EPA Narrows Access to Toxics Release Data

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Late last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the 2002 data for the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), an annual survey of hazardous material releases by private and federal facilities nationwide (BushGreenwatch, June 24). However, for the first time since the program's inception 17 years ago, EPA failed to provide a full Public Data Release--hundreds of pages comprising detailed analysis, overviews, maps, tables and explanations of the complex TRI data. <1>

EPA instead made the 2002 data available only via a complicated online database, along with a highly truncated six-page summary. While similar to press materials provided in past years, the summary is no replacement for the complete Public Data Release (PDR).

"TRI is universally acknowledged to be the EPA's flagship right-to-know information program," says Sean Moulton, a senior policy analyst with the nonprofit government accountability group OMB Watch. "The TRI is used by industry as well as the public. It's promoted significant changes in operations at facilities, often leading to cost savings and other benefits," Moulton told BushGreenwatch. "To see EPA systematically downgrading the program is troubling."

The Toxics Release Inventory has been required under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) since 1987. <2>

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<http://www.bushgreenwatch.org/mt_archives/000149.php>

[StClone]

1. Bush/Cheney Toxic Waste Candidates

Mutants for Bush, a carcinogen in every pot!