Toxic chemical releases have declined 21% in 10 years according to
new TRI data
Today, the U.S. EPA released its 2022 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
National Analysis showing that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from
facilities covered by the program were 21% lower in 2022 compared to 2013. This
includes a 26% decrease in air releases. During this 10-year period, releases
from manufacturing facilities decreased by 9% while the value added to the U.S.
economy from manufacturing increased by 14%. While overall releases increased by
1% from 2021 to 2022, there was a 6.5% increase in the number of pollution
prevention activities reported under the TRI Program compared to 2021.
The 2022 TRI National Analysis summarizes environmental releases of
TRI chemicals, as well as how facilities managed their waste. In 2022,
facilities reported managing 88.5% of their TRI chemical waste through preferred
practices such as recycling, energy recovery and treatment, while releasing
11.5% of their TRI chemical waste into the environment.
Communities have a right to know how facilities in their backyards
might be exposing them to toxic chemicals, "said Assistant Administrator
for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal
Freedhoff. " We are committed to sharing the information we collect from
facilities openly and clearly, allowing people to find new ways to use this data
to the benefit of us all.
EPA, states and Tribes receive TRI data from facilities in sectors
such as manufacturing, mining, hazardous waste management and electric
utilities. More than 21,000 facilities submitted reports on 522 of the 827
chemicals and chemical categories for which TRI reporting is required. The
remaining 305 chemicals either were not manufactured, processed or used by
facilities required to report to TRI or were not manufactured, processed or used
in amounts large enough to trigger reporting.
The 2022 TRI National Analysis features visualizations and analytical
tools to make data more useful and accessible to communities. Readers can view
data by state, Tribe, metropolitan area, EPA region and watershed using the " Where
You Live" mapping tool. This tool also allows readers to view facility
locations overlayed with demographic data to identify potential exposure to TRI
chemical releases in communities, including overburdened communities. Community
groups, policymakers and other stakeholders can use this information, along with
other environmental data, to better understand which communities may be
experiencing a disproportionate pollution burden and take action at the local
level.
Additionally, the 2022 TRI National Analysis highlights trends and
changes in waste management practices for specific sectors and chemicals in the
Sector Profile and Chemical Profile sections. This year, the 2022 TRI National
Analysis highlights the primary metals manufacturing sector alongside the
standard profiles for electric utilities, chemical manufacturing and metal
mining.
EPA is holding a public webinar on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 2 p.m.
ET to provide an overview of the 2022 TRI National Analysis.
PFAS Reporting
The TRI National Analysis includes reporting on per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as required by the 2020 National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA). A provision of the NDAA outlines criteria for
additional PFAS to be automatically added for TRI reporting. For reporting year
2022, four PFAS met the criteria and were added to the reporting requirements
for a total of 180 PFAS tracked by the TRI program. During 2022, 50 facilities
managed 1.2 million pounds of these chemicals as waste, which represents an 8%
decrease compared to 2021.
For reporting year 2024, TRI will no longer have a reporting
exemption for facilities that use PFAS in small, or de minimis,
concentrations as a result of EPA's recently published final
rule. This rule will improve the quality and quantity of publicly available
data on PFAS, as many materials used at facilities contain PFAS in low
concentrations. Facilities that make or use these products will no longer be
able to rely on the de minimis exemption to avoid their responsibility
to disclose PFAS releases and other waste management of these chemicals.
Pollution Prevention
Facilities implemented 3,589 total pollution prevention activities in
2022 with the most common being process and equipment modifications, followed by
changes to operating practices and training. Through both existing programs and
the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA offers grant
opportunities to state and Tribal technical assistance providers to help
prevent pollution.
Industry professionals can view TRI reporting on pollution
prevention to learn about best practices implemented at other
facilities.
Key Expansions to TRI Reporting
Important expansions to TRI reporting went into effect for reporting
year 2022. Some contract sterilization facilities, which are contracted to
sterilize products or equipment for hospitals and other facilities, were required to report to TRI for the
first time on their management of ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol as waste.
These facilities managed 6.3 million pounds of ethylene oxide waste, nearly all
of which was treated.
Reporting year 2022 was also the first year of expanded
reporting for the natural gas processing sector. The 305 facilities in this
sector that reported to TRI managed 115 million pounds of TRI chemicals in waste
and disposed of 81% of TRI chemicals in underground injection
wells. |
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