National report released on 2008's toxic releases

Indiana facilities report reduced releases to air and water

Today, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) released its Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) report for 2008. TRI is a federal program that requires certain companies to report annual releases and transfers of regulated chemicals to U.S. EPA, and this information is made available to the public.

A primary purpose of the TRI program is providing the public with information about the chemicals being used by local facilities, the potential for chemical releases from those activities, and chemical wastes that must be managed. The TRI database contains detailed information on nearly 650 chemicals and chemical categories that over 22,000 industrial and other facilities across the country manage through disposal or other releases, recycling, energy recovery or treatment.

Not all Indiana businesses are required to submit reports under TRI. Facilities must either manufacture or process more than 25,000 lbs of chemical or otherwise use more than 10,000 lbs during the year. The chemicals tracked and reported under the TRI program include permitted releases in wastewater discharges, air emissions and hazardous waste disposal, as well as accidental releases to the environment. Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) staff members use TRI data to watch for trends in chemical usage and identify opportunities for reductions in certain processes or manufacturing sectors.

The TRI report shows that onsite toxic releases in Indiana decreased by ten percent, or 13 million pounds. In comparison with other states, Indiana reports the greatest amount of toxic chemicals released to surface water. However, the toxic releases to water in Indiana decreased for the second year in a row, by 6.7 million pounds, in 2008. Toxic releases to the air have also decreased for the second year in a row, by 8.3 million pounds, while releases to land increased by 2.3 million pounds.

Manufacturers account for approximately 50 percent of the total toxic releases in Indiana for 2008. These releases decreased by 10 percent, or 10.9 million pounds, compared with the 2007 TRI report. Electric generating facilities account for 47 percent of the total toxic releases in Indiana for 2008 and reduced their onsite releases by seven percent, or four million pounds, compared with 2007.

Releases of carcinogens and PBTs (persistent bioaccumulative toxics) decreased by seven percent and mercury releases decreased by one percent. This is the fifth year in a row that Indiana has seen a reduction in carcinogen releases.

Based on an analysis of the Indiana Gross Domestic Product in comparison with TRI data, Indiana manufacturers are trending toward an overall reduction in toxic chemical releases compared with the amount of materials they produce. Since 2006, Indiana manufacturers have reduced the amount of pollution per cost of part by about 20 percent.

"Businesses often save money by increasing their efficiency in the management of the chemicals they use in manufacturing processes or by switching to less toxic alternatives. This is a tremendous benefit for sustainable business in Indiana, as well as for environmental protection," explained Thomas Easterly, IDEM commissioner. "We are working hard to increase participation in voluntary pollution prevention programs such as the Environmental Stewardship Program, the CLEAN Community Challenge and Partners for Pollution Prevention, which enable businesses to assess areas for improvement, implement effective changes, and measure and share their results. We look forward to working further with Indiana facilities and communities in 2010, through these programs, as well as the Pollution Prevention grants program that is focusing on toxics reduction efforts."

TRI data does not contain data from non-industrial activities that contribute to toxic chemicals in our environment. The TRI report doesn't contain information on vehicle emissions, for example, which are a significant source of toluene, xylene and formaldehyde released to our air. Comparing Indiana's 2008 TRI data and the 2008 National Emissions Inventory, releases of toluene and xylene from mobile sources (vehicles) were 13 times greater than releases reported by industrial sources and releases of formaldehyde from mobile sources were 37 times greater than releases reported by industrial sources.

Since non-industrial sources account for such a large percent of toxic releases, IDEM encourages Hoosiers to reduce activities that may release toxics. Citizens are encouraged to avoid open burning, reduce motor vehicle travel, eliminate unnecessary vehicle idling and avoid over-using fertilizers on lawns and gardens.

TRI is not the sole tool used to assess environmental impacts. There are a number of programs in place to control pollutants and assess the quality of air, land and water. In addition to issuing up to date permits and overseeing compliance and reporting at regulated facilities, IDEM works on a continual basis to collect and analyze air samples, water samples and fish-tissue samples, and makes this information available to the public. Where air quality or water quality do not meet national standards, IDEM works with businesses and communities to identify and resolve problems. Additional reports, data and information on water monitoring programs is available on the IDEM Web site at www.idem.IN.gov/4114.htm. Air monitoring information is provided at www.idem.IN.gov/4116.htm.  

TRI data for Indiana and all states can be found on U.S. EPA's TRI Explorer at www.epa.gov/triexplorer. IDEM provides information about the TRI, data and reporting requirements on its Web site at www.idem.IN.gov/4586.htm. Businesses may request confidential assistance from a pollution prevention engineer by visiting IDEM's Web site at www.idem.IN.gov/5298.htm or calling (800) 988-7901.