[7]The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [8] has published the latest data on industrial releases and transfers of toxic chemicals in the U.S. between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2009. EPA is making the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) [9] data available within weeks of the reporting deadline through its Web site and in the 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.

“It is vital that every community has access to information that impacts their health and environment,” EPA administrator Lisa P. Jackson says. “The data we’re releasing provides critical insights about pollution and polluters in the places where people live, work, play, and learn. Making that knowledge available is the first step in empowering communities to protect the environment in their areas.”

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. Facilities must report their data by July 1 of each year.