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EPA releases 2005 nationwide Toxics Release Inventory numbers. Hawai’i reports 1.9 percent decrease from 2004 to 2005

Release Date: 03/22/2007
Contact Information: Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, [email protected]

(03/22/07) HONOLULU – Hawaii industries reported a 1.9 percent decrease in toxic releases from 2004 as compared to 2005, according to new data released today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The data comes from the EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory, an annual measure of toxic chemical releases, transfers and waste generated by facilities in the United States. Total releases include toxic chemicals discharged to air, water, underground injection, land (including landfills), and the amount transferred off-site for disposal. Data provided does not mean that facilities with elevated levels are out of compliance with state, local or federal environmental regulations.

“TRI is an important tool for regulators, emergency responders, businesses and communities because it helps them better understand and be aware of the types and amounts of chemicals being released in their neighborhoods,” said Wayne Nastri, the EPA’s administrator for the Pacific Southwest region. “We are pleased to report a decrease in the amount of toxic chemicals released in Hawaii in 2005.”

In Hawaii, 39 facilities reported a total of 3.1 million pounds of toxic chemical releases in 2005. In 2004, the total was 3.2 million pounds. The state ranks 49 out of 56 states and territories in total releases.

On-site land releases decreased by 61 percent or 138,000 pounds, with the U.S. Army Schofield/ Wheeler Army Airfield mainly responsible for the decrease with an 80 percent or 133,000 pound reduction.

There was a 36 percent decrease, or 98,000 pounds less, in reported transfers off-site for disposal and other waste management. This decrease was primarily due to the U.S. Army Schofield Barracks/Wheeler Army Airfield, reporting no off-site transfers while the previous year it reported 115,000 pounds.

Releases to air decreased by 2 percent or about 47,000 pounds. This decrease was largely due to one facility, the Hawaiian Electric Co.’s Kahe Generating Station, reporting a decrease of 110,000 pounds in air releases. The electric services industry reported the largest decrease of air releases totaling 1.9 million pounds.

However, there was a 76 percent increase in reported releases to water or 226,000 pounds. The major contributor to the increase in water releases was U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor Naval Complex, which increased its water releases by 219,000 pounds or 91percent. The largest water releases came from federal facilities with 498,000 pounds.

Nationally, the amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment increased by 3 percent from 2004 to 2005.

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. This program 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.

The top 10 facilities for total on- and off-site releases throughout Hawaii are:

1. Hawaiian Electric Co Inc Kahe Generating Station (Kapolei, Honolulu County) with 775,000 pounds.
2. U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor Naval Complex (Pearl Harbor, Honolulu County) with 515,000 pounds.
3. Hawaiian Electric Co Inc Waiau Generating Station (Pearl City, Honolulu County) with 341,000 pounds.
4. Maui Electric Co LTD. Kahului Generating Station (Kahului, Maui County) with 245,000 pounds.
5. Chevron Products Co - Hawaii Refinery (Kapolei, Honolulu County) with 217,000 pounds.
6. Hawaii Electric Light Co Inc Hill Generating Station (Hilo, Hawaii County) with 216,000 pounds.
7. AES Hawaii Inc (Kapolei, Honolulu County) with 161,000 pounds.
8. Tesoro Hawaii Refinery (Kapolei, Honolulu County) with 145,000 pounds.
9. Hawaii Electric Light Co Inc Puna Generating Station (Keaau, Hawaii County) with 101,000 pounds.
10. Maui Electric Co LTD. Maalaea Generating Station (Kihei, Maui County) with 82,000 pounds.

Fact sheets and additional information on the 2005 TRI data for Hawai’i are available at
https://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/tri/report/05/hawaii.pdf

The following Web sites also provide useful information on TRI: https://www.epa.gov/enviro/ and
https://www.epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri05/index.htm
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