This week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the release of its 2002 Toxic Release Inventory report which shows an 11 percent decline in off-site disposal and release of chemicals for businesses in Pennsylvania from 66.3 million pounds to 58.9 million pounds. Overall on-site and off-site disposal and releases declined 8.1 percent from 184 million pounds to 169 million.

Nationally, there was a 15 percent decrease in total disposal and other releases into the environment largely attributable to a court decision that affected reporting by the metal mining sector. Without metal mining, there was a 5 percent increase from 2001 to 2002, primarily due to reporting by one facility in Arizona, according to Kim Nelson, Chief Information Officer for EPA.

Looking at the overall history of TRI, trends analysis shows chemical releases decreased 49 percent since the inception of TRI in 1988.

TRI tracks the chemicals and industrial sectors specified by the Emergency Community Right to Know Act of 1986 and its amendments.

Gov. Rendell has proposed funding his environmental initiative in part on chemicals reported on EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory.

NewsClips: EPA Toxic Emissions Rose in ‘02

Toxic Emissions Rising EPA Says

Toxic Releases Increase in 2002

6/25/2004