E.P.A. Yearly Toxics Report Details Chemicals Released From Facilities in the USVI

(New York, N.Y.) The latest Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data was released today for chemical delivers into the air, water and land by facilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands in record time by the E.P.A. (EPA). The report, which covers delivers in 2006, shows a decrease of approximately 24,000 pounds of sulfuric acid mist from the Hovensa oil refinery in Kings Hill, Saint Croix due to the processing of crude oil with lower sulfur content. It also shows an increase in total delivers of all TRI pollutants, from 780,000 pounds in 2005 to 880,000 pounds in 2006, largely attributed to increases in volatile organic compound emissions from sources other than the stacks at the Hovensa refinery.

"This report is a valuable tool for communities, local government and business leaders alike because it provides valuable information about chemicals being released into our environment," said Alan J. Steinberg, E.P.A. Regional Administrator. "It puts a focus on specific facilities so that they can work to make enhancements in their operations and in the accuracy of their reporting."

The TRI is the most comprehensive source of information about chemicals released into the environment. On a countrywide level, over 23,000 facilities reported on approximately 650 chemicals for calendar year 2006. Thanks to enhancements in EPA's system, the vast majority of facilities now report data electronically and detailed information about specific facilities is more readily accessible to the public.

The TRI tracks the chemicals released by facilities specified by the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986 and its amendments. The Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) of 1990 also mandates that TRI data include information on toxic chemicals treated on-site, recycled, and burned for energy recovery.

The TRI data and background information are accessible to the public at: http://www.epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri06/index.htm. Communities can also quickly and easily identify local facilities and chemical delivers by using the TRI explorer mapping tool, accessible at: http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer.

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