The Toxic Release Inventory
Program (TRI) started in 1987. It requires companies to report toxic releases
to air, land and water, as well as toxic waste that is treated, burned,
recycled, or disposed. Approximately 26,000 industrial facilities disclose
information about any of the 650 chemicals in the program.
EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson is proposing changes to the program. These
changes would be three-fold:
* A rule to propose that companies be allowed to release ten times as much
pollution before they are required to report their releases.
The first two rules are currently open for public comment while the third
proposal is a notification of a future rule that Stephen Johnson will
propose in October 2007.
* A rule that would allow companies to withhold information about some of
the most dangerous chemicals, such as lead and mercury.
* A notification to Congress that EPA Administrator Johnson intends to
release a rule to change the frequency of reporting to the program next fall
from every year to every other year.
If these rules become law, there will be devastating implications in a
variety of areas:
* Lost Incentives to Reduce Pollution : Since the inception of the program
in 1987, releases have dropped by nearly 60%. In the past five years, EPA has
reported a 42% drop in the 600 chemicals in the program. When companies are
required to disclose their pollution, they have an incentive to reduce it.
Under the proposed rules, not only would this incentive be reduced, but
companies could also increase their releases and we wouldn't even know it.
* Impacts on Public Health : The 650 chemicals that are currently a part of
the Toxic Release Inventory are chemicals of concern. Many are known carcinogens,
reproductive toxicants and respiratory toxicants. Increases in these releases
could have devastating impacts on our health.
* State and Local Regulators Impacted : State and local regulators use the
Toxic Release Inventory to implement specific state programs. For instance
Washington state regulators are opposing the Bush administration's plan
because they use the TRI to identify facilities eligible for their pollution
prevention program.
* Communities Would Lose Powerful Tool : Many communities and citizen
organizations use TRI information in their campaigns and to protect their
family's health. The PIRGs have long used this information in air, water and
other successful campaigns.
Take a moment to tell the EPA that you want to know what toxic chemicals are being released in your community.
http://www.safefromtoxics.org
