Others:

Paper
Manufacturing:

Hazardous Waste
Management:
17%

Primary Metals:
49%

Chemical J
Manufacturing:
26%

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

• The mix of dioxins released varies across industry sectors.

• The chemical manufacturing industry accounted for 70% and the primary metals sector
for 9% of total grams of dioxins released. In terms of toxicity equivalents, however, the
primary metals sector accounted for 49% and the chemical manufacturing sector for
26% of the total grams-TEQ.

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
\/LI March 2024

Ethylene Oxide

This section focuses on ethylene oxide, a human carcinogen.

Ill

x
o

111

What is ethylene oxide?

Ethylene oxide is a flammable gas
produced by industry. Ethylene oxide
is used to make other chemicals
and is used to sterilize medical
supplies and food
products like spices.

ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Ethylene Oxide

Health effects of exposure

9 Cancer

Impacts on the nervous system
Impacts on kidney function

ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Ethylene Oxide

Ethylene oxide releases in TRI

The chemical manufacturing sector
reports the most releases. m
Most ethylene oxide is released to air.

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

144 facilities submitted TRI forms for ethylene oxide for 2022

0 Facilities initiated 50 source reduction activities for ethylene oxide in the past 5 years.

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

This map shows the locations of the facilities that reported ethylene oxide to TRI for 2022, sized
by their relative release quantities to air.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

¦ i - "\ .•

V > -2

' ¦* "«< 1 , ...

Seattle

Vv.

**" ^-Lake
Superior

Ottawa

Toronto

Great Plains
•

/ , •

Detroit Boston
^Chicago ^ °

PvIpw Vnrk

UNITED

^ Denver

/ " ®#

San Francisco

STATES ^

•

St Louis , Washington

o r" ¦ . «.•

V», .

•

^Lps Angeles

*•' j

Dallas
%•

0 © 1

Atlanta

j •*

s , o *

f J,ou3On

• *

Monterrey

.\ ' M

Miami

Gulf of
Mexico

MEXICO,

Havana

UNITED
STATES

% . . \
^Guadalajara

Facilities Reporting Ethylene
Oxide

¦a Gulf of

Honolulu

•>

Ethylene Oxide Releases

• > 10,000 lb

• 5,000 - 10,000 lb

• 1,000 - 5,000 lb

t-au-Prince

•

Hawaii
Hawan

• 100 - 1,000 lb
< 100 lb

Caraci

View Larger Map

The figure below presents the 10-year trend in air releases of ethylene oxide.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Air Releases of Ethylene Oxide

350,000
300,000
250,000
.g 200,000

C
3

S. 150,000
100,000
50,000
0

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

¦ Fugitive Air Emissions ¦ Stack Air Emissions

• From 2013 to 2022, releases of ethylene oxide to air decreased by 124,000 pounds
(-43%).

• EPA recently extended TRI reporting requirements to specific contract sterilization
facilities that use ethylene oxide. These facilities reported for the first time for 2022.

o These facilities reported a total of 9,166 pounds of ethylene oxide released to air in
2022.

• While the chemical manufacturing sector accounts for most of the ethylene oxide air
releases, the 7% increase in air releases of ethylene oxide from 2021 to 2022 was
driven by the newly-reporting contract sterilization facilities.

Learn More About Ethylene Oxide

Ethylene oxide is a human carcinogen, meaning that it is known to cause cancer in
humans. It is used for a variety of industrial purposes including sterilizing food and
medical equipment and producing other chemicals.

Visit EPA's ethylene oxide homepage for more information and to learn about EPA's
actions to reduce exposures.

Visit ATSDR's ToxFAQs for ethylene oxide to learn more about the effects of exposure.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

^HQ www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/

\w LI # March 2024

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Carcinogens

Some chemicals that are reportable to the TRI Program are included on OSHA's list of
carcinogens. EPA refers to these chemicals as TRI OSHA carcinogens. These chemicals are
either known or believed to cause cancer in humans. A list of the TRI carcinogens can be found

in the TRI basis of OSHA carcinogens technical document.

This map shows the locations of the facilities that reported carcinogens to TRI for 2022, sized
by their relative release quantities to air.

Seattle

, ^

-in i-rancisco

^V;

V^i

uwi Angeles

*2°

L,oke
q Superior

•X

• t-1 • i, ch'c-/ -:

Toronto

¦a,, •_

STATES 0%

• r K

w r-

v wB^- -

v York

S- l oX

'.i^i.ngton

•i a. ft ¦.

,-rv

o ^

• -V

Moritc.i y

f /"v «nuO>; v// C •

: ,, Vc

£ %

— . >-*» +»

Facilities Reporting
Carcinogens

Carcinogens Releases

0 > 400,000 lb

• 200,000 - 400,000 lb

• 100,000 - 200,000 lb
10,000 - 100,000 lb
< 10,000 lb

View Larger Map

This graph shows the 10-year trend in air releases of TRI OSHA carcinogens.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Air Releases of TRI OSHA Carcinogens

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

Fugitive Air Emissions ¦ Stack Air Emissions

From 2013 to 2022:

• Air releases of TRI OSHA carcinogens increased by 4% since 2013.

• While most sectors reduced their air releases of many of these carcinogens, these
decreases were offset by increased releases of styrene by the plastics and rubber
products manufacturing sector and the transportation equipment manufacturing sector.

• In 2022, the TRI OSHA carcinogens released into air in the highest quantities were
styrene, acetaldehyde, and formaldehyde.

• EPA recently added natural gas processing facilities to the scope of facilities required to
report to TRI. These facilities reported for the first time for 2022, contributing to the
increase in reported air releases of TRI OSHA carcinogens.

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

The TRI chemical list for reporting year 2022 includes 180 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS). Each year, the TRI Program reviews newly available information and adds PFAS to the
TRI chemical list if they meet certain criteria.

Facilities reported their releases and other waste management practices for these PFAS for the
first time for 2020. Additional PFAS have been added to the list for each subsequent reporting
year. The TRI reporting threshold for PFAS is 100 pounds, which is lower than the thresholds
for most TRI chemicals. PFAS were also recently designated as chemicals of special concern,
which changes certain reporting requirements beginning in 2024. Read more about the rule.

Note that definitions of which chemicals are considered PFAS vary, and that the PFAS on the
TRI chemical list do not include all known per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. See EPA's PFAS
Explainedoaae for more information about these chemicals and EPA actions related to PFAS.

This map shows the locations of the facilities that reported a PFAS to TRI for 2022, sized by
their relative release quantities.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

View Larger Mao

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

This chart shows the number of facilities in each sector reporting any of the 180 PFAS for 2022.

• Most facilities reporting PFAS were in the chemical manufacturing sector or the
hazardous waste management sector.

• Facilities have reported 63 different PFAS since 2020. The most-reported PFAS from
2020-2022 were perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS),
and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA).

Number of Facilities Reporting PFAS by Sector, 2022

All Others: 7

Hazardous Waste
Management: 18

Chemical
Manufacturing: 25

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

PFAS Waste Management

This chart shows how facilities managed PFAS waste.

1,400,000

PFAS Waste Managed

1,200,000

y. 1,000,000

WJ ' '

to
T3

800,000

600,000

O 400,000
o.

200,000

mm.

2020

I Disposal or Other Releases
Treatment
Energy Recovery
I Recycling

2021 2022

2f Disposal or Other Releases - New

85 Treatment - New

0 Energy Recovery - New

85 Recycling - New

Note: The dashed areas in this chart show waste of PFAS that were not reportable for 2020.

• The quantity of PFAS reported as managed as waste increased by 354,000 pounds from
2020 to 2022.

• The year-to-year changes in PFAS waste management have been driven primarily by
one chemical manufacturing facility.

• Each year, combined quantities of hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and
its ammonium salt accounted for more waste managed than any other PFAS.

• The chemical manufacturing and hazardous waste management sectors have reported
managing the most PFAS waste each year.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

This chart shows PFAS releases by environmental medium.

PFAS Releases

180,000
160,000
$ 140,000

l/>

jj 120,000
a: 100,000
° 80,000
= 60,000
12 40,000
20,000
0

Air Emissions Air Emissions - New

¦ Water Discharges Water Discharges - New

¦ On-site Land Disposal fS On-site Land Disposal - New

I Off-site Disposal or Other Releases S Off-site Disposal or Other Releases - New

Note: The dashed areas in this chart show releases of PFAS that were not reportable for 2020.

• Releases of PFAS were almost eight times greater in 2022 compared to 2020.

• Releases of PFAS newly added to the TRI chemical list for 2021 or 2022 accounted for
only a small portion of the increase.

• The increase in PFAS releases was mainly driven by the hazardous waste management
sector.

• The hazardous waste management sector reported 98% of all PFAS releases for 2022.

;

2020 2021 2022

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Comparing Industry Sectors

This section examines how industry sectors manage Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) chemical
waste. Looking at data from individual sectors can highlight progress in improving
environmental performance and reveal opportunities for better waste management practices
within individual sectors.

Industries subject to TRI reporting requirements vary substantially in size, scope, and business
type. As a result, the amounts and types of chemicals managed as waste by facilities across
industrial sectors often differ. For facilities in the same sector, however, the processes,
products, and regulatory requirements are often similar, resulting in similar use and handling of
TRI chemicals.

This section presents trends in key sectors' waste.manage , including TRI chemical releases
into the environment. For analytical purposes, the TRI Program has combined the North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes at the 3- and 4-digit levels, creating 30
industry sector categories. To learn more about which business activities are subject to TRI
reporting requirements, see this list of covered NAICS codes.

The following pie chart shows the total quantities of TRI chemical waste managed through
recycling, energy recovery, treatment, and disposal or other release by sector.

-------
oEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Waste Managed by Industry, 2022
28.6 billion pounds

Paper
Manufacturing:
4%

Electric Utilities:

Petroleum Products

Manufacturing:

Metal Mining:
5%

Food Manufacturing:

All Others:

.12%

Chemical
Manufacturing:
54%

Primary Metals

Note: Percentages do not sum to 100% due to rounding.

Seven industry sectors reported 88% of the TRI waste managed in 2022. Most of this waste
originated from the chemical manufacturing sector (54%). See the Chemical Manufacturing
Sector Profile for more information on this sector.

The following pie chart shows the industry sectors that reported the most releases for 2022.

Total Disposal or Other Releases by Industry, 2022
3.3 billion pounds

All Others: 12%

Paper Manufacturing:

Food
Manufacturing:.

Hazardous Waste.
Management: 5%

Electric Utilities:.
7%

Primary Metals:

9% Cher

Manufacturing:
14%

j~ Metal Mining: 44%

7Sa

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

This pie chart shows that the metal mining, chemical manufacturing, primary metals, and
electric utilities sectors reported the most releases. This section of the National Analysis
features these sectors in more detail.

For more details on how the amounts and proportions of TRI chemicals managed as waste have
changed over time, see the waste managed bv industry trend graph.

For more information on the breakdown of these releases by environmental medium, see air
releases bv industry, water releases bv industry and land disposal bv industry.

As with any dataset, there are multiple factors to consider when using the TRI data. Find a
summary of key factors associated with data used in the National Analysis in the Introduction.
For more information see Factors to Consider When Using Toxics Release Inventory Data.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Manufacturing Sectors

This section examines how TRI chemical wastes are managed in manufacturing sectors (defined
as facilities reporting their primary NAICS codes as 31-33).

o
z

What the Sector Does

The manufacturing sectors are goods-producing
industries that transform materials into new

THE SECTOR

EMPLOYS M

11.2 MILLION V

products. These sectors include businesses

PEOPLE ¦¦¦

1—

involved in the production of food,

U.S. Census Annual Survey of Manufactures
2021 data

£
D
Z
<
2

textiles, paper, chemicals, plastics,
petroleum products, metal
products, electronics,
furniture, vehicles,
equipment, and
other products.

THE SECTOR

CONTRIBUTES K?
$2.6 TRILLION JK)

TO U.S. GDP

In value-added. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Year 2022 data.

19f215 facilities in the sector report to TRI

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

This map shows the locations of the manufacturing facilities that reported to TRI for 2022, sized
by their releases.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Guadalajara

Gulf of

All Manufacturing Facilities

Releases

• > 1,000,000 lb

• 100,000 - 1,000,000 lb

• 10,000 - 100,000 lb
1,000 - 10,000 lb

< 1,000 lb

Manufacturing Facilities Reporting to TRI, 2022

View Larger Map

For 2022, 88% of the facilities that reported to TRI were in a manufacturing sector and
manufacturing sectors accounted for most (88%) of the 28.6 billion pounds of waste managed
for 2022. Two manufacturing sectors, chemical manufacturing and primary metals
manufacturing, are highlighted in more detail later in this section.

TRI-covered industry sectors not categorized under manufacturing include metal mining, coal
mining, electric utilities, hazardous waste management, and others.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Manufacturing Waste Management Trend

The following graph shows the 10-year trend in TRI chemical waste managed through
recycling, energy recovery, treatment, and disposal or other releases by the manufacturing
sectors.

Waste Managed: Manufacturing Sectors

30 3,000

i ll 111 umil:!

a 10 ¦—¦—¦—¦—¦—|—¦———I—fl— 1.°°°

•-H+H+I+H-- i

0 ¦ ™ ™ , ¦ , ¦ , ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ 0

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

Disposal or Other Releases Treatment Energy Recovery

Recycling < Value Added (2022 Dollars)

From 2013 to 2022:

• Quantities of waste managed by the manufacturing sectors generally increased from
2013 to 2018. Since then, these quantities have decreased.

• Releases and treatment of chemical waste decreased, while recycling and combustion
for energy recovery increased. Recycling and combustion for energy recovery are
preferred to disposal and treatment, because recycling and energy recovery use waste
materials for a useful purpose instead of destroying or disposing of them.

• It is important to consider how the economy influences waste generation at facilities.
This figure includes the trend in the manufacturing sectors' value added (represented by
the black line, as reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Value Added bv
Industry).

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

What is Value
Added?

o Since 2013, value added by the
manufacturing sectors and waste
managed by these sectors both increased
by 14%. The overall increase in waste
management was caused by large
increases in recycling that started in 2014,
driven by several facilities that each
reported recycling one billion pounds or
more annually,
o Waste managed and value added both
increased, which suggests that
manufacturing facilities managed about
the same quantity of waste per unit of
product in 2022 compared to 2013.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Waste managed decreased by 694 million pounds (-3%), while value added remained
about the same, which may suggest that manufacturers managed less waste per unit of
product made in 2022 than in 2021.

• In 2022, only 5% of the manufacturing sectors' waste generated was released into the
environment, while the rest was managed through treatment, energy recovery, and
recycling.

An industry s value added is the
market value it adds in
production; it is the difference
between the price at which it sells
its products and the cost of its
inputs. Value added for all U.S.
industries combined is equal to
the nation's gross domestic
product.

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

The following graph shows the 10-year trend in quantities of TRI chemicals released by facilities
in manufacturing sectors.

Total Disposal or Other Releases:
Manufacturing Sectors

1,500

1,000

500

111 ¦ ¦ 11 ¦ ¦ ¦

1111| 11111

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

On-site Air Releases ¦ On-site Surface Water Discharges

On-site Land Disposal i Off-site Disposal or Other Releases

From 2013 to 2022:

• TRI chemical releases from manufacturing sectors decreased by 9%, primarily due to
reduced air releases (69 million pounds) and on-site land disposal (47 million pounds).

• Off-site disposal or other releases remained about the same.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Releases decreased by 41 million pounds (-3%), driven by the chemical manufacturing
sector.

Pollution Prevention in the Manufacturing Sectors:

In 2022, 1,674 manufacturing facilities initiated over 3,400 pollution prevention activities to
reduce TRI chemical use and waste creation. The most commonly reported type of pollution
prevention activity was Process and Equipment Modifications. For example:

• A fabric coating mill implemented a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system in
2022 which improved onsite inventory management and helped reduce the amount of
toluene managed as waste.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

You can learn more about pollution prevention opportunities in this sector bv using the TRI P2
Search Tool. Facilities interested in exploring pollution prevention opportunities at their site can
contact their Regional P2 Coordinator to arrange a free on-site P2 assessment.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

^HQ www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/

\w LI # March 2024

Chemical Manufacturing

This section examines how TRI chemical wastes are managed in the chemical manufacturing
sector (defined as facilities reporting their primary NAICS code as 325).

Ul-
LLlUL

What the Sector Does

Chemical manufacturers convert raw materials
into thousands of different products, including
basic chemicals, products used by other
manufacturers (such as synthetic
fibers, plastics, and
pigments),
pesticides, and
cosmetics, to
name a few.

THE SECTOR

EMPLOYS

778,000

PEOPLE

U.S. Census Annual Survey of Manufactures
2021 data

lit

THE SECTOR

CONTRIBUTES
$501 BILLION

TO U.S. GDP

In value-added. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Year 2022 data

3,430 facilities in the sector report to TRI

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

This map shows the locations of the chemical manufacturing facilities that reported to TRI for
2022, sized by their releases.

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Seattle

rife Francisco

'*0

i J,e; Angeles

\ -

'-a

Gulf of

Ottawa

?q # 0, ^Toronto

^5°

*. ^oSm -rf/n :

S TATE s aKtl0P'*.

- «?£>!?¦ £
w-5^ o •

Monterrey

Guadalajara

Chemical Manufacturing
Facilities

Releases

• > 1,000,000 lb

• 100,000 - 1,000,000 lb

• 10,000 - 100,000 lb
1,000 - 10,000 lb

< 1,000 lb

Chemical Manufacturing Facilities Reporting to TRI, 2022

View Larger Map

For 2022, more facilities reported to TRI from the chemical manufacturing sector than from any
other industry sector (3,430 facilities; 16% of all facilities that reported to TRI for 2022). This
sector reported 54% of all waste managed, more than any other sector.

This large and diverse sector includes facilities producing basic chemicals and those that
manufacture products through further processing of chemicals. The chart below shows the
number of facilities by chemical manufacturing subsectors that reported to TRI for 2022.

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Chemical Manufacturing Facilities by Subsector, 2022
3,430 total facilities

Pharmaceuticals: 5%

Pesticides and
fertilizers: 7

Cleaning and
personal care
products: 9%

Resins and synthetic
rubber: 12%

Basic chemicals: 33%

Coatings and_/
adhesives: 15%

Other chemical
products: 20%

Operations in the chemical manufacturing sector include:

• Basic chemicals facilities produce large quantities of chemicals that are often used to
make other chemicals or products. Basic chemicals include petrochemicals, industrial
gases, and synthetic dyes and pigments.

• Coatings and adhesives facilities mix pigments, solvents, and binders into architectural
and industrial paints; manufacture paint products such as paint removers and thinners;
and manufacture adhesives, glues, and caulking compounds.

• Resins and synthetic rubber facilities manufacture resins, plastic materials, synthetic
rubber, and fibers and filaments.

• Facilities in the "Other Chemical Products" subsector make chemicals for a wide variety
of applications. These include chemicals used in photography, explosives, inks and
toners, and transportation equipment like antifreeze or brake fluid.

-------
oEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Chemical Manufacturing Waste Management Trend

The following graph shows the quantities of TRI chemical waste managed through recycling,
energy recovery, treatment, and disposal or other releases by the chemical manufacturing
sector.

Waste Managed: Chemical Manufacturing

-H-I-I-I-I-I-I-I

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

Disposal or Other Releases Treatment Energy Recovery

Recycling Value Added (2012 Dollars)

400

3S0

300

/SO

200

150

100

l->

-tA

From 2013 to 2022:

• Quantities of waste managed by the chemical manufacturing sector increased by 33%,
while the sector's value added (represented by the black line), as reported by the
Bureau of Economic Analysis. Value Added bv Industry, increased by 5%.

o The increase in waste recycled was driven by a few facilities. For example, the large
increase in chemical waste recycled in 2014 compared to 2013 was primarily due to
one petrochemical manufacturing facility that began reporting large quantities of
on-site cumene recycling annually from 2014 to present.

• Quantities of TRI chemicals recycled, treated, and combusted for energy recovery
increased, while the quantities of TRI chemicals released decreased.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Waste managed at chemical manufacturing facilities decreased by 875 million pounds
(-5%).

100

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

• In 2022, facilities in this sector released 3% of their waste into the environment and
managed the other 97% through treatment, energy recovery, and recycling.

The following graph shows the 10-year trend in quantities of TRI chemicals released by facilities
in the chemical manufacturing sector.

Total Disposal or Other Releases:
Chemical Manufacturing

Millions of Pounds

l-> NJ U> ^ Ln C
O O O O O C
D O O O O O C

—

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

On-site Air Releases ¦ On-site Surface Water Discharges
¦ On-site Land Disposal ¦ Off-site Disposal or Other Releases

From 2013 to 2022:

• Releases reported by chemical manufacturing facilities decreased by 13%.

• Quantities of on-site releases to all media decreased, as did off-site disposal.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Releases decreased by 53 million pounds (-10%), partly driven by one facility reporting
a large decrease in off-site disposal of zinc compounds and another facility that changed
its primary NAICS code (i.e., the facility previously reported as a chemical manufacturer
but determined that chemical manufacturing did not account for most of its value added
in 2022). Excluding these facilities, releases from chemical manufacturing still
decreased.

• For 2022, one-third of the 3,430 chemical manufacturing facilities were in the basic
chemicals manufacturing subsector, which accounted for almost half (49%) of the
chemical manufacturing sector's releases.

101

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Chemical Manufacturing Sector Releases by Subsector, 2022

471 million pounds

Cleaning and personal care products: <1%

Pesticides and
fertilizers: 25%

Pollution Prevention in the Chemical Manufacturing Sector:

In 2022, 336 facilities in this sector initiated 864 pollution prevention activities. The most
commonly reported types of pollution prevention activities were Process and Equipment
Modifications and Operating Practices and Training. For example:

• A basic chemical manufacturer successfully piloted a new formulation that does not
contain barium compounds, and will use the barium compound-free formulation for all
future production of these products.

• A pharmaceutical manufacturing facility substituted methanol with ethanol for several
cleaning processes, reducing the amount of methanol managed as waste.

Additional Resources on Pollution Prevention

• To find more examples of chemical manufacturers' pollution prevention activities and the
pollution prevention barriers they reported, visit TRI's P2 Search Tool.

• EPA's Smart Sectors Program is partnering with chemical manufacturing trade
associations to develop sensible approaches to industrial operations that better protect
the environment and public health.

• For more information on how this and other industry sectors can choose safer
chemicals, visit EPA's Safer Choice Program.

102

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

• EPA supports the adoption of green chemistry and green engineering practices that
reduce the environmental impacts from this sector, including reductions in the use of
toxic chemicals, water, and electricity. For more information, see the TRI Green
Chemistry and Green Engineering Reporting webpage.

• Facilities interested in exploring P2 opportunities or getting technical assistance can
contact their regional P2 coordinator. Find the P2 coordinators for vour state and region.

103

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Greenhouse Gas Reporting in the Chemical Manufacturing Sector

While many chemical releases are required to be reported to TRI, the TRI Program does not
cover all chemicals released by industrial activities. Notably, most greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions are not reported to TRI. Industrial emissions of GHGs increase the concentration of
these gases in the atmosphere, which alter the amount of heat trapped by the Earth's
atmosphere and contribute to climate change.

From the Fifth National Climate Assessment:

Climate change is already harming human health across the US, and impacts are expected to
worsen with continued warming. Climate change harms individuals and communities by
exposing them to a range of compounding health hazards, including the following:

• More severe and frequent extreme events

• Wider distribution of infectious and vector-borne pathogens

• Air quality worsened by smog, wildfire smoke, dust, and increased pollen

• Threats to food and water security

• Mental and spiritual health stressors

Climate change is projected to reduce US economic output and labor productivity across
many sectors, with effects differing based on local climate and the industries unique to each
region. Climate-driven damages to local economies especially disrupt heritage industries
(e.g., fishing traditions, trades passed down over generations, and cultural heritage-based
tourism) and communities whose livelihoods depend on natural resources.

Source: Fifth National Climate Assessment

EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) tracks facility-level emissions from the
largest U.S. sources of GHGs. The chart below shows GHG emissions reported to the GHGRP by
facilities in the chemical manufacturing sector from 2013 to 2022.

104

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Chemical Manufacturing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

200

180

$ 160

u 140

i/i

o 120

•= 100

§ 80

.2 60

| 40
20
0

Year

• Note that while most TRI chemical quantities are reported in pounds, the GHGRP
collects GHG emissions data measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents
(MTCCke), as shown in this chart.

• The chemical manufacturing sector reported
emissions of 186 million MTCC^e for 2022, a 6%
increase since 2013.

• 459 facilities in the sector reported to the GHGRP
for 2022, most of which also reported to TRI.

Additional Resources on GHGs and
Climate Change

• To explore the data reported to EPA on GHG
emissions, see the Facility Level Information on
GreenHouse aases Tool (FLIGHT).

• See the Fifth National Climate Assessment for
information on climate change impacts, risks, and
responses.

• For more details on the chemical manufacturing sector's GHG emissions, visit GHGRP
Chemicals.

• The TRI P2 Search Tool lets you compare facilities' waste management reported to TRI
and their GHG emissions reported to the GHGRP.

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

What are carbon
dioxide equivalents
(C02e)?

Different GHGs can have different
effects on the Earth's warming;
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
values allow for comparisons of
the global warming impacts of
different gases. MTCCbe is a
weighted measurement that
considers the tonnes of the gases
and their associated global
warming potentials.

105

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Primary Metals Manufacturing

This section examines how TRI chemical wastes are managed within the primary metals
manufacturing sector (defined as facilities reporting their primary NAICS code as 331).

<
Q_

What the Sector Does

Facilities in the primary metal
manufacturing sector process metals, such
as iron, aluminum, and copper, to produce
foundational metal products used
throughout the economy. The sector
outputs include basic metal
products such as steel
ingots, metal castings, | '
sheets, bars, and wire.

THE SECTOR

EMPLOYS I

318,000 1

PEOPLE

U.S. Census Annual Survey of Manufacturers
2021 data

••o

ill

THE SECTOR

CONTRIBUTES CSS;
$92 BILLION

TO U.S. GDP ^0F

In value-added. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Year 2022 data

1#434 facilities in the sector report to TRI

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

This map shows the locations of the primary metals manufacturing facilities that reported to TRI
for 2022, sized by their releases.

106

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

f. 1

& Angeles

- L ake
Superior

Great Plags

•°, ,«V .

.0 •

Toronto

lit .Cfc •U-'O*'' ^Boston
m. T?

®N^w Vork

UNlTED 1 * eo 'W

STATES ^ ^ 1,000,000 lb

• 100,000 - 1,000,000 lb

• 10,000 - 100,000 lb
1,000 - 10,000 lb

< 1,000 lb

Primary Metals Manufacturing Facilities Reporting to TRI, 2022

View Larger Map

For 2022, 1,434 facilities in the primary metal manufacturing sector reported to TRI. The sector
includes iron and steel mills; facilities producing steel products such as pipes, plates, and wire;
foundries; and facilities that make nonferrous metal and metal products. The chart below shows
the number of facilities and the TRI releases by primary metals subsector for 2022. While iron
and steel mills account for few (10%) of the sector's facilities, this subsector reports more
releases than any other subsector. Conversely, foundries account for the most (38%) facilities
reporting to TRI in the sector but only report 8% of the releases.

107

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Primary Metal Manufacturing Facilities by Subsector, 2022

1,434 total facilities

Foundries: 38%

Nonferrous Metal
(except Aluminum]
Production and
Processing: 21%

Iron and Steel Mills

and Ferroalloy
Manufacturing: 10%

Steel Product
Manufacturing from
Purchased Steel: 18%

Alumina and Aluminum
Production and
Processing: 13%

108

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Primary Metals Waste Management Trend

The following graph shows the 10-year trend in quantities of TRI chemical waste managed
through recycling, energy recovery, treatment, and disposal or other releases by facilities in the
primary metals manufacturing sector.

Waste Managed: Primary Metal Manufacturing

: [fflfflni

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

Disposal or Other Releases ^MTreatment Energy Recovery

Recycling Value Added (2012 Dollars)

From 2013 to 2022:

• Chemical waste reported by primary metals manufacturing facilities was largely metals
which were mostly recycled.

• Quantities of waste managed by the primary metals manufacturing sector decreased by
27% since 2013 (843 million pounds), while the sector's value added (represented by
the black line), as reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Value Added bv
Industry, increased by 15%.

• The overall decrease in waste managed was largely driven by a 609 million pound
decrease in quantities of waste recycled over this time. Quantities of TRI chemical waste
managed by all methods decreased as well.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Waste managed at primary metals manufacturing facilities decreased by 3% (80 million
pounds), driven by decreases in waste recycled. Nonetheless, in 2022 the sector
recycled 1.6 billion pounds of metals, more than any other sector.

• Zinc, copper, and lead accounted for 55% of the sector's TRI waste managed.

100

80 —
c
n>

>
Q.
Q.

40 =

iA
O

N>
O

n -vv

109

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

The following graph shows the quantities of TRI chemicals released by facilities in the primary
metals manufacturing industry.

Total Disposal or Other Releases: Primary Metal Manufacturing

400
350
¦g 300

o 250

Q-

0 200
-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

• A specialty metal tubing manufacturer implemented a new surface etching process that
reduces the amount of nitric acid needed to etch a specific line of tubes used for
aerospace applications. The facility expects the impact of this alternative will grow in the
next 5-10 years as their customers begin placing orders for this method of production.

To find other examples of the sector's pollution prevention activities and the pollution
prevention barriers they face, visit TRI's P2 Search Tool.

Ill

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Metal Mining

This section examines how TRI chemical wastes are managed by facilities in the metal mining
sector (defined as facilities reporting their primary NAICS code as 2122).

What the Sector Does

The metal mining sector extracts and
processes ores (metal-bearing rock) to
refine the valuable target metals. The
portion of the metal mining sector
covered by TRI reporting requirements
includes facilities mining
copper, lead, zinc, q
silver, gold, \
and several 1
other metals.

THE SECTOR

EMPLOYS 1

41,000 1

PEOPLE

U.S. Census County Business Patterns
2021 data

•••
If/

VALUE OF MINE

PRODUCTION Hi
$35 BILLION ¦pVt

USGS Mineral Commodities Summary 2022 data

Note: Both metrics include all metal mining sectors; not limited tc

those covered by TRI.

90 facilities in the sector report to TRI

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

Although the number of metal mines reporting to TRI makes up only a small portion of the total
number of TRI-reporting facilities, the sector accounted for 44% of all releases reported to TRI
for 2022.

This map shows the locations of the metal mining facilities that reported to TRI for 2022, sized
by their releases.

Note: Mines are shown on this map based on their longitude/latitude, which may be miles from
the city identified on the mine's TRI reporting forms. Mines can qualify their location relative to
the city by noting the distance in the street address data field of their TRI reporting forms.

112

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

VV^

v- Lake
Superior

< •• »

San Francisco

to
\ \ \

s Angeles 0

Great Plains

STATES

•••

Chicago P

o •

Washington

Monterrey

UNITED
STATES

Guadalajara

H *1

Metal Mining Facilities

Releases

• > 1,000,000 lb

• 100,000 - 1,000,000 lb

• 10,000 - 100,000 lb
1,000 - 10,000 lb

< 1,000 lb

Metal Mines Reporting to TRI, 2022

View Larger Map

For 2022, 90 metal mining facilities reported to TRI. Most are in the western states, where
copper, silver, and gold mining are most common. Farther east, some metal mines in Missouri
and Tennessee extract zinc and lead. U.S. mining operations extract metals that are used in a

wide range of products, including automobiles, electric
and industrial equipment, jewelry, and decorative objects.
The extraction and processing of these minerals generate
large amounts of on-site land disposal, primarily of metal-
bearing rock (called ore) and waste rock. To learn more
about metal mining operations and their TRI reporting,
explore the interactive metal mining diagram.

113

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Metal Mining Waste Management Trend

The following graph shows the quantities of TRI chemical waste managed by the metal mining
industry from 2013 to 2022, mainly in the form of on-site land disposal. The nature of metal
mining operations limits the feasibility of other methods of waste management.

Waste Managed: Metal Mining

2,500

2,000

o 1,500

H—

o 1,000

500

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

i Disposal or Other Releases Treatment Energy Recovery Recycling Mine Production

From 2013 to 2022:

• The TRI waste managed by the metal mining sector consists mostly of metals. The year-
to-year fluctuations in waste managed do not closely reflect changes in the sector's
production fas reported bv the United States Geological Survey).

• Mining facilities often cite changes in the chemical composition of the ore they extract as
one reason for annual fluctuations in the quantities of waste they manage. In some
cases, small changes in the ore's composition can impact whether TRI chemicals in ore
qualify for a concentration-based TRI reporting exemption in one year but not in the
next year or vice versa.

From 2021 to 2022:

• The quantity of TRI chemical waste managed by this sector decreased by 28 million
pounds (-2%).

• During 2022, 97% of the metal mining sector's waste was disposed of or otherwise
released, primarily to land on site at the mine.

114

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

The following graph shows the 10-year trend in quantities of TRI chemicals released by the
metal mining industry, primarily through on-site land disposal.

2,500

Total Disposal or Other Releases:
Metal Mining

2,000

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017 2018
Year

2019

2020

2021

2022

On-site Air Releases
i On-site Land Disposal

i On-site Surface Water Discharges
Off-site Disposal or Other Releases

From 2013 to 2022:

• More than 99% of the metal mining sector's releases of TRI chemicals were on site and
to land. Quantities of on-site land disposal by metal mines fluctuated from year to year.

o Facilities have the option to indicate whether reported land releases represent
disposal of TRI chemicals in waste rock piles. For 2022, waste rock piles accounted
for at least 49% of the on-site land disposal of TRI chemicals at metal mines.

• The quantity of TRI chemicals released alone is not an indicator of health risks posed by
the chemicals, as described in the Potential Risks from TRI Chemicals section. For more
information, see the document, Factors to Consider When Using Toxics Release
Inventory Data.

In 2022:

• Among the sectors reporting to TRI, the metal mining sector reported the largest
quantity of waste disposed of or otherwise released, accounting for 44% of total TRI
releases and 68% of on-site land disposal for all industries.

• The chemicals released in the greatest quantities by metal mines were lead, zinc, and
arsenic compounds.

115

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Pollution Prevention in the Metal Mining Sector:

Unlike manufacturing, the nature of mining—the necessary movement and disposal of large
volumes of rock to access the target ore—does not lend itself to pollution prevention. To find
examples of metal mining pollution prevention activities and the pollution prevention barriers
mining facilities face, visit the TRI P2 Search Tool.

EPA's Smart Sectors Program has partnered with the mining sector to develop sensible
approaches to better protect the environment and public health.

116

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Electric Utilities

This section examines how TRI chemical wastes are managed by facilities in the electric utilities
sector (defined as facilities reporting their primary NAICS code as 2211).

CO
111

What the Sector Does

Electric utilities generate, transmit, and
distribute electric power. Electric-generating
facilities use a variety of fuels to generate

THE SECTOR O##

EMPLOYS I

497,000 f

PEOPLE

electricity; however, only those electricity
generating facilities that combust ^

U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2021 data. Includes all fuel types
for electricity generation; not limited to those fuels covered by TRI

coal or oil to generate
power for distribution A
in commerce are
subject to TRI reporting

GENERATES W
637 MILLION Ka

requirements.

U.S. Department of Energy 2022 data by electric utilities that
combust coal or oil for electricity generation

435 facilities in the sector report to TRI

U.S. EPA TRI, Reporting Year 2022

This map shows the locations of the electric utilities that reported to TRI for 2022, sized by their
releases.

117

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

"- Lake
Superior

••

• O

Los Angeles

Gulf of

^ ^ ^ ^Toronto

0 Great Plains • '•# • $ «troit • m. *

• • • ° • • °»ago C -

STATES

•£> • JR

•« • • , R ,«*.

Hou30h ^ m
k •

#•

Monterrey

Guadalajara

Electric Utility Facilities

Releases

• > 1,000,000 lb

• 100,000 - 1,000,000 lb

• 10,000 - 100,000 lb
1,000 - 10,000 lb

< 1,000 lb

Electric Utilities Reporting to TRI, 2022

View Larger Map

For 2022, 435 electricity generating facilities reported to TRI. Facilities in the sector use
different fuels to produce electricity, but only those that combust coal or oil to generate
electricity for distribution in commerce are subject to TRI reporting requirements.

118

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Electric Utilities Waste Management Trend

The following graph shows the 10-year trend in quantities of TRI chemical waste that electric
utility facilities managed, primarily through treatment or release.

Waste Managed: Electric Utilities

2,000

1,500

%/i

3
O
Q-

o 1,000

\r>

500

I I I I I I 111 ¦

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

Disposal or Other Releases Treatment Energy Recovery

Recycling < Electricity Generation

1,500

1,000 §

500 •<
o

(D
3
(D

From 2013 to 2022:

• Quantities of waste managed decreased by 740 million pounds (-44%) since 2013,
driven by reduced releases and treatment.

• Net electricity generation by electric utilities from coal and oil fuels decreased by 47%
(as reported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration1).
Note that only facilities that combust coal or oil to generate electricity are covered under
TRI reporting requirements.

o Data from the Energy Information Administration indicate that the mix of energy
sources for U.S. electricity generation has changed over time. Natural gas and
renewable energy sources account for an increasing share of U.S. electricity
generation, while coal-fired electricity generation has declined. Use of oil for electric
power generation continues to contribute a small percentage of total U.S. electricity
generation.

o In recent years, the amount of electricity generated has been the main driver of the
amount of waste generated by electric utilities. Waste generation from TRI-

119

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

reporting electric utilities has decreased in line with decreasing U.S. electricity
generation from coal and oil.

In 2022:

• Approximately three-quarters of the sector's waste was treated, while about one-quarter
was released into the environment. Facilities in this sector most commonly reported
using scrubbers and/or electrostatic precipitators to treat their gaseous waste streams.

The following graph shows the annual quantities of TRI chemicals released by electric utilities.

600

Total Disposal or Other Releases:
Electric Utilities

O All Waste Managed
@ Releases Only

\r>
"O

O
CL

450

o 300
\r>

150

¦Minn

2013 2014 2015 2016

On-site Air Releases
¦ On-site Land Disposal

2017 2018
Year

2019

2020

2021

2022

On-site Surface Water Discharges
Off-site Disposal or Other Releases

From 2013 to 2022:

• Releases from the electric utilities sector decreased by 298 million pounds (-55%). This
decrease was driven by a 135 million pound (-68%) decrease in air releases and a 129
million pound (-49%) decrease in on-site land disposal. Surface water discharges and
off-site disposal also decreased, but to a lesser extent.

From 2021 to 2022:

• Releases by electric utilities decreased by 9 million pounds (-4%), driven by decreased
air releases of sulfuric acid and decreased off-site disposal of metals.

120

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Pollution Prevention in the Electric Utilities Sector:

Of the 435 facilities in the electric utilities sector that reported to TRI for 2022, 8 initiated
pollution prevention activities to reduce their generation of wastes containing TRI chemicals. In
this sector, implementing these activities may also lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
For example, one facility reported that they retired their coal combustion unit, and another
facility reported that they are experimenting with biomass alternatives to the fuels currently
combusted.

To find examples of electric utilities' pollution prevention activities and the pollution prevention
barriers they face, visit TRI's P2 Search Tool.

EPA's Smart Sectors Program is partnering with this sector to develop sensible approaches to
industrial operations that better protect the environment and public health.

121

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Greenhouse Gas Reporting in the Electric Utilities Sector

While many chemical releases are required to be reported to TRI, the TRI Program does not
cover all chemicals released by industry. Notably, most greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are
not reported to TRI. Industrial emissions of GHGs increase the concentration of these gases in
the atmosphere, which alter the amount of heat trapped by the Earth's atmosphere and
contribute to climate change.

From the Fifth National Climate Assessment:

• More severe and frequent extreme events

• Wider distribution of infectious and vector-borne pathogens

• Air quality worsened by smog, wildfire smoke, dust, and increased pollen

• Threats to food and water security

• Mental and spiritual health stressors

Source: Fifth National Climate Assessment

EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) tracks facility-level emissions from the
largest U.S. sources of GHGs. Under the GHGRP, the Power Plants Sector consists mainly of
facilities that produce electricity by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, or
biomass. The sector also includes facilities that burn fossil fuels to produce steam, heated air,
or cooled air. The chart below shows GHG emissions reported to the GHGRP by facilities in the
Power Plants sector from 2013 to 2022.

122

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Electric Utilities (Power Plants) Greenhouse Gas Emissions

2,500

¦ ¦ _

llllllllll

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

What are carbon
dioxide equivalents
(C02e)?

• Note that while almost all TRI data are reported in
pounds, the GHGRP collects GHG emissions data in
metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents
(MTCCke), as shown in this chart.

• In 2022, 1,332 facilities in the Power Plants sector
submitted GHG reports while 435 facilities in this
sector reported to TRI. Some facilities report to
only one of these programs due to different
applicability requirements. TRI covers only electric
utilities that burn coal or oil to generate electricity
(i.e., natural gas power plants are not covered by
TRI) while the GHGRP covers all power plants that
meet the applicability requirements, including
natural gas-fueled power plants.

• Total reported GHG emissions from the sector
were 1,585 million MTCC^e in 2022, which represented more than half of total direct
emissions reported to the GHGRP.

• From 2013 to 2022, GHG emissions from this sector have decreased by 25%. According
to data from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration, use of
renewables, such as wind and solar, and of natural gas increased during this time while
the use of coal decreased. These trends likely contributed to the decreased emissions
from this sector.

123

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

Additional Resources on GHG Emissions and Climate Change

• To explore the data reported to EPA on GHG emissions, see the Facility Level
Information on GreenHouse aases Tool (FLIGHT).

• See the Fifth National Climate Assessment for information on climate change impacts,
risks, and responses.

• For more details on the electric utility sector's GHG emissions, visit GHGRP Power Plants.

• The TRI P2 Search Tool lets you compare facilities' waste management reported to TRI
and their GHG emissions reported to the GHGRP.

124

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

^HQ www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/

\w LI # March 2024

Federal Facilities

All federal facilities, including those operated by the EPA, the Department of Defense, and the
Department of the Treasury, are subject to TRI reporting requirements, regardless of the type
of operations at the facility.

This map shows the locations of the 444 federal facilities that reported to TRI for 2022, sized by
their releases.

- Lake
Superior

t ©

sfoi Anaeles
>

Gulf of
Alaska

Chicagj

UN1TZD

a • **

Toronto M

o- '

Detroit O j: Boston

o -o

York

S T A T E S,

• .;

"^sLngton

o •.

o _ • %

> 09

• o »

w Atlanta

r * 0 m

(JO

• •

QMonten€^

m£xico
Guadalajara

Houston* C® ^

Gulf of
Mexico

tt>°'

Federal Facilities

Releases

• > 1,000,000 lb

• 100,000 - 1,000,000 lb

• 10,000 - 100,000 lb
1,000 - 10,000 lb

< 1,000 lb

Federal Facilities Reporting to TRI, 2022

View Larger Map

125

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Federal Facilities by Industry

The following chart shows the number of federal facilities reporting to TRI by sector for 2022.

Federal Facilities by Sector, 2022
444 facilities

Police Protection,
(e.g., firing
range): 6%

Correctional
Institutions (e.g.,
federal prison):
13%

Electric Utilities:

All Others: 17%

National Security
(e.g., US Army
Base): 61%

For 2022, 444 federal facilities in 41 different types of operations (based on their 6-digit NAICS
codes) reported to TRI. Unlike non-federal facilities, federal facilities are subject to TRI
reporting requirements regardless of their industry sector. Many federal facilities that report to
TRI operate in sectors where federal facilities are the only facilities required to report to TRI,
including military bases; correctional institutions; and police protection, such as training sites for
border patrol stations. Almost two-thirds of the federal facilities that reported for 2022 are in
the National Security sector, which includes Department of Defense facilities such as Army and
Air Force bases.

As with non-federal facilities, the type of activities occurring at federal facilities determines the
amount of chemical waste managed and the management methods used. Some activities
occurring at federal facilities are similar to those at non-federal facilities, such as electricity
production. In other cases, federal facilities may report waste managed from specialized
activities. For example, the federal facilities included under police protection and correctional
institutions almost exclusively reported for lead and lead compounds, likely due to the use of
lead ammunition on their firing ranges.

126

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Waste Management by Federal Facilities

The following pie chart shows the percentages of total TRI chemical waste managed through
recycling, energy recovery, treatment, and disposal or other releases by federal government
organizations in 2022.

Waste Managed by Government

Organization, 2022

127 million pounds

All Others:

Dppart-mpntnf thp

Treasury:

Tennessee Valley

Authority:

28%

v. Department of

Defense:

60%

• The types of waste reported by federal facilities vary by the type of operation. For
example:

o Department of Defense facilities include Army, Marine, Navy and Air Force bases,
and other military establishments. The majority of TRI waste managed by these
facilities come from the use of lead- or copper-containing ammunition used in firing
ranges.

o The Tennessee Valley Authority, a government-owned electric utility, provides
power to southeastern states. 80% of its reported waste was hydrochloric and
sulfuric acid aerosols, which were mostly treated on site.

o The Department of the Treasury facilities reporting to TRI are mints for
manufacturing currency and, accordingly, they report metals (e.g., copper and
nickel) to TRI. Almost all their metal waste was recycled off site.

127

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Releases by Federal Facilities

The following graph shows the percentages of TRI chemicals released by federal government
organizations in 2022.

Total Disposal or Other Releases by
Government Organization, 2022
41 million pounds

Department of
Energy: 3%

National Aeronautics

and Space
Administration: 10%

Tennessee Valley
Authority: 19%

All Others: 3%

.Department of
Defense: 64%

• Most of the Department of Defense's releases were on-site releases of nitrate
compounds to water and on-site land disposal of metals and metal compounds.

• The chemicals released by the Tennessee Valley Authority are similar to the chemicals
released by other electric utilities that report to TRI. On-site land disposal of barium
compounds and air releases of sulfuric acid make up a large portion of releases from the
Tennessee Valley Authority and other electric utilities.

Pollution Prevention at Federal Facilities:

Federal facilities' operations are diverse and few focus on manufacturing processes. Due to the
varied functions, operations at some federal facilities are better suited to pollution prevention
strategies than others. For the 2022 reporting year, 32 federal facilities reported implementing
pollution prevention activities.

Federal facilities have often reported difficulties when trying to reduce their use of lead because
it is contained in ammunition used at National Security and Park Service facilities. For 2022,

128

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

several federal facilities reported using non-lead ammunition in accordance with National Park
Service policy to do so where feasible.

To find more examples of federal facilities' pollution prevention activities and the pollution
prevention barriers they face, visit TRI's P2 Search Tool and select industry sectors such as
National Security, Correctional Institutions, or Police Protection from the dropdown menu under
"Search Criteria."

129

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Where You Live

Use the online Where You Live tool to explore releases of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
chemicals reported throughout the United States for 2022.

Legend Data to Display:

! * Basemap ¦»

Show map by: ® States O Metropolitan Areas O Watersheds O Tribal
O Community Profile

Total Releases

Vancouver ,

M&x)Co

MEXICO

Guadalajara
o

oMexico City

Port-au-

F"'ri"ge ^ Santo X',omir

View Larger Map

In the Where You Live tool, you can view TRI information by state, tribe, metropolitan area,
and watershed. You can also view TRI facility locations along with demographic characteristics
of the surrounding communities. Choose the "Community Profile" option to see community
demographics using EPA's dem.ographjc.jndex or supplemental, demographic .index. Use the
"Data to Display" dropdown to select the metric to display. Use the Search bar to generate a
fact sheet about an area of interest.

130

-------
v>EPA

2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
March 2024

In addition to viewing maps based on release quantities, you can view maps based on risk-
screening environmental indicator score (RSEI Score) which is an indicator of relative potential
risks to human health following exposure to TRI chemical releases. RSEI Scores are generated
by EPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators fRSED model to allow you to compare the
relative potential for impacts to human health across various locations. For more on RSEI, see
the Potential Risks from TRI Chemicals section.

As with any dataset, there are many factors to consider when using the TRI data. A summary of
key factors associated with data used in the National Analysis is in the Introduction. For more
information, see Factors to Consider When Using Toxics Release Inventory Data.

131

-------
kvEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis

www .eoa, oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

EPA Regions

EPA has 10 regional offices, each of which is responsible for managing the TRI Program across
multiple states. Some regional offices are also responsible for territories and tribes.

Wft

•^0

ED C5,

Guam

Trust Territories

American Samoa

Northern Mariana

Islands

VdV

ND
SO
WE

IL ' IN

TW,

MS AL

UMbL! \
VT . ME *

NV 0 Si

SL 4 HSD

d DE

VW VA MD

TdcI

S nc y>

.sc

Headquarters

tZ HvD

^ %

^ A K

¦ PR

EPA regions vary in the type and number of facilities located in each. This results in significant
differences in TRI chemical waste management practices and quantities, as shown in the figure
below.

132

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Waste Managed by Region, 2022

c 7

tUD 6

< 5

LU 4

3
2
1

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0

Billions of Pounds

¦ Disposal or Other Releases I Treatment ¦ Energy Recovery ¦ Recycling

The differences in quantities of waste managed across EPA regions are largely due to the types
and number of industrial facilities in each region. For example:

• Region 10 facilities reported more releases for 2022 than those in any other region,
totaling 855 million pounds.

o Release quantities were driven by one metal mine in Alaska.

• In Regions 8, 9, and 10, the metal mining sector accounted for more releases than
any other sector.

o Metal mines tend to report high releases due to the large quantities of metals
disposed of on site to land. The extraction and processing of minerals generates
large amounts of on-site land disposal, primarily of metal-bearing rock (called ore)
and waste rock.

o Metal mines manage very little of their waste through treatment, combustion for
energy recovery, or recycling. As a result, regions with significant metal mining
operations tend to have higher releases but lower treatment, recycling, and energy
recovery quantities than other regions.

• In Region 7, metal mines reported more releases than almost all other sectors,
although only five metal mining facilities in the region reported to TRI for 2022.

• Region 6 reported the most waste managed, driven by facilities in the chemical
manufacturing sector. This sector also accounted for more of the region's releases than
any other sector.

133

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

• Waste managed in Regions 3, 4, and 5 was driven by recycling in the chemical and
food manufacturing sectors. These regions all have one or two facilities reporting high
quantities (i.e., more than a billion pounds) of chemicals recycled on site for 2022.

• Regions 4 and 5 had the most facilities reporting for 2022: 4,737 and 5,275 facilities,
respectively. Combined, almost half of all facilities that reported to TRI are in these two
regions.

• Regions 1 and 2 had the lowest releases and total waste managed. Nationally, most
releases and waste managed are reported by facilities in the metal mining, chemical
manufacturing, primary metals manufacturing, electric utilities, food manufacturing, or
hazardous waste sectors. Relatively few facilities in these sectors operate in Regions 1
and 2, contributing to lower release and waste management quantities in these two
regions.

134

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

States and Metropolitan Areas

For 2022, facilities located in all 56 states and territories reported to the TRI Program. Texas,
Ohio, and California had the most facilities report to TRI, and together accounted for 20% of
the total number of facilities that reported for 2022.

Approximately 80% of the U.S. population and many industrial and federal facilities that report
to TRI are in urban areas. The Office of Management and Budget defines Metropolitan
Statistical Areas (MSAs) as areas consisting of the county or counties "associated with at least
one urban area of at least 50,000 population, plus adjacent counties having a high degree of
social and economic integration" as measured through commuting ties. All MSAs are displayed
on the "Where You Live" map. The chart below shows TRI chemical releases for 2022 for the 10
most populous MSAs.

Total Disposal or Other Releases in the 10 Most Populous

MSAs,

2022

Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA

—

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

Pounds perSq. Mile

135

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Watersheds

To assess U.S. water resources, the U.S. Geological Survey divides the nation into 22 hydrologic
regions, or watersheds, based on the fiow of water throughout the country. Each watershed
represents a major river drainage area (e.g., the Missouri region) or combines rivers' drainage
areas (e.g., the Texas-Gulf region which includes several rivers draining into the Gulf of
Mexico).

Sourls Red
Rainy

Pacific
Northwest

Great ta

Missouri

Mid
f Atlantic

Upper
Mississippi

Upp-er
Colorado

California

Arkansas-White-Red

Lower
Colorado

Tennev

Lower
Missi&Sippi

Caribbean

Water Resource Regions

Hawaii

Source: USGS Science in Your Watershed

Note that the South Pacific region, consisting of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, is not shown on this
map.

Hydrologic regions are connected by the complex movement of water, such as rainwater
draining into streams that flow into rivers. Every part of the US is part of a hydrologic region
because water systems are connected; even chemicals released to land far from any lakes,
rivers, or oceans, can eventually be carried into a faraway water body. Releases to air, land, or
water can all end up impacting fish, wildlife, and other living things that depend on a water
body.

136

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Certain chemicals can remain in the environment for a long time after they are released and
build up in the tissues of wildlife living in or drinking contaminated water. These chemicals can
become more concentrated as predators farther up the food chain eat these organisms. This
process, called bioaccumulation, sometimes causes health problems for wildlife and humans.

All 22 watersheds are displayed on the Where You Live map. The chart below shows the ten
watersheds with the most TRI chemical releases in 2022. Releases were highest in the Alaskan
and Great Basin regions. In these regions, most releases were from metal mines.

Total Disposal or Other Releases by Watershed, 2022

Air "Water "Land ¦ Total Off-site Disposal or Other Releases

Alaska
Great Basin
South Atlantic Gulf
Ohio
Texas-Gulf
Great Lakes
Lower Mississippi
Missouri
Upper Mississippi
Arkansas-White-Red

200

400

Millions of Pounds

600

800

Note: Chart shows the ten watersheds with the most TRI chemical releases in pounds.

The chart below shows the ten watersheds with the most TRI chemical releases per square
mile. Releases per square mile were greatest in the Great Basin region, which encompasses
much of Nevada and Utah. Releases from metal mines made up 90% of the releases in this
region.

137

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Total Disposal or Other Releases by Watershed per Square

Mile, 2022

Lower Mississippi
Tennessee
Caribbean
South Atlantic Gulf
Alaska
Texas-Gulf
Upper Mississippi
Mid-Atlantic

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000

Pounds perSq. Mile

Note: Chart shows the ten watersheds with the most TRI chemical releases in pounds per square mile.

138

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/

X#LI M March 2024

Tribal Communities

Under EPA policy, the agency works with federally recognized tribes on a government-to-
government basis to protect the land, air, and water in Indian Country and Alaska Native
villages and to support tribal assumption of program authority.

• ;v ' %

' •• CTL' ' ^ * n* 'i

' ^Seattle V—1 q ca

* Q

c >. ^ . f .

v ¦ ¦ •

' a

R '',7 ' ^
~ ? '( • • ' 4 ¦,

Denver

UNITED

San Francisco

Los Anqeles^

° d

" Lake
Superior

Detroit

Chicago °

Washington

a °® . • Unites* 0

3 iv:

_ _o ©

s*-.5*

Monterrey

MEXICO

% I

Guadalajara

Honolulu

Ha^li

guii or

Mexico

CJl Alaska Native Allotments
o Alaska Native Villages

[ ] American Indian Reservations

1 I Off-reservation Trust Lands

Oklahoma Tribal Statistical Areas
• Virginia Federally Recognized Tribes

In 2022, 374 facilities located on the land of 49 federally recognized tribes reported to TRI.
These facilities collectively managed 250 million pounds of waste, 36 million pounds (14%) of
which were disposed of or otherwise released. Of these releases, 60% were disposed of on site

by metal mining, electric utilities, paper, and chemical manufacturing facilities. These facilities
primarily disposed of metal compounds such as lead and barium. Lead is often present in the
mineral ore disposed of by metal mines, and barium is present in coal and oil combusted at
electric utilities.

139

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
LI March 2024

Many more facilities are located within a 10-mile radius of tribal land. 2,150 facilities on or
within 10 miles of tribal land reported to TRI for 2022, representing 250 different federally
recognized tribes. These facilities collectively managed 1.29 billion pounds of waste, 207 million
pounds (16%) of which were disposed of or otherwise released. Of the releases reported, 53%
were released on site by chemical manufacturing, primary metals, and metal mining
manufacturing facilities.

The table below provides more details about the types of releases and other waste
management reported by facilities on federally recognized tribal lands.

Quick Facts for 2022: Facilities on Tribal Lands

Measure

Facilities on Tribal
Land

Facilities on or
within 10 miles of
tribal land

Number of Facilities that Reported to TRI

374

2,150

Number of Tribes

250

Waste Managed

249.9 million lb

1.29 billion lb

Recycling

86.4 million lb

441 million lb

Energy Recovery

39.3 million lb

164 million lb

Treatment

88.3 million lb

475 million lb

Disposal or Other Releases

36.0 million lb

206 million lb

Total Disposal or Other Releases

36.0 million lb

207 million lb

On-site

30.7 million lb

171 million lb

Air

12.6 million lb

64.6 million lb

Water

4.1 million lb

14.4 million lb

Land

13.9 million lb

92.3 million lb

Off-site

5.4 million lb

35.4 million lb

Note: The amount of waste managed by disposal or other releases may differ from the amount shown as "total
disposal or other releases" because several facilities reported managing large quantities of non-production-related
waste, which is included in "total disposal or other releases" but not in "waste managed."

The TRI Toxics Tracker is one way to explore information about releases and other waste
management of TRI chemicals from facilities on or near tribal lands. The chart below shows the
type of TRI information in the Tribal Lands section of the TRI Toxics Tracker.

140

-------
kvEPA

2022 TRI National Analysis

www .eoa, oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Releases by Tribe

Top 10 Tribes

Cherokee Nation

The Choctaw Nation of
Oklahoma

The Muscogee (Creek)
Nation

Tohono O'odham
Nation of Arizona

Cowlitz Indian Tribe

PascuaYaqui Tribe of
Arizona

Navajo Nation, Arizona,
New Mexico. & Utah

Other Tribes (240)

All Tribes

San Carlos Apache
Tribe of the San Carlos
Reservation, Arizona
Three Affiliated Tribes of
the Fort Berthold
Reservation, North

Ely Shoshone Tribe of
Nevada

Other Tribes (240)

Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico:

PascuaYaqui Tribe of Arizona

Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona1

San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reser...

Three Affiliated Tribes of th...

Ely Shoshone Tribe of Nevada

4 Cherokee Nation

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
'The Muscogee (Creek) Nation

The table below lists the federally recognized tribes that had at least one TRI-reporting facility
on their lands, along with the total releases and waste managed on the tribe's lands.

141

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

Total Disposal or Other Releases on Tribal Lands by Tribe, 2022

Totals

Releases (lb) Waste Managed (lb)

Totals

206,717,488

1,286,868,725

Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma

197,501

1,777,420

Agua Caliente Band ofCahuilla Indians of the Agua Caliente Indian
Reservation, California

Ak-Chin Indian Community

40,923

146,171

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas

72,758

204,228

Apache Tribe of Oklahoma

602,247

3,424,837

Augustine Band ofCahuilla Indians, California

32,865

106,654

Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the
Bad River Reservation, Wisconsin

69,245

Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan

Bear River Band of the Rohnervitle Rancheria, California

149,685

235,566

Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians of the Big Valley Rancheria,
California

374

Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana

106

You can also view a fact sheet for each tribe using TRI Explorer-

Additional resources for tribes are available on the TRI for Tribal Communities weboaae.
including more detailed analyses of TRI data, links to other online tools, and contact
information for EPA's Tribal Program Managers.

142

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

TRI Connections

Beyond TRI, there are many other EPA programs that collect information about regulated
chemicals. The figure below is an overview of key laws that EPA implements with some
associated regulated activities or industrial processes.

Water
Discharges

Pollution
Prevention Act
(PPA)

Underground
Injection

Products

Waste
Transfers

Land
Disposal

¦ Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA)

• Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

• Clean Water Act (CWA)

¦ Ocean Dumping Act
(ODA)

• Resource
Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA)

• Safe Drinking Water
Act (SDWA)

• Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA)

• Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and
Liabilty Act (CERCLA)

• Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA)

• Clean Air Act (CAA)

Chemical
Manufacturing
and Processing

Air Emissions

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a uniquely powerful resource that collects information
about how toxic chemicals are managed by certain facilities in the United States. While most
EPA programs focus on one environmental medium, the TRI Program covers all environmental
media by tracking toxic chemical releases to air, water, and land, as well as chemical waste
transfers. TRI also tracks other waste management practices and the implementation of
pollution prevention. Since facilities report annually, TRI is one of EPA's most up-to-date
sources of data. The data can be used with other datasets to provide a more complete
understanding of national trends in chemical waste management practices.

143

-------
>—| j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

\/LI March 2024

Throughout EPA, offices use TRI data to support their mission to protect human health and the
environment. These uses include technical analysis for regulation, informing program priorities,
providing information to stakeholders, and many other applications.

144

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

TRI Around the World

In 1986, with the enactment of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
(EPCRA), TRI was established as the first national Pollutant Release and Transfer Register
(PRTR) in the world. Since then, environmental agencies in other countries have implemented
their own PRTR programs modeled after the TRI Program. Currently, at least 50 countries have
fully established PRTRs or have implemented pilot programs (see map below). With assistance
from international organizations like the United Nations Institute for Training and Research
(UNITAR), more countries are expected to develop PRTRs, particularly in Asia, South America,
and Africa.

Source: United Nations Institute for Training and Research PRTR Global Map

As global PRTR implementation expands, the TRI Program will continue to work with
international organizations to:

• Assist in the development of new PRTR programs.

• Promote data standards and core data elements to improve PRTR comparability and
harmonization as well as to support global scale analyses.

• Showcase the usefulness of PRTR data for assessing progress towards sustainability.

See the TRI Around the World webpage for more information on the TRI Program's
international partners.

145

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUtfl www .eoa. oov/trinationa lana Ivsis/
March 2024

International Project Spotlight: Using PRTR
Progress toward the U.N. Sustainable
Development Goals

Data to Assess

Background. The TRI Program collaborates with the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) on PRTR projects, including a project to use global
PRTR data to assess progress toward the United Nations'
fU.N.) Sustainable Development Goals fSDGs). These goals
are designed to "shift the world on to a sustainable and resilient path" by setting targets that
encompass the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability. As
stakeholders work toward the SDGs, the U.N. will measure progress using existing data where
possible. Existing data sources for tracking some of the SDGs may include countries' PRTR data.

Watch a short video on the report on global
PRTRs

Project Focus. The U.N. SPG Target 12.4 was identified as most relevant to PRTR data; it
focuses on reducing chemical releases to the environment.

Project Status. OECD published the prolect report (including Spanish, French, and Japanese
versions of the Executive Summary) based on aggregated data for 14 chemicals from multiple
countries to assess progress toward achieving SDG Target 12.4. EPA is working with OECD to
define the next steps for building on this work. Users can explore the report's underlying data
using the interactive data tool on the OECD PRTR webpaae.

Releases of 14 chemicals by PRTR

Ctf)

£ 12

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis
www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/
January 2024

Note: PRTRs included in the analyses-. Australia - National Pollutant Inventory (NPI), Canada - National Pollutant Release Inventory
(NPRI), Chile - Registro de Emisiones y Transferencia de Contaminantes (RETC), European Union - European Pollutant Release and
Transfer Register (E-PRTR), Japan Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR), Mexico - Registro de Emisiones y Transferencia
de Contaminantes (RETC), United States - Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). Chemicals included in the analyses. 1,2-Dichloroethane,
Benzene, Cadmium, Chromium, Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Dichloromethane, Ethylbenzene, Mercury, Nickel, Particulate matter,
Styrene, Sulfur oxides, Tetrachloroethylene, Trichloroethylene.

147

-------
2022 TRI National Analysis

LUA www.eoa.oov/trinationalanaivsis/
January 2024

Mapping Cross-Border Transfers

Facilities must report on the TRI chemicals in wastes they transfer off site for further
management at other facilities, including the name and address of the receiving facility and how
the waste is managed. This map shows states with TRI facilities that shipped waste containing
TRI chemicals outside of the U.S. Explore the data in more depth in the full TRI National
Analysis Dashboard.

• Transfers of TRI chemical waste to Mexico and Canada accounted for 84% of all cross-
border transfers by weight for 2022.

o Almost all TRI chemical waste transfers (99%) to Mexico were for recycling,
primarily of metals and metal compounds. Zinc made up 77% of all transfers to
Mexico by weight.

o Most transfers to Canada were from northeastern and midwestern states. About
two-thirds of the TRI chemicals sent to Canada were transferred for recycling.
Transfers to Canada were mostly metals (e.g., copper, nickel) and chemicals
commonly used as solvents (e.g., acetonitrile, methanol).

• The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is an
international collaboration between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico focused on
environmental issues of common interest. Among other activities, the CEC develops
Taking Stock reports that combine data from TRI and the equivalent programs in Mexico

ONTARIO

NORTH DAKOTA

JRUNSW1

tMPSHIRE

iROUNA

CUBA

MEXICO

148

-------
j 2022 TRI National Analysis
LI#/\ www.epa.aov/trinationalanalysis/

^m January 2024

and Canada. The most recent Taking Stock report includes a feature on cross-border
transfers, supported by a cross-border transfers tool.

149

-------