(03/19/09) HONOLULU - Toxic delivers into the environment from facilities operating in Hawaii increased less than one percent in 2007 when compared to 2006, according to the latest data accessible from the E.P.A..
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.
"The Toxic Release Inventory plan arms communities with powerful information," said Laura Yoshii, acting E.P.A. administrator for the Pacific Southwest region. "The inventory is a tremendous tool to help protect public health and the environment. Safe communities depend on well-informed citizens."
Here's a look at toxic delivers in Hawaii from 2005 - 2007 (in pounds):
Total Delivers for Reporting Years 2005-2007
Year Air Water On-Site Land Underground Injection Off-Site
2005 2,311,635 522,217 89,734 2,736 176,408
2006 2,254,013 358,266 174,678 4,743 209,594
2007 2,267,711 446,948 141,716 2,670 152,563
Hawaii's total reported Delivers increased 0.3% or 10,315 pounds, when compared to 2006 data.
Data from 2007 in Hawaii shows:
Electric power generating facilities accounted for 67 percent of Hawaii's Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) chemical releases, including 83 percent of the air releases.
On-Site land Delivers decreased by 33 thousand pounds or 19 percent, led by the U.S. Army Pohakuloa training area range facility, which had a decrease of 28 thousand pounds.
Water Delivers increased 89 thousand pounds, a 25 percent change. The U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor Naval Complex reported an increase of 70 thousand pounds over the previous year.
Approximately 81 thousand pounds of total lead Delivers were reported. The military facilities released the biggest amounts of reported lead, releasing 77 thousand pounds.
Yearly Toxic Release Inventory reporting began in 1987. The inventory provides information 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.
The top facilities in Hawaii for chemicals Delivers (reported in pounds) are:
|
Facility Name
|
City
|
Total Delivers
|
|
one
|
Hawaiian Electric Co Inc Kahe Generating Station
|
Kapolei
|
820,976
|
|
two
|
US Navy Pearl Harbor Naval Complex
|
Pearl Harbor
|
373,735
|
|
three
|
Hawaiian Electric Co Inc Waiau Generating Station
|
Pearl City
|
342,801
|
|
four
|
Chevron Products Co - Hawaii Refinery
|
Kapolei
|
277,526
|
|
five
|
Hawaii Electric Light Co Inc Hill Generating Station
|
Hilo
|
210,169
|
|
six
|
Maui Electric Co Ltd Kahului Generating Station
|
Kahului
|
210,123
|
|
seven
|
AES Hawaii Inc
|
Kapolei
|
155,988
|
|
eight
|
Hawaii Electric Light Co Inc Puna Generating Station
|
Keaau
|
92,006
|
|
nine
|
Maui Electric Co Ltd Maalaea Generating Station
|
Kihei
|
88,368
|
|
ten
|
US Army Schofield Barracks/Wheeler Army Airfield
|
Schofield Barracks
|
79,115
|
Some findings of interest at the countrywide level:
There was a five percent decrease in total disposal or other Delivers into the environment nationwide from 2006 to 2007.
PBTs make up twelve percent of total Delivers and have increased by one percentage point from 2006-2007. Lead drives overall PBT statistics with 98 percent of total Delivers for 2007. Lead showed a less than one percent increase (3.5 million pounds) from 2006-2007.
Mercury Delivers increased by 38 percent (1.9 million pounds).
On-site land Delivers are down six percent (113 million pounds) since 2006.
For Hawaii TRI highlights, charts, and graphics on the web please visit:
----
The following web sites also provide city, Co. and facility information on TRI:
http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer/ and
http://www.epa.gov/enviro. State fact sheets are accessible at:
http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer/statefactsheet.htm. Also see, Region nine TRI Home Page:
http://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/tri/index.html
Hawaii:
http://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/tri/report/07/tri-hi.html
