On March 21, 2024, the EPA announced the release of its 2022 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis showing that environmental releases of TRI chemicals from facilities covered by the program were 21% lower in 2022 compared with 2013, which included a 26% decrease in air releases. The data shows releases from manufacturing facilities decreased 9% during this 10-year period, while the value added to the U.S. economy increased 14%.
Between 2021 and 2022, overall releases increased 1%. The data also shows there was a 6.5% increase in the number of pollution prevention activities reported under the TRI program compared with 2021.
“The 2022 TRI National Analysis summarizes environmental releases of TRI chemicals, as well as how facilities managed their waste. In 2022, facilities reported managing 88.5% of their TRI chemical waste through preferred practices such as recycling, energy recovery and treatment, while releasing 11.5% of their TRI chemical waste into the environment,” an EPA news release states.
By using the EPA “Where You Live” mapping tool, readers can view data by state, tribe, metropolitan area, EPA region, and watershed. The tool includes several visualization and analytical features to make the data more accessible and usable.
Additionally, the 2022 TRI National Analysis highlights trends and changes in waste management practices for specific sectors and chemicals in the Sector Profile and Chemical Profile sections. This year, the 2022 TRI National Analysis highlights the primary metals manufacturing sector alongside the standard profiles for electric utilities, chemical manufacturing, and metal mining.
PFAS reporting
The TRI National Analysis includes reporting on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as required by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA outlines criteria for additional PFAS to be automatically added for TRI reporting. For reporting year 2022, four PFAS met the criteria and were added to the reporting requirements for a total of 180 PFAS tracked by the TRI program. During 2022, 50 facilities managed 1.2 million pounds (lb) of these chemicals as waste, which represents an 8% decrease compared with 2021.
For reporting year 2024, TRI will no longer have a reporting exemption for facilities that use PFAS in small (de minimis) concentrations as a result of the EPA’s recently published final rule. Facilities that make or use these products will no longer be able to rely on the de minimis exemption to avoid the disclosure of PFAS releases and other waste management of these chemicals.
Pollution prevention
“Facilities implemented 3,589 total pollution prevention activities in 2022 with the most common being process and equipment modifications, followed by changes to operating practices and training. Through both existing programs and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA offers grant opportunities to state and Tribal technical assistance providers to help prevent pollution,” the EPA news release adds. “Industry professionals can view TRI reporting on pollution prevention to learn about best practices implemented at other facilities.”
TRI reporting expansions
Expansions to this year’s TRI reporting included first-time reporting for contract sterilization facilities, which are contracted to sterilize products or equipment for hospitals and other facilities. These facilities managed 6.3 million lb of ethylene oxide waste, nearly all of which was treated, the EPA reports.
Reporting year 2022 was also the first year of expanded reporting for the natural gas processing sector. The 305 facilities in this sector that reported to TRI managed 115 million lb of TRI chemicals in waste and disposed of 81% of TRI chemicals in underground injection wells.