Toxic Release Inventory -- New Information Available for Nevada
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   February 25, 2000.

Contacts: Jolaine Johnson, 775/687-4670 ext. 3075
Verne Rosse, 775/687-4670 ext. 3045
Allen Biaggi, 775/687-4670 ext. 3021

     Next week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release its Toxic Release Inventory data for 1998. This federally administered program requires certain industries to annually report "releases" of listed chemicals to the air, water and land.

     Due to revised reporting requirements, new industrial sectors including mining and electrical power generation are now required to report releases. With the addition of these new industry sectors, Nevada's reported "releases" have increased substantially from previous years.

What is TRI?

The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) is a federal program administered by US EPA that requires specific sectors of industrial facilities to annually report on their "releases" of listed chemicals to the air, land and water. EPA compiles this information into a national database that, along with annual summary reports, is made available to the public. The basic premise of TRI is that citizens have a "right to know" what chemicals a facility in their community produces and releases to the environment. US EPA is scheduled to release data for the most current reporting year (1998) next week.

What does the most recent TRI data mean for Nevada?

In past years, TRI reporting was confined to manufacturing facilities. Nevada typically ranks low among the states in reported TRI releases from these types of facilities. However, seven new industrial sectors were added to the reporting requirements in 1997, including metal mining and electrical utilities. Due principally to the addition of mining, Nevada's total TRI releases for the current reporting year (1998) are more than 300 times the amount reported for the prior year. TRI chemicals contained in the huge amount of waste rock and tailings generated by Nevada's mining industry must now be reported as a "release" to the land under TRI. This material contains naturally occurring minerals and metals that are included on the list of TRI chemicals. More than 95% of the 1.3 billion pounds of reported releases in Nevada consist of these naturally occurring minerals and metals contained in waste rock and tailings.

Are the facilities reporting TRI releases regulated?

Facilities that report TRI releases are subject to comprehensive environmental and safety laws that are intended to control discharges of pollutants, safely contain waste disposed of on the land, and protect workers from exposure to hazardous chemicals. Mining facilities in Nevada are regulated by both Federal and State agencies. The Division of Environmental Protection regulates mines to make certain that process fluids are contained and that water resources are protected. In addition, mining companies must reclaim disturbed areas to provide for a beneficial post-mining land use.

Does a TRI release represent a threat to health or the environment?

The TRI program is not intended to show if chemical releases pose potential health or environmental threats. TRI reports only state how many pounds of chemicals a facility emits, discharges, disposes, treats, recycles, etc. This information alone cannot be used to discern potential health or environmental hazards. The TRI information must be analyzed along with chemical-specific toxicity data, factors controlling fate and transport of the chemical in the environment and the potential routes of exposure in order to assess potential risks at a given location.

Where can I get more information about TRI in Nevada?

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection has published a "Guide to the Toxic Release Inventory for Nevada" to provide citizens with information about TRI. To obtain a copy, contact the Division at 775/687-4670 extension 3043 or download the document here -- In Adobe Pdf File Format -- 600KB)