March 16, 2023

BOSTON (March 16, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2021 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, which shows that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from facilities covered by the program remained below pre-pandemic levels and releases in 2021 are 10% lower than 2012 releases, even with an 8% increase from 2020 to 2021. Additionally, in 2021, facilities managed 89% of their TRI chemical waste through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery and treatment, while reporting that they released 11% of their TRI chemical waste into the environment.

In Vermont, the reporting data show that overall releases of pollutants to the environment decreased since the previous reporting year (2020).

TRI tracks the management of certain toxic chemicals that may pose a threat to human health and the environment. U.S. facilities in different industry sectors must report annually how much of each chemical is released to the environment and/or managed through recycling, energy recovery and treatment. A “release” of a chemical means that it is emitted to the air, water or placed in some type of land disposal.

“TRI reporting is a key part of EPA’s efforts to provide greater access to vital environmental information to Americans about their neighborhoods,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “Making this information publicly available also incentivizes companies to reduce pollution and gives communities tools to act locally – which is particularly important for underserved communities that have historically been disproportionately impacted by pollution.”

Vermont: Released on and offsite
During 2021, the latest year for which data is available, 38 facilities reported approximately 174,800 pounds were released onsite to the air, water and land (such as landfills), compared to 214,000 pounds released in 2020 (a decrease of 39,200 pounds). Approximately 36,000 pounds were released to the air and, 131,800 pounds were released to surface water. The major pollutants released to the air were ammonia at 41 % of all air releases and styrene with 27% of all air releases in the state. The major pollutant released to the water was nitrate compounds (at 94% of all releases to water).

Vermont: Total Production Related Waste
During 2021, 38 facilities reported approximately 4.6 million pounds of total production related waste was managed compared to 38 facilities and 4.9 million pounds of total waste managed in 2021. Total production related waste includes chemicals released directly to the environment and wastes that are treated (such as in an incinerator or wastewater treatment system), recycled and waste that is landfilled.

Vermont: Top Five Companies
The companies in Vermont with the greatest releases included various industries including computers/electronics, chemicals, food, transportation equipment. These 5 facilities produced 82% of the releases in the state of Vermont in 2021.

Each year, EPA makes publicly available TRI data reported by industries throughout the United States regarding chemical releases to air, water and land by power plants, manufacturers and other facilities which employ ten or more workers, and which exceed thresholds for chemicals. Reporting includes information on chemicals released at a company’s facility, as well as those transported to disposal facilities off site. TRI data do not reflect the relative toxicity of the chemicals emitted or potential exposure to people living in a community with reported releases.

Reporting under TRI does not indicate illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment. EPA works closely with states to provide regulatory oversight of facilities that generate pollution to the nation’s air, land and water. Effective review and permitting programs work to ensure that the public and the environment are not subjected to unhealthful levels of pollution, even as agencies work to further reduce emissions of chemicals to the environment. Enforcement efforts by EPA and states ensure that facilities that violate their environmental permits are subject to penalties and corrective action. Yearly releases by individual facilities can vary due to factors such as power outages, production variability, lulls in the business cycle, etc., that do not reflect a facility’s pollution prevention program(s).

The top five chemicals released to surface water (note the small quantity) in Vermont during 2021:

The top five chemicals released to the air in Vermont during 2021:

Companies with the largest releases:

TRI data are submitted annually to EPA, states, and tribes by facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), facilities must report their toxic chemical releases for the prior year to EPA by July 1 of each year. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires facilities to submit information on pollution prevention and other waste management activities related to TRI chemicals.

The 2021 Analysis features updated visualizations and analytical tools to make data more useful and accessible to communities, including the option to view data by region and watershed. EPA has also updated demographic information in the “Where You Live” mapping tool and in the Chemical Profiles section. Readers can view facility locations with overlayed demographic data to identify potential exposure to TRI chemical releases in vulnerable communities. Community groups, policymakers, and other stakeholders can use this data, along with other environmental data, to better understand which communities may experience a disproportionate pollution burden and take action at the local level.

PFAS Reporting
For the second time, the TRI National Analysis includes reporting on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) following the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. For Reporting Year 2021, 176 PFAS were reportable to TRI. Facilities reported managing 1.3 million pounds of these chemicals as waste. This is an increase from the 800,000 pounds in 2020 and is largely due to reporting on one PFAS, perfluorooctyl iodide, which EPA began requiring facilities to report in 2021. Most of the facilities that manage PFAS operate in the chemical manufacturing and hazardous waste management sectors. The hazardous waste management sector accounted for roughly 80% of the 108,334 pounds of PFAS released into the environment, primarily to regulated landfills.

Last December, EPA proposed a rule that would improve reporting on PFAS to TRI by eliminating an exemption that allows facilities to avoid reporting information on PFAS when those chemicals are used in small, or de minimis, concentrations. Because PFAS are used at low concentrations in many products, this rule would ensure covered industry sectors and federal facilities that make or use TRI-listed PFAS will no longer be able to rely on the de minimis exemption to avoid disclosing their PFAS releases and other waste management quantities for these chemicals.

More information:

TRI Fact Sheet

TRI National Analysis

Facility efforts to reduce toxic chemical releases

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Originally Appeared Here

March 16, 2023

LENEXA, KAN. (MARCH 16, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) directed Ameren to submit a draft Focused Feasibility Study (FFS) to the Agency by June 30, 2023. EPA required Ameren to conduct additional work in February, after field work conducted by EPA in January identified Ameren’s Huster Road Substation as a source of the new contamination in the Elm Point Wellfield in St. Charles, Missouri.

“EPA continues to hold Ameren accountable for the groundwater contamination emanating from the Huster Road Substation,” said EPA Region 7 Superfund and Emergency Management Division Director Bob Jurgens. “The Focused Feasibility Study will take into account the additionally identified contamination and evaluate various remedial technologies for groundwater cleanup. EPA will oversee all of Ameren’s work to ensure that it meets Superfund’s requirements.”

The FFS process consists of the development and detailed analysis of cleanup options to establish the basis for remedy selection decisions that will be made by EPA. The FFS will present a range of viable cleanup options that meet the site’s cleanup goals. The cleanup goals set forth in the 2021 Record of Decision (ROD) include preventing exposure to contaminants of concern (COCs) above the Safe Drinking Water Act’s maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in groundwater; preventing potential future risks to humans from inhalation of groundwater COCs via the vapor intrusion pathway; preventing future migration of groundwater contamination off-site; and restoring groundwater to beneficial use (i.e., at or below MCLs) within a reasonable time frame.

As part of the FFS process, EPA may require Ameren to submit workplans to the Agency to define the extent of the contaminant plume. Additionally, EPA expects Ameren to use ongoing interim response actions to address the contamination. These approved response actions include the use of a permeable barrier that breaks down contaminants as they pass through it, and chemical oxidant and/or bacteria enhancement injections into the groundwater to break down the contaminants.

EPA will continue to review all future documents or plans submitted and require Ameren to correct any deficiencies before granting approval to begin future work.

The letter directing Ameren to complete the draft FFS by June 30 is available on EPA’s Site Profile page (see Site Documents & Data). Ameren must supply a written confirmation to EPA by March 24, 2023, that it agrees to perform the work described in the letter.

# # #

Learn more about EPA Region 7

View all Region 7 news releases

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Originally Appeared Here

March 16, 2023

BOSTON (March 16, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2021 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, which shows that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from facilities covered by the program remained below pre-pandemic levels and releases in 2021 are 10% lower than 2012 releases, even with an 8% increase from 2020 to 2021. Additionally, in 2021, facilities managed 89% of their TRI chemical waste through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery and treatment, while reporting that they released 11% of their TRI chemical waste into the environment.

In Massachusetts, the reporting data show that overall releases of pollutants to the environment increased since the previous reporting year (2020). However, over the last 10 years, Massachusetts has reduced air emissions by 55% due to the closures of a coal fired power plant and aluminum can manufacturer

TRI tracks the management of certain toxic chemicals that may pose a threat to human health and the environment. U.S. facilities in different industry sectors must report annually how much of each chemical is released to the environment and/or managed through recycling, energy recovery and treatment. A “release” of a chemical means that it is emitted to the air, water or placed in some type of land disposal.

“TRI reporting is a key part of EPA’s efforts to provide greater access to vital environmental information to Americans about their neighborhoods,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “Making this information publicly available also incentivizes companies to reduce pollution and gives communities tools to act locally – which is particularly important for underserved communities that have historically been disproportionately impacted by pollution.”

Massachusetts: Released on and offsite
During 2021, the latest year for which data is available, 357 facilities reported approximately 3.9 million pounds were released onsite to the air, water and land (such as landfills), compared to 3.0 million pounds released in 2020 (an increase of 0.9 million pounds). Approximately 667,300 pounds were released to the air, and 2,800 pounds were released to surface water. The major pollutants released to the air were toluene at 27% and ammonia with 11% of all air releases in the state. The major pollutant released to the water although small was formaldehyde (at 30% of all releases to water). In the last ten years, total releases increased 8% from 3.6 million pounds in 2011 to 3.9 million pounds in 2021.

Massachusetts: Total Production Related Waste
During 2021, 357 facilities reported approximately 50.4 million pounds of total production related waste was managed compared to 362 facilities and 43.9 million pounds managed in 2020 (an increase of 8.3 million pounds). Total production related waste includes chemicals released directly to the environment and wastes that are treated (such as in an incinerator or wastewater treatment system), recycled and waste that is landfilled.

Massachusetts: Top Five Companies
The companies in Massachusetts with the greatest releases included various industries including plastics, fabricated metals, manufacturing, and chemicals. These 5 facilities produced 44% of the releases in the state of Massachusetts in 2021.

Each year, EPA makes publicly available TRI data reported by industries throughout the United States regarding chemical releases to air, water and land by power plants, manufacturers and other facilities which employ ten or more workers, and which exceed thresholds for chemicals. Reporting includes information on chemicals released at a company’s facility, as well as those transported to disposal facilities off site. TRI data do not reflect the relative toxicity of the chemicals emitted or potential exposure to people living in a community with reported releases.

Reporting under TRI does not indicate illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment. EPA works closely with states to provide regulatory oversight of facilities that generate pollution to the nation’s air, land, and water. Effective review and permitting programs work to ensure that the public and the environment are not subjected to unhealthful levels of pollution, even as agencies work to further reduce emissions of chemicals to the environment. Enforcement efforts by EPA and states ensure that facilities that violate their environmental permits are subject to penalties and corrective action. Yearly releases by individual facilities can vary due to factors such as power outages, production variability, lulls in the business cycle, etc., that do not reflect a facility’s pollution prevention program(s).

The top five chemicals released to surface water in Massachusetts during 2021:

The top five chemicals released to the air in Massachusetts during 2021:

Companies with the largest releases:

TRI data are submitted annually to EPA, states, and tribes by facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), facilities must report their toxic chemical releases for the prior year to EPA by July 1 of each year. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires facilities to submit information on pollution prevention and other waste management activities related to TRI chemicals.

The 2021 Analysis features updated visualizations and analytical tools to make data more useful and accessible to communities, including the option to view data by region and watershed. EPA has also updated demographic information in the “Where You Live” mapping tool and in the Chemical Profiles section. Readers can view facility locations with overlayed demographic data to identify potential exposure to TRI chemical releases in vulnerable communities. Community groups, policymakers, and other stakeholders can use this data, along with other environmental data, to better understand which communities may experience a disproportionate pollution burden and take action at the local level.

PFAS Reporting
For the second time, the TRI National Analysis includes reporting on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) following the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. For Reporting Year 2021, 176 PFAS were reportable to TRI. Facilities reported managing 1.3 million pounds of these chemicals as waste. This is an increase from the 800,000 pounds in 2020 and is largely due to reporting on one PFAS, perfluorooctyl iodide, which EPA began requiring facilities to report in 2021. Most of the facilities that manage PFAS operate in the chemical manufacturing and hazardous waste management sectors. The hazardous waste management sector accounted for roughly 80% of the 108,334 pounds of PFAS released into the environment, primarily to regulated landfills.

Last December, EPA proposed a rule that would improve reporting on PFAS to TRI by eliminating an exemption that allows facilities to avoid reporting information on PFAS when those chemicals are used in small, or de minimis, concentrations. Because PFAS are used at low concentrations in many products, this rule would ensure covered industry sectors and federal facilities that make or use TRI-listed PFAS will no longer be able to rely on the de minimis exemption to avoid disclosing their PFAS releases and other waste management quantities for these chemicals.

More information:

TRI Fact Sheet

TRI National Analysis

Facility efforts to reduce toxic chemical releases

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Originally Appeared Here

Funds from EPA’s New Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program were made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act

March 16, 2023

NEW YORK – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will award $3 million for New Jersey to plan innovative strategies to cut climate pollution and build clean energy economies across the state. Earlier this month, EPA announced the availability of the funds, which represent the first funding going to states, local governments, Tribes, and territories from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program created by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Later this year, EPA will launch a competition for $4.6 billion in funding to implement projects and initiatives included in the plans. New Jersey will be eligible to receive that implementation funding also because it has opted in to receive the planning grant.

New Jersey is among the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico that are eligible to receive $3 million each in EPA Climate Pollution Reduction planning grant funds. New Jersey will use the funds to augment planning already underway in the state in collaboration with partners, including municipalities statewide, and conduct meaningful engagement, including with overburdened communities throughout the state that are often the most impacted by climate change. New Jersey met its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction goal years ahead of schedule and has multiple efforts underway to mitigate the impacts of climate change. New Jersey will use these funds to support its ongoing effort to achieve a low carbon economy and reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. This includes expanding clean energy infrastructure and building resilient communities across the state.

“I want to congratulate the State of New Jersey for being among the first states to sign on to this substantial opportunity. New Jersey is a national climate leader and model for other states searching for ways to make the most out of the once-in-a-generation Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law resources,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “It is so important that states and local governments across the country take advantage of this planning funding, because behind it comes an even more substantial investment to do the work and governments that don’t opt in now can’t take advantage of that implementation funding later this year.”

“New Jersey thanks its congressional delegation and the EPA for once again prioritizing and supporting innovative climate action,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “Now more than ever, it’s clear that we must confront the urgency of the worsening climate crisis by leveraging every resource and tool at our disposal. Made possible by President Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act, these funds will provide support for updates to our foundational climate plans and allow us to further prioritize and implement our accelerated clean energy goals and ongoing efforts to build resilient communities across the state.”

“New Jersey is excited to advance its critical work of reducing and responding to climate change in partnership with our colleagues at USEPA whose support will bring more resources to our collective efforts,” said State Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. “This historic program will enable us to accelerate New Jersey’s Global Warming Response Act initiatives, which are centered on planning and implementing measures that reduce emissions of climate pollutants, improve air quality and public health, and better serve our communities.”

“The state of New Jersey, having met its greenhouse gas reduction goals set in 2020 ahead of schedule, will utilize these funds to craft modernized approaches that will continue reducing carbon emissions, harmful air pollution, and aid the state in achieving a low carbon economy for its citizens by 2050,” said Senator Bob Menendez. “The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program will provide New Jerseyans and their families the clean energy infrastructure, and the successful clean energy economy they deserve, especially those communities overburdened by the impacts of climate change.” 

“Rising sea levels, storm surge, and pollution highlight the urgency of tackling climate change and investing in protecting New Jersey communities, including communities of color that disproportionally face these environmental, health, and economic impacts,” said Senator Cory Booker. “This funding will help our state plan for a low-carbon future by building more clean energy infrastructure and more resilient communities.” 

“The Inflation Reduction Act is about creating an American Made economy, and today’s announcement shows these historic investments are coming to South Jersey,” said Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01). “South Jersey has proven time and again to be a leader in fostering a cleaner, more reliable economy for our families and workers. By supporting our state’s best and brightest, we will continue to harness the power of our offshore wind industry and create good-paying jobs that last. I will continue fighting to ensure South Jersey and its workers get their fair share of these historic investments.” 

“Our actions combating climate change today will define the health of our environment for our children and generations to follow. When I voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, I knew that projects like this would change people’s lives and would help clean our air,” said Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03). “We’re investing more now to combat climate change than we ever have and I look forward to seeing our air, our water, and our climate heal while we also transition to a greener, more sustainable economy and clean energy infrastructure.” 

“For years now, I’ve been working to protect our environment for future generations and to claw more federal tax dollars back to Jersey from Washington. This federal investment — secured through legislation I helped pass — will help protect our air and drinking water, combat pollution, fight climate change, and create jobs. The more federal tax dollars that we get back to Jersey, the less our communities have to charge in local taxes — and I’m all about lowering taxes,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). 

“The Inflation Reduction Act was a historic investment in our efforts to tackle the worsening climate crisis, and I’m glad New Jersey opted in to receive critical new funding to develop and expand comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction plans. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee last Congress, I fought hard for the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants so that states like New Jersey can continue to make progress toward their climate goals and transition to a clean economy. I’m pleased to see that progress take shape today and will keep working to ensure communities across New Jersey have the necessary resources to fight the climate crisis,” said Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06).  

“Today’s announcement of $3 million from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant is welcome news for our communities that have suffered from the impacts of greenhouse gases and air pollution for far too long,” said Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08). “These funds will support New Jersey’s plans to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. In order to advance environmental justice in communities that have historically had to shoulder the burden of pollution, we must continue working towards reducing greenhouse gases while paving the way for a clean energy future in New Jersey. This is yet another example of the Inflation Reduction Act delivering for our constituents and our environment.” 

“We included climate funding when we passed President Biden’s American Rescue Plan so our nation could fight climate change with every tool at our disposal. With these funds we’re announcing today, New Jersey will be able to continue leading the way on cutting pollution and building clean energy economies. Most importantly, these funds will help us secure a healthier, more prosperous future for our children and our grandchildren. The American Rescue Plan continues to deliver,” said Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09).

“I was proud to help New Jersey secure this $3 million award to develop plans to cut pollution and invest in clean energy across the state,” said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10).  “This funding and the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program are great examples of the Biden Administration’s leadership in the fight against climate change, especially in low income and underserved areas of the country. New Jersey achieved its latest greenhouse gas emissions goal ahead of schedule and this funding will help it improve the state’s clean energy infrastructure to meet its next goal by 2050.  Climate change is damaging the world’s environment already and we must do everything we can to reverse these effects before it’s too late.” 

“New Jersey families struggle every day with the effects of climate change, including flooding, heat waves, extreme storms, and rising energy costs,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11). “The Inflation Reduction Act, which I was proud to champion in Congress, is providing critical federal support to state and local governments in the fight against climate change without raising taxes. These federal grants provide New Jersey communities with the resources to grow clean energy jobs, build healthier neighborhoods, and reduce climate emissions.” 

“I’m proud to represent a state that takes the climate crisis seriously. New Jersey met its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction goal ahead of schedule, and thanks to this Climate Pollution Reduction funding, we are on track to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050,” said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). “New Jersey will put this investment to work for those who need it most. Low-income, Black, and brown communities disproportionately bear the burden of pollution and climate change. This EPA grant, which comes as part of Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act, recognizes the unique needs of overburdened communities and will give them the economic, health, and social support they have historically lacked.” 

President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act includes historic funding to combat climate change while creating good-paying jobs and advancing environmental justice. Today’s announcement builds on $550 million announced last week for EPA’s new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program and $100 million announced earlier this year for environmental justice grants to support underserved and overburdened communities. Additionally, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund will award nearly $27 billion to leverage private capital for clean energy and clean air investments across the country.

About the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program

The CPRG planning grants will support states, territories, Tribes, municipalities and air agencies, in the creation of comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize benefits, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities. These climate plans will include:

• Greenhouse gas emissions inventories;
• Emissions projections and reduction targets;
• Economic, health, and social benefits, including to low-income and disadvantaged communities;
• Plans to leverage other sources of federal funding including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act;
• Workforce needs to support decarbonization and a clean energy economy; and
• Future government staffing and budget needs.

In program guidance released earlier this month, EPA describes how the agency intends to award and manage CPRG funds to eligible entities, including states, metropolitan areas, Tribes, and territories.

Next Steps

This funding for climate planning will be followed later this year by a national grant competition for $4.6 billion in implementation grant funding that will support the expeditious implementation of investment-ready policies created by the CPRG planning grants, programs, and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near term. Through the CPRG program, EPA will support the development and deployment of technologies and solutions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution, as well as transition America to a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans.

By summer 2023, EPA Regional Offices expect to award and administer the funding agreements once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.

More information on the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

CPRG Planning Grant Program Guidances

Sign up for notifications about the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants

More information about New Jersey’s Global Warming Response Act, and the state’s pathways for reducing emissions of climate pollutants.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter and visit our Facebook page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

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Originally Appeared Here

March 16, 2023

BOSTON (March 16, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2021 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, which shows that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from facilities covered by the program remained below pre-pandemic levels and releases in 2021 are 10% lower than 2012 releases, even with an 8% increase from 2020 to 2021. Additionally, in 2021, facilities managed 89% of their TRI chemical waste through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery and treatment, while reporting that they released 11% of their TRI chemical waste into the environment.

In New Hampshire, the reporting data show that overall releases of toxic pollutants to the air, land and water decreased since the previous reporting year (2020). Additionally, over the last 10 years, New Hampshire has reduced air emissions 76%, due to the significant reductions of certain TRI chemicals at two manufacturing facilities and significant reductions from power plants.

TRI tracks the management of certain toxic chemicals that may pose a threat to human health and the environment. U.S. facilities in different industry sectors must report annually how much of each chemical is released to the environment and/or managed through recycling, energy recovery and treatment. A “release” of a chemical means that it is emitted to the air, water or placed in some type of land disposal.

“TRI reporting is a key part of EPA’s efforts to provide greater access to vital environmental information to Americans about their neighborhoods,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “Making this information publicly available also incentivizes companies to reduce pollution and gives communities tools to act locally – which is particularly important for underserved communities that have historically been disproportionately impacted by pollution.”

New Hampshire: Released on and offsite
During 2021, the latest year for which data is available, 123 facilities reported approximately 144,800 pounds were released onsite to the air, water, and land, compared to 100,000 pounds released in 2020 (an increase of 44,800 pounds). Note that 698,800 pounds were released ten years ago in 2012. Approximately 99,000 pounds were released to the air and, 274 pounds were released to surface water. The major pollutants released to the air were sulfuric acid at 25% and toluene at 23% of all air releases in the state. The major pollutant released to the water, although small was ammonia (at 72% of all releases to water).

New Hampshire: Total Production Related Waste
During 2021, 123 facilities reported approximately 22.3 million pounds of total production related waste was managed compared to 117 facilities and 21.7 million pounds managed in 2020 (an increase of 0.6 million pounds). Total production related waste includes chemicals released directly to the environment and wastes that are treated (such as in an incinerator or wastewater treatment system), recycled and waste that is landfilled.

New Hampshire: Top Five Companies
The companies in New Hampshire with the greatest releases included various industries including fabricated metals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electric utilities and computer and electronics. These 5 facilities produced 60% of the releases in the state of New Hampshire in 2021. Over the last ten years, total releases decreased 51% from 825,600 pounds in 2012 to 407,700 pounds in 2021.

Each year, EPA makes publicly available TRI data reported by industries throughout the United States regarding chemical releases to air, water and land by power plants, manufacturers and other facilities which employ ten or more workers, and which exceed thresholds for chemicals. Reporting includes information on chemicals released at a company’s facility, as well as those transported to disposal facilities off site. TRI data do not reflect the relative toxicity of the chemicals emitted or potential exposure to people living in a community with reported releases.

Reporting under TRI does not indicate illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment. EPA works closely with states to provide regulatory oversight of facilities that generate pollution to the nation’s air, land, and water. Effective review and permitting programs work to ensure that the public and the environment are not subjected to unhealthful levels of pollution, even as agencies work to further reduce emissions of chemicals to the environment. Enforcement efforts by EPA and states ensure that facilities that violate their environmental permits are subject to penalties and corrective action. Yearly releases by individual facilities can vary due to factors such as power outages, production variability, lulls in the business cycle, etc., that do not reflect a facility’s pollution prevention program(s).

The top five chemicals released to surface water in New Hampshire during 2021:

The top five chemicals released to the air in New Hampshire during 2020:

Companies with the largest releases:

TRI data are submitted annually to EPA, states, and tribes by facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), facilities must report their toxic chemical releases for the prior year to EPA by July 1 of each year. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires facilities to submit information on pollution prevention and other waste management activities related to TRI chemicals.

The 2021 Analysis features updated visualizations and analytical tools to make data more useful and accessible to communities, including the option to view data by region and watershed. EPA has also updated demographic information in the “Where You Live” mapping tool and in the Chemical Profiles section. Readers can view facility locations with overlayed demographic data to identify potential exposure to TRI chemical releases in vulnerable communities. Community groups, policymakers, and other stakeholders can use this data, along with other environmental data, to better understand which communities may experience a disproportionate pollution burden and take action at the local level.

PFAS Reporting
For the second time, the TRI National Analysis includes reporting on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) following the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. For Reporting Year 2021, 176 PFAS were reportable to TRI. Facilities reported managing 1.3 million pounds of these chemicals as waste. This is an increase from the 800,000 pounds in 2020 and is largely due to reporting on one PFAS, perfluorooctyl iodide, which EPA began requiring facilities to report in 2021. Most of the facilities that manage PFAS operate in the chemical manufacturing and hazardous waste management sectors. The hazardous waste management sector accounted for roughly 80% of the 108,334 pounds of PFAS released into the environment, primarily to regulated landfills.

Last December, EPA proposed a rule that would improve reporting on PFAS to TRI by eliminating an exemption that allows facilities to avoid reporting information on PFAS when those chemicals are used in small, or de minimis, concentrations. Because PFAS are used at low concentrations in many products, this rule would ensure covered industry sectors and federal facilities that make or use TRI-listed PFAS will no longer be able to rely on the de minimis exemption to avoid disclosing their PFAS releases and other waste management quantities for these chemicals.

More information:

TRI Fact Sheet

TRI National Analysis

Facility efforts to reduce toxic chemical releases

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Originally Appeared Here

March 16, 2023

BOSTON (March 16, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2021 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, which shows that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from facilities covered by the program remained below pre-pandemic levels and releases in 2021 are 10% lower than 2012 releases, even with an 8% increase from 2020 to 2021. Additionally, in 2021, facilities managed 89% of their TRI chemical waste through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery and treatment, while reporting that they released 11% of their TRI chemical waste into the environment.

In Connecticut, the reporting data show that overall releases of pollutants to the environment decreased from the previous reporting year (2020). Additionally, in the last 10 years, air emissions in Connecticut have been reduced 37%, with several companies reducing or eliminating certain chemicals emitted to the air.

TRI tracks the management of certain toxic chemicals that may pose a threat to human health and the environment. U.S. facilities in different industry sectors must report annually how much of each chemical is released to the environment and/or managed through recycling, energy recovery and treatment. A “release” of a chemical means that it is emitted to the air, water or placed in some type of land disposal.

“TRI reporting is a key part of EPA’s efforts to provide greater access to vital environmental information to Americans about their neighborhoods,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “Making this information publicly available also incentivizes companies to reduce pollution and gives communities tools to act locally – which is particularly important for underserved communities that have historically been disproportionately impacted by pollution.”

Connecticut: Released on and offsite
During 2021, 260 facilities reported approximately 1.6 million pounds were released onsite to the air, water, and land (such as landfills), compared to 1.8 million pounds released in 2020 (a decrease of 0.2 million pounds). Approximately 565,000 pounds were released to the air and18,700 pounds were released to surface water. The major pollutants released to the air were ammonia at 20% and methanol with 12% of all air releases in the state. The major pollutant released to the water, although small was nitrate compounds (at 75% of all releases to water).

Connecticut: Total Production Related Waste
During 2021, 260 facilities reported approximately 134.2 million pounds of total production related waste was managed compared to 365 facilities and 122 million pounds managed in 2020 (an increase of 12 million pounds). Total production related waste includes chemicals released directly to the environment and wastes that are treated (such as in an incinerator or wastewater treatment system), recycled and waste that is landfilled.

Connecticut: Top Five Companies
The companies in Connecticut with the greatest releases included fabricated metals, hazardous waste treatment, chemicals, wood treatment and transportation equipment. These 5 facilities produced 37% of the releases in the state of Connecticut in 2021. In the last ten years, total releases increased 34% from 2.2 million pounds in 2012 to 3.0 million pounds in 2020.

Each year, EPA makes publicly available TRI data reported by industries throughout the United States regarding chemical releases to air, water and land by power plants, manufacturers and other facilities which employ ten or more workers, and which exceed thresholds for chemicals. Reporting includes information on chemicals released at a company’s facility, as well as those transported to disposal facilities off site. TRI data do not reflect the relative toxicity of the chemicals emitted or potential exposure to people living in a community with reported releases.

Reporting under TRI does not indicate illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment. EPA works closely with states to provide regulatory oversight of facilities that generate pollution to the nation’s air, land and water. Effective review and permitting programs work to ensure that the public and the environment are not subjected to unhealthful levels of pollution, even as agencies work to further reduce emissions of chemicals to the environment. Enforcement efforts by EPA and states ensure that facilities that violate their environmental permits are subject to penalties and corrective action. Yearly releases by individual facilities can vary due to factors such as power outages, production variability, lulls in the business cycle, etc., that do not reflect a facility’s pollution prevention program(s).

The top five chemicals released to surface water in Connecticut during 2021 were:

The top five chemicals released to the air in Connecticut during 2021 were:

Companies with the largest releases:

TRI data are submitted annually to EPA, states, and tribes by facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), facilities must report their toxic chemical releases for the prior year to EPA by July 1 of each year. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires facilities to submit information on pollution prevention and other waste management activities related to TRI chemicals.

The 2021 Analysis features updated visualizations and analytical tools to make data more useful and accessible to communities, including the option to view data by region and watershed. EPA has also updated demographic information in the “Where You Live” mapping tool and in the Chemical Profiles section. Readers can view facility locations with overlayed demographic data to identify potential exposure to TRI chemical releases in vulnerable communities. Community groups, policymakers, and other stakeholders can use this data, along with other environmental data, to better understand which communities may experience a disproportionate pollution burden and take action at the local level.

PFAS Reporting
For the second time, the TRI National Analysis includes reporting on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) following the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. For Reporting Year 2021, 176 PFAS were reportable to TRI. Facilities reported managing 1.3 million pounds of these chemicals as waste. This is an increase from the 800,000 pounds in 2020 and is largely due to reporting on one PFAS, perfluorooctyl iodide, which EPA began requiring facilities to report in 2021. Most of the facilities that manage PFAS operate in the chemical manufacturing and hazardous waste management sectors. The hazardous waste management sector accounted for roughly 80% of the 108,334 pounds of PFAS released into the environment, primarily to regulated landfills.

Last December, EPA proposed a rule that would improve reporting on PFAS to TRI by eliminating an exemption that allows facilities to avoid reporting information on PFAS when those chemicals are used in small, or de minimis, concentrations. Because PFAS are used at low concentrations in many products, this rule would ensure covered industry sectors and federal facilities that make or use TRI-listed PFAS will no longer be able to rely on the de minimis exemption to avoid disclosing their PFAS releases and other waste management quantities for these chemicals.

More information:

TRI Fact Sheet

TRI National Analysis

Facility efforts to reduce toxic chemical releases

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Originally Appeared Here

March 16, 2023

BOSTON (March 16, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2021 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, which shows that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from facilities covered by the program remained below pre-pandemic levels and releases in 2021 are 10% lower than 2012 releases, even with an 8% increase from 2020 to 2021. Additionally, in 2021, facilities managed 89% of their TRI chemical waste through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery and treatment, while reporting that they released 11% of their TRI chemical waste into the environment.

In Maine, the reporting data show that overall releases of pollutants to the environment decreased since the previous reporting year (2020). Additionally, over the last 10 years, Maine has reduced air emissions 34%, due to paper mill air emission reductions and reduced production from paper mills.

TRI tracks the management of certain toxic chemicals that may pose a threat to human health and the environment. U.S. facilities in different industry sectors must report annually how much of each chemical is released to the environment and/or managed through recycling, energy recovery and treatment. A “release” of a chemical means that it is emitted to the air, water or placed in some type of land disposal.

“TRI reporting is a key part of EPA’s efforts to provide greater access to vital environmental information to Americans about their neighborhoods,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “Making this information publicly available also incentivizes companies to reduce pollution and gives communities tools to act locally – which is particularly important for underserved communities that have historically been disproportionately impacted by pollution.”

Maine: Released on and offsite
During 2021, the latest year for which data is available, 79 facilities reported approximately 7.4 million pounds were released onsite to the air, water and land (such as landfills), compared to 5.9 million pounds released in 2020 (an increase of 1.5 million pounds). Approximately 2.9 million pounds were released to the air and 2.2 million pounds were released to surface water. The major pollutants released to the air were hydrogen sulfide at 31% and ammonia with 27% of all air releases in the state. The major pollutant released to the water was nitrate compounds (at 79% of all releases to water) which can promote algal growth in surface waters. From 2012, on-site and off-site releases decreased from 12 million pounds in 2012 to 7.4 million pounds in 2021.

Maine: Total Production Related Waste
During 2021, 79 facilities reported approximately 51.1 million pounds of total production related waste was managed compared to 79 facilities and 53.8 million pounds managed in 2020 (a decrease of 2.7 million pounds). Total production related waste includes chemicals released directly to the environment and wastes that are treated (such as in an incinerator or wastewater treatment system), recycled and waste that is landfilled.

Maine: Top Five Companies
The companies in Maine with the greatest releases included four paper mills and one food processor, and while the order of top the top five releases changed over the last ten years, they remail the same five companies. These 5 facilities produce d 92% of the releases in the state of Maine.

Each year, EPA makes publicly available TRI data reported by industries throughout the United States regarding chemical releases to air, water and land by power plants, manufacturers and other facilities which employ ten or more workers, and which exceed thresholds for chemicals. Reporting includes information on chemicals released at a company’s facility, as well as those transported to disposal facilities off site. TRI data do not reflect the relative toxicity of the chemicals emitted or potential exposure to people living in a community with reported releases.

Reporting under TRI does not indicate illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment. EPA works closely with states to provide regulatory oversight of facilities that generate pollution to the nation’s air, land and water. Effective review and permitting programs work to ensure that the public and the environment are not subjected to unhealthful levels of pollution, even as agencies work to further reduce emissions of chemicals to the environment. Enforcement efforts by EPA and states ensure that facilities that violate their environmental permits are subject to penalties and corrective action. Yearly releases by individual facilities can vary due to factors such as power outages, production variability, lulls in the business cycle, etc., that do not reflect a facility’s pollution prevention program(s).

The top five chemicals released to surface water in Maine during 2021:

The top five chemicals released to the air in Maine during 2021:

Companies with the largest releases:

TRI data are submitted annually to EPA, states, and tribes by facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), facilities must report their toxic chemical releases for the prior year to EPA by July 1 of each year. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires facilities to submit information on pollution prevention and other waste management activities related to TRI chemicals.

The 2021 Analysis features updated visualizations and analytical tools to make data more useful and accessible to communities, including the option to view data by region and watershed. EPA has also updated demographic information in the “Where You Live” mapping tool and in the Chemical Profiles section. Readers can view facility locations with overlayed demographic data to identify potential exposure to TRI chemical releases in vulnerable communities. Community groups, policymakers, and other stakeholders can use this data, along with other environmental data, to better understand which communities may experience a disproportionate pollution burden and take action at the local level.

PFAS Reporting
For the second time, the TRI National Analysis includes reporting on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) following the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. For Reporting Year 2021, 176 PFAS were reportable to TRI. Facilities reported managing 1.3 million pounds of these chemicals as waste. This is an increase from the 800,000 pounds in 2020 and is largely due to reporting on one PFAS, perfluorooctyl iodide, which EPA began requiring facilities to report in 2021. Most of the facilities that manage PFAS operate in the chemical manufacturing and hazardous waste management sectors. The hazardous waste management sector accounted for roughly 80% of the 108,334 pounds of PFAS released into the environment, primarily to regulated landfills.

Last December, EPA proposed a rule that would improve reporting on PFAS to TRI by eliminating an exemption that allows facilities to avoid reporting information on PFAS when those chemicals are used in small, or de minimis, concentrations. Because PFAS are used at low concentrations in many products, this rule would ensure covered industry sectors and federal facilities that make or use TRI-listed PFAS will no longer be able to rely on the de minimis exemption to avoid disclosing their PFAS releases and other waste management quantities for these chemicals.

More information:

TRI Fact Sheet

TRI National Analysis

Facility efforts to reduce toxic chemical releases

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Originally Appeared Here

March 15, 2023

PHILADELPHIA (March 15, 2023) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host a community meeting for residents of Salisbury, Maryland to share information about health risks from the chemical, ethylene oxide or EtO. The community meeting will take place in the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland in Salisbury on March 23 at 6 p.m. During the meeting, EPA staff will discuss revised risk information related to the Trinity Sterile, Inc. commercial sterilizer facility, located at 201 Kiley Drive in Salisbury.

In the coming weeks, EPA expects to propose an air pollution regulation to protect public health by addressing EtO emissions at commercial sterilizers. EPA is sharing EtO emissions data and information with the public to solicit feedback.  The agency aims to improve public understanding of the risk; help states, Tribes, communities, and the industry reduce risk from EtO in the near-term; and hear input as the agency continues to develop regulations to reduce air pollution from commercial sterilizers.

EPA will be joined by federal and state environmental and health officials to address questions, comments, and concerns from the public, including Maryland’s Department of the Environment staff who will discuss work they are doing in partnership with Trinity Sterile to reduce emissions and risk.

Location:  Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland

                  31901 Tri-County Way, Suite 201

                  Salisbury, Maryland 21804

Time:        6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

To register for this virtual meeting, visit:

https://www.epa.gov/hazardous-air-pollutants-ethylene-oxide/forms/salisbury-maryland-trinity-sterile-inc

For more information about the EPA’s efforts to address ethylene oxide.

To contact us, go to:  [email protected]

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Originally Appeared Here