Environmental Groups Support Release of Pollution Data

May 15, 2000
Environmental groups are pleased with EPA' s decision to release\r\nits annual Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data from 1998 to the\r\npublic.

Environmental groups are pleased with EPA'' s decision to release its annual Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data from 1998 to the public.

For the first time, the inventory covers toxic pollution released from mines and utilities, and the quantities dumped into hazardous waste landfills.

"Disclosing these emissions is an important citizens'' victory that will help people organize to clean-up and prevent toxic pollution," said Paul Orum, director of the Working Group for Community Right-to-Know.

For the first 10 years, the inventory covered only manufacturing industries. The data released last week by EPA covers seven additional industries, including metal mines, toxic waste disposal and utilities.

These new industries report large amounts of toxic pollution, making gaps in regulatory coverage more apparent, according to the Working Group on Community Right-to-Know.

Several public interest leaders in the environmental field have also commented on the data released.

"The new TRI data show that hardrock mining creates huge amounts of toxic pollution. Congress should end the mining industry''s current exemption from toxic waste laws, and reject attempts to legally allow more dumping of toxic mine waste," said Alan Septoff of the Mineral Policy Center.

For grassroots environmental groups across the country, expanding the TRI to include more industries is a start, but to protect communities these groups believe the use of toxic chemicals should be reduced.

"Citizens not only want to know how much pollution is being released into their communities, they want facilities to prevent releases in the first place," said Lois Gibbs of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice.

Some groups suggest that industries should track and report toxic chemical uses, not just releases, in order to promote pollution prevention.

"States that collect chemical use information are reducing production waste, contrary to the national trend," said Becky US P.I.R.G. "President Clinton should require federal facilities to track and report toxic chemical use. This would make the federal government a pollution prevention leader and leave a lasting right-to-know legacy."

The Working Group for Community Right-to-Know is pushing for a proposal that would protect the public''s right-to-know about toxic pollution.

"We are very concerned about any proposal from the administration that weakens the public right-to-know," said Lisa Mosca of the Working Group. "We should close current loopholes, not create new ones."

The Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act was passed in 1986 as part of Superfund, the nation''s toxic dumpsite cleanup law.

The data released last week by EPA covers the 1998 reporting year.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

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Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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