E.P.A. delivers 2008 Guam Toxics Release Inventory numbers

Territory still ranked among the lowest in nation for total chemical delivers

(12/08/09) HONOLULU - 8 facilities in Guam reported an 8 percent increase in toxic chemicals released into the air, land and water in 2008 when compared to 2007, according to new data released today by the E.P.A.. Overall at 53, Guam ranks among one of the lowest of 56 states and territories in total releases.

While the island's water and land delivers have increased since 2007, underground injection, off-site transfers, and air delivers have decreased. The biggest increase was of on-site land delivers of 1,048 pounds, largely due to increased delivers reported by Andersen Air Force Base in Yigo.

"We encourage people to use data from the Toxics Release Inventory in order to gain a better understanding of what is being released into their neighborhoods," said Laura Yoshii, acting E.P.A. administrator for the Pacific Southwest region. "Industry and communities informed with accurate information can use the inventory as a starting point to find opportunities to reduce the amount of pollutants released into the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land we enjoy."

Guam Facilities
Guam Power Authority
Hawaiian Rock Products Guam
Mobil Oil Guam Incorporated (Cabras Island Terminal)
Shell Guam
South Pacific Petroleum Corporation
Tanguisson Power Plant
US Air Force Andersen Air Force Base
US Navy COMNAVMARIANAS Guam Main Base - Apra Harbor WWTP

The data comes from the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory, commonly referred to as TRI. It's one of EPA's biggest publicly accessible databases, arming communities with valuable information on in excess of 650 toxic chemicals released by various industries. The chemical information in the inventory is calculated by industrial facilities and reported to the EPA, as required by law.

Total delivers include toxic chemicals discharged by facilities to air, water, land, and underground, and the amount transferred off-site for disposal. Regulatory controls apply to many of the reported releases. Reporting facilities must comply with environmental requirements set by local, state and federal agencies.
Yearly Toxics Release Inventory reporting began in 1987 after the enactment of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (1996). The inventory provides information to the public on Yearly toxic chemical delivers reported by certain industrial and federal facilities. The TRI does not include data on toxic emissions from cars and trucks, nor from the majority of non-industrial sources, such as agriculture. In 2000, TRI expanded to include persistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals, or PBTs, at ranges from 0.1 grams to 100 pounds. PBT pollutants are toxic chemicals that remain in the environment and food chain, posing risks to human health and ecosystems.

National TRI Findings:

* There was a 6% decrease in total reported delivers into the environment nationwide from 2007 to 2008

* The number of facilities reporting chemical delivers decreased 5% nationally

* Total PBT chemical delivers decreased by 2% nation-wide

For more on the TRI plan including additional city, Co. and facility information, please visit the EPA's Web sites: http://www.epa.gov/tri, http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer and http://www.epa.gov/enviro.

State fact sheets are accessible at: http://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/tri/ and http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer/statefactsheet.htm.

For more information on the PBT Chemicals Program, please visit the EPA's Web location at http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/pbt

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