US EPA 2009 TRI Preliminary Dataset

On July 28, 2010 US EPA published the 2009 TRI dataset. EPA is making the Toxic Release Inventory data available within weeks of the reporting deadline through its web site and in the popular tools, TRI Explorer and Envirofacts. The database contains environmental release and transfer data on nearly 650 chemicals and chemical categories reported to EPA by more than 21,000 industrial and other facilities. 

 

The preliminary dataset includes more than 80 percent of the data expected to be reported for 2009. Paper submissions, late submissions and electronic submission with problems are not included in this data release. 

 

The preliminary dataset allows communities to find out about releases and transfers of chemicals at the local level. Examples of industries that report to TRI include manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste treatment facilities among others. 

 

Currently only facility reports are available for the 2009 dataset in TRI Explorer. TRI Explorer allows the user to access data by state and county. Once the county data is displayed, individual facilities are identified.   If a facility report has not been added for 2009 yet, the 2008 data is displayed.   2008 data is also displayed for chemicals not reported by a facility in 2009. All 2008 data is identified by a smaller font and gray highlight.

 

TRI Explorer provides the following disclaimers: Summing of results may produce incorrect totals. The report should not be used without understanding the limitations of the dataset.   The absence of current year data is not necessarily an indication the facility has not submitted a current report or is out of compliance. 

 

US EPA fails to note that many facilities may not have reported specific chemicals or a site report due the downturn in the economy in 2009. 

 

The dataset will be updated in August and again in September. 

 

This article was excerpted from publically available information, and was authored by Joyce Gentry, Acacia Environmental Group LLC. For more information on the author see here.