E.P.A. delivers latest data on toxic chemicals nationwide. Toxic air delivers decreased in American Samoa

(04/12/06) HONOLULU - 2 facilities in American Samoa reported a total of 3,735 pounds of toxic chemicals released into the air, land and water in the year 2004, according to new data released today by the E.P.A..

The data comes from the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory, an yearly measure of toxic chemical releases, transfers and waste generated by facilities in the United States. Total delivers 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.

There was a reported decrease in air delivers due to 4,730 pound decrease in ammonia air delivers from COS Samoa Packing Co. The other American Samoa facility is Star-Kist Samoa.

"TRI helps all of us - regulators, emergency responders, businesses and communities - remain aware of the types and amounts of chemicals being used in neighborhoods throughout the country," said Wayne Nastri, the EPA's administrator for the Pacific Southwest region. "We are pleased to report a continued downward trend in delivers to American Samoa's air."

Nationally, the amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment decreased by four percent from 2003 to 2004, and have declined 45 percent since 1998.

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 plan has been credited with arming communities with valuable knowledge and encouraging facilities to reduce their delivers of toxic chemicals into the environment through source reduction, or pollution prevention measures.

The following Web sites also provide useful information on TRI: http://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/tri/index.html http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer/ and http://www.epa.gov/enviro