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EPA Issues Annual Toxic Release Inventory - Reductions continue in toxic pollutants released in the region

Release Date: 5/11/2005
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released today its annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) which provides information on toxic chemicals used and released by power plants, refineries, chemical manufacturers, paper companies, and many other facilities across the nation based on data submitted to EPA and states.

The 2003 TRI data indicate a total of 402.4 million pounds of toxic chemicals were released on and off-site to the air, water and landfills by facilities in the mid-Atlantic region. When compared to the 2000 TRI data of 464.7 million pounds, this represents a 13.4 percent reduction of release of toxic pollutants in this region. For the years 2001, 2002, and 2003, there was very little change in the total on/off site releases - 408.2, 401.3, and 402.4 million pounds, respectively.

“The TRI is a public report card for the industrial community. It shows real progress in reducing chemical releases. TRI data is used by citizens, academia, government, non-profit organizations and industry, and creates a strong motivation for pollution prevention,” said
Donald S. Welsh, EPA mid-Atlantic regional administrator.

The TRI provides communities valuable information and continues to encourage facilities to reduce their releases of toxic chemicals into the environment through source reduction, or pollution prevention.

The 2003 data include information on releases and other wastes from more than 650 chemicals and chemical categories that companies are required to report under EPA=s Toxic Release Inventory program. The data include chemicals that were released at the companies’s facilities and those transported to disposal facilities off site.

Reporting TRI data is required under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, passed in 1986. The inventory 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.

Other chemical categories of TRI reporting are also characterized as persistent bioaccumlative toxics, including lead and lead compounds, and mercury and mercury compounds. There was a decrease for lead and lead compounds from 8.7 million pounds in 2002 to 7.4 million pounds in 2003. There was a decrease from 58,920 pounds in 2002 to 50,327 in 2003 for mercury and mercury compounds.

It is important to note that these chemical emissions are reported to EPA under the TRI and generally do not reflect illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment.

TRI information is easily accessible online to the news media and the public at . For more detailed information on a specific facility, go to .

The following are highlights from each mid-Atlantic state’s largest on-site emitters of pollutants. In Maryland and Delaware, these facilities releases were primarily acid aerosols from fuel combustion and land disposal of metals. In Pennsylvania and West Virginia, all these releases, like most power plants, consisted largely of acid aerosols from fuel combustion and land disposal of metals in ash.

1. NRG Energy, Inc.’s Indian River Generating Station in Millsboro, Sussex County had the highest on-site releases – just over 3.9 million pounds. These releases are 1.8 million pounds greater than last year due to a 16 percent increase in coal usage and a 130 percent increase in reported hydrochloric acid aerosol releases. Stack tests were used showing these higher emissions of hydrochloric acid aerosols than had previously been estimated.

2. The Edge Moor/Hay Road Power Plant in Wilmington, New Castle County was ranked second with slightly less than 1.8 million pounds. Stack tests showed that the releases of hydrochloric acid aerosols are 0.2 million pounds lower than last year.

3. Premcor Refining Group, Inc. was ranked third with 1.7 million pounds. This is 0.3 million pounds higher than last year as the result of reporting higher nitrate releases based on monitoring data.

1. Brandon Shores & Wagner Complex of Baltimore Gas & Electric had the highest on-site releases 12.8 million pounds. Last year’s releases were 10.8 million pounds.

2. Mirant Morgantown Generating Station was second with 8.0 million pounds. Last year’s releases were 7.3 million pounds.

3. Mirant Chalk Point Generating Station was third with 4.4 million pounds. Last year’s releases were 5.3 million pounds.
1. Reliant Energies, Inc., Keystone Station in Shelocta, Armstrong County reported the largest on- site releases with 17.0 million pounds. Last year’s releases were 17.6 million pounds.

2. EME Homer City Generation in Homer City was second with releases of 8.5 million pounds. The releases from these three facilities were primarily acid aerosols from fuel combustion and land disposal of metals in ash. Last year’s releases were 6.3 million pounds.

3. Allegheny Energy, Inc. Hatfield Power Station, Masontown, Greene County had the third highest with releases of 7.9 million pounds. Last year’s releases were 7.4 million pounds.

1. Chesterfield Power Station in Chester had the highest on-site releases of 6.5 million pounds which was primarily air releases of acid aerosols and land releases of metals in ash. Last year’s releases were 6.3 million pounds.

2. The MeadWestvaco Corp., Bleached Board Div. in Covington was second with 4.6 million pounds, mostly air releases of methanol and acid aerosols. Last year’s releases were 4.8 million pounds.

3. International Paper-Franklin Mill Plant in Franklin was third with 3.6 million pounds, mostly methanol, acid aerosols and ammonia. Last year’s releases were 3.7 million pounds.

1.The American Electric Power=s Amos Plant in Winfield, Putnam County was ranked first with total on-site releases of 18.0 million pounds. Last year’s releases were 18.8 million pounds.

2. and 3. American Electric Power=s Mitchell and Mountaineer Plants in Moundsville, Marshall County and New Haven, Mason County were ranked 2nd and 3rd with total on-site releases of 13.6 and 10.3 million pounds, respectively. Last year’s releases were 12.2 and 7.7 million pounds, respectively.

Also, a very positive highlight for West Virginia is the Dominion Mount Storm Power Station in Mount Storm, where releases decreased from 7.4 million pounds in 2000 to 2.6 million pounds in 2003. This is the result of the installation of pollution control equipment for particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride and a catalyst for oxides of nitrogen.