E.P.A. Suggests Adding More Chemicals to Toxics Release Inventory List

WASHINGTON - The E.P.A. (EPA) is proposing to add 16 chemicals to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list of reportable chemicals, the 1st expansion of the plan in in excess of a decade. Established as part of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), TRI is a publicly accessible E.P.A. database that contains information on toxic chemical delivers and waste management activities reported annually by certain industries as well as federal facilities. The suggestion is part of Administrator Lisa P. Jackson's ongoing efforts to provide communities with more complete information on chemicals.

E.P.A. has concluded, based on a review of accessible studies, that these chemicals could cause cancer in people. The purpose of the suggested addition to TRI reporting requirements is to inform the public about chemical delivers in their communities and to provide the government with information for research and potential development of regulations.

4 of the chemicals are being suggested for addition to TRI under the polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) category. The PACs category includes chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic (PBT) and are likely to remain in the environment for a very long time. These chemicals are not readily destroyed and may build up or accumulate in body tissue.

The TRI, established as part of the EPCRA of 1986, contains information on nearly 650 chemicals and chemical groups from about 22,000 industrial facilities in the U.S. Congress enacted EPCRA to provide the public with additional information on toxic chemicals in their communities.

E.P.A. will accept public comments on the suggestion for 60 days after it appears in the Federal Register.

For a list of the 16 chemicals: http://www.epa.gov/tri/lawsandregs/ntp_chemicals/index.html

More information on TRI: http://www.epa.gov/tri

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