1 / 16

Update on the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program

Update on the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program February 2005 TRI National Meeting February 8-10, 2005 Included EPA, states, industry, and environmental groups Hosted by Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) State Priorities (as Reported by ECOS) Funding Partnerships Oversight

jaden
Download Presentation

Update on the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Update on the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program February 2005

  2. TRI National Meeting • February 8-10, 2005 • Included EPA, states, industry, and environmental groups • Hosted by Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)

  3. State Priorities (as Reported by ECOS) • Funding • Partnerships • Oversight • Information Management • Previous weakening of Environmental Regulations

  4. TRI Data Use • EPA emphasis on collection of quality data • EPA not responsible for data use • OPPTS Risk Screening for Environmental Indicators (RSEI) • Air and water risk screening based onlbs. of TRI substances • Regional Offices • Enforcement targeting • Waste minimization programs

  5. TRI Data Use (Con’t) • Alarming use of data by RCRA office • Regulatory Development/ Options Prioritization • ID potential NPEP (National Partnership for Environmental Priorities) partners • Identify P2/Waste Min. Opportunities • Track GPRA progress • Use of TRI data is limited because it does not contain life-cycle data

  6. TRI Data Quality/ Consistency • Recent addendum/corrections to ’98 Q&A • Monthly conference calls between regions to informally resolve differing interpretations • Discussion/request of FACA on guidance • Particular interest in Section (VIII) definitions

  7. TRI Reports: eFDR • Discussion of pros/cons • Why can’t EPA make available in database form? • Environmental groups planning to “vacuum up” eFDR to make available in database form

  8. TRI in Context • Background • Chemicals in the Economy • TRI History • TRI v. Hazards • Macro Trends • Overall releases decreasing over time • What is causing this? • Economic performance (shrinking economy/ overseas production) • P2/ Waste minimization/Raw material substitution • Good housekeeping • Non-TRI Releases and Transfers • Chemicals, sectors, sources not covered by TRI • Facilities below TRI reporting thresholds • Trends in Waste Management

  9. TRI in Context (Con’t) • Sector Oriented View of TRI Reporting/Releases • Extractive • Manufacturing • Utilities and Supporting Industries • Waste Disposal • Geographic Distribution • TRI Chemicals of Interest • Trends in Releases • Factors Contributing to Trends • EPA Activities • Likely Chemicals Profiled: • Lead • Dioxins • Mercury • TCE • Toluene

  10. EPA’s TRI Modernization Goals • Raise data quality • Data registries • Online real-time algorithms • Control cost of data input and correction • Increase the ability to integrate TRI data with other sources • Increase the ability to analyze TRI data • Speedup dissemination of data • Reduce the burden on TRI reporters • Meet the President’s management agenda/EGov initiative

  11. Web Enabled TRI-ME Benefits (According to EPA) • Facilities will come to one spot for all their EPA business • Facility will no longer have to download and install software • Facilities no longer will have to maintain data on their PC • Facility data can be pre-populated • Users can enter data in one sitting (or period) and then be done with TRI for the year • Might eliminate or significantly reduce data revisions by providing immediate feedback • TRI-ME can become “smarter,” guiding users through the data submission process to make it easier and faster

  12. Phase I Burden Reduction • Comments due March 11, 2005 • Estimated burden reductions are suspect • Minor changes • Eliminates latitude/longitude • Eliminates EPA program identification numbers (4.9 and 4.10) • Eliminates ‘Percentage of Total Quantity of Toxic Chemicals Contributed by Stormwater (5.3 C) • Streamlines code list for On-Site Waste Treatment Methods • Eliminates ‘Range of Influent Concentration’ • Allows reporting of waste treatment efficiency as a range instead of exact percentage • Streamlines on-site recycling process codes

  13. Phase II Burden Reduction • EPA December 2003 white paper discussed 6 options: • Higher reporting thresholds for small businesses • Higher reporting thresholds for a category of facilities or class of chemicals with small reportable amounts • Expanding eligibility for the Form A Certification Statement • Creating a new, "No Significant Change" Certification Statement • Use of range reporting for Section 8 of the Form R • Other Options for burden reduction • Relief for facilities reporting zero releases on their Form R reports • Alternate year reporting

  14. Phase II Burden Reduction (Cont.) • Converging on four options to be presented to Senior Management • Will include Form NS (No Significant Change) • August Proposal?

  15. Metals Framework • ORD document undergoing SAB review • Final product may suggest need to reconsider previous PBT decisions relating to lead and other metals • While review could affect PBT status, could also have no impact once individual compound toxicity considered (e.g. recent NCI determination)

  16. Other Miscellaneous • Current ICR expires January ’06 • Proposal likely in March • Expect to include very detailed burden analysis to facilitate evaluation of burden reduction • NAICS rule late spring; not effective until RY ’05 • RY ’04 forms coming out in March • April mailing

More Related