All News Releases By Date

EPA Lists Ten Largest Pollution Emitters in Vermont; Toxics Releases Jump 19% From 1998 to 1999

Release Date: 04/12/2001
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office (617-918-1014) Dwight Peavey, EPA TRI Coordinator (617-918-1829)

BOSTON – According to data issued today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, facilities in Vermont saw a 19 percent increase in the amount of toxic pollutants released into the air, land and water between 1998 to 1999, but the state still ranks 49th out of 50 in pollutant emissions.

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 1999 show a total of 591,790 pounds released by power plants, manufacturers and other facilities in Vermont. That's compared to 497,698 pounds released in 1998. The jump is due primarily to an increase in manufacturing activities at several Vermont facilities, including General Electric and IBM.

Even with the one-year increase, toxic releases in Vermont have fallen by 22 percent compared to 1995 levels.

"Were it not for the state's healthy economy, Vermont's pollutant releases would have dropped in 1999, just as they dropped all across New England," said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator at EPA's New England Office. "New England as a whole is leading the nation in slashing pollution and is setting the bar on how environmental improvements can occur when companies, the government and communities work together for a common goal."

Since 1988, New England facilities have cut their total pollutant releases by 83 percent.

Today's data includes information on releases and other wastes from 644 toxic chemicals and chemical compounds that companies are required to report under EPA's TRI Program. The data includes toxics released at the company's facility and those transported to disposal facilities off-site. All manufacturing companies, as well as coal- and oil- fired power plants, are required to participate.

The following is a list of Vermont's 10 largest on- and off-site emitters of the 650 toxic chemicals. No attempt has been made to adjust the totals to reflect the relative seriousness of the chemicals emitted. It is important to note that these chemical emissions are reported to EPA under the TRI and do not reflect illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment.

COMPANY NAME	ADDRESS	TOTAL # POUNDS
IBM Corp.	Essex Junction	216,446
Wyeth Nutritionals Inc.	Georgia	66,358
GE Co.	Rutland	53,505
GE Co.	North Clarendon	40,965
Fulflex of Vermont Inc.	Brattleboro	39,404
Rock-Tenn Co.	Sheldon Springs	29,824
Ethan Allen Inc. Randolph Div.	Randolph	29,466
Cabot Creamery Coop Inc	Cabot	24,000
Simpson Paper Co.	Gilman	14,018
EHV-Weidmann Inds. Inc.	Saint Johnsbury	13,167

The reporting of data to the Toxics Release Inventory is required under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, passed in 1986. The TRI provides the amount, location and type of release to the environment -- whether a pollutant is emitted into the air, discharged into the water, or released onto the land. It also includes information on waste shipped off-site for disposal or further treatment. The TRI has been credited with arming communities with valuable knowledge and encouraging facilities to reduce their releases of toxic chemicals into the environment through source reduction, or pollution prevention, measures.

TRI information is easily accessible to the news media and to the public. Information is available on-line, www.epa.gov/tri, in hard copy and in a variety of computer formats, including CD-ROM. For copies or more information, the public is encouraged to call EPA's toll-free Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Hotline at 1(800) 424-9346.