Latest TRI Data Shows Drop in Chemical Releases to Air and Water in Alaska
March 05, 2019
The release of TRI chemicals to air and water in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are declining, both year to year and over a decade according to the report. Releases to air have declined by 4 percent since 2016 and by 30 percent since 2007, while water releases are down 2 percent since 2016 and 12 percent since 2007. Overall, according to the EPA, total reported releases have risen in Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and 271 Native Tribes) for 2017, mostly due to on-site land disposal at metal mining facilities. Over the past 11 years, releases of TRI chemicals by metal mining facilities have fluctuated. Notably, total releases reported by the Red Dog Mine, in remote Northwestern Alaska, increased by 43 percent from 2016 to 2017, and the mine is responsible for 86 percent of all release quantities of TRI chemicals reported from Region 10 for 2017. Red Dog Mine’s on-site land disposal, including disposal of TRI chemicals in waste rock, accounted for 99.979 percent of its total TRI releases for 2017. The Red Dog mine maintains multiple permits with controls designed to minimize exposure to TRI chemicals following on-site land disposal. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conversation commented on today’s release of the annual Toxics Release Inventory saying it provides an inaccurate picture of the chemical releases into Alaska’s environment. Quoting a news release from the Alaska DEC, substances are placed on the TRI list based on their potential to cause adverse effects to human health or the environment. However, it is important to note, according to the Alaska DEC, that the TRI data alone do not reflect actual exposures or risk posed by releases, since almost all of the releases are regulated under permit conditions designed to limit human and environmental exposure. “Nearly all of the reported releases in Alaska consist of rock and low-grade mineral ore that are disposed of in state-permitted and monitored disposal sites, engineered to prevent harm to the environment and human health,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Jason Brune. “Big mines like Red Dog move a significant amount of material as part of their daily operations, but such actions do not adversely impact human health and the environment. Characterizing such releases as toxic is disingenuous at best.” Since 1998, when metal mining was added to the TRI, over 99 percent of Alaska’s reported releases have consisted of naturally occurring trace minerals found in rock and low-grade mineral ore excavated from mine sites. Much of the reportable mineral content is stable and non-reactive or safely bound in the host rock. For releases from all industries other than those characterized from the movement of rock and low-grade mineral ore in metal mining, Alaska ranks amongst the lowest in the nation, according to the Alaska DEC. The EPA says this year’s National Analysis increases the transparency of the TRI database. New features include a new graphic on innovative use of green chemistry by industry, profiles of the paints and coatings manufacturing and other sectors, and an expanded illustration of the role of TRI data in chemical risk evaluations. The Analysis showcases industry practices to manage waste and reduce pollution at nearly 22,000 facilities that submitted TRI data for calendar year 2017. EPA encouraged facilities to learn from their counterparts’ best practices and adopt additional methods for reducing pollution. EPA held virtual press conferences in all 10 EPA Regions to highlight regional trends nationwide and engage with local communities. “By communicating TRI data in a clear and consistent manner, EPA is utilizing the power of transparency to notify the public of important public health information and simultaneously encourage industry to improve environmental outcomes,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “The latest TRI analysis confirms that under President Trump the U.S. continues to improve its air quality while growing its economy.” “The Toxic Release Inventory gives communities valuable data they can use,” said EPA Regional Administrator Chris Hladick. “By reviewing results statewide and across the nation, residents can get a clearer picture of what’s being released, where it’s being released and at what volume. In the case of TRI reporting, knowledge is power,” said EPA Regional Administrator Chris Hladick. “This year’s TRI results give proof that economic growth and an improved environment can go hand in hand. For over 30 years, TRI has given the public the right to know about chemical releases in their neighborhoods and showed what companies are doing to reduce and prevent those releases. That commitment continues. Our focus today is making the TRI website more accessible, interactive and engaging to the public,” said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Assistant Administrator Alexandra Dapolito Dunn. 2017 Nationwide Highlights
Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), covered facilities must report their annual releases of TRI chemicals for the prior calendar year to EPA by July 1. EPA, states and tribes receive TRI data from facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, mining, electric utilities and commercial hazardous waste management. The Pollution Prevention Act also requires facilities to submit information on pollution prevention and other waste management activities of TRI chemicals.
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Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews
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