EPA annual TRI misrepresents risks
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released analysis of the annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 2019. While the title sug-
releases as toxic is disingenuous at best.” The vast majority of Alaska’s re -
country. Facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal min- ing, electric utilities, and commer- cial hazardous waste facilities submit annual TRI data to the EPA, states, and tribes. Toxic chemical release re - ports are required under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires information on waste management activities related to TRI chemicals. Chemicals are placed on the TRI list based on their potential to cause adverse effects to human health or the environment if they are not safe- ly managed. The TRI reports do not necessarily mean that the public is being exposed to toxic chemicals or is at risk from every release, as almost all of the releases are regulated under permit conditions designed to limit human and environmental exposure.
ported releases — more than 99.9% — consist of naturally occurring trace min- erals in overburden, spent rock, and tail- ings excavated from mines, which are dis- posed of in state-per- mitted, engineered, and monitored dispos- al sites. Due to exten - sive mining activity, Alaska had the highest reported TRI volumes in the nation.
gests the data is com- posed of accidental spills and releases, it also includes permitted and regulated releases, such as air emissions and wastewater dis- charges, and managed waste in regulated dis- posal facilities. “Big mines like Red Dog and Greens Creek move a signifi - cant amount of mate-
JASON BRUNE
rial as part of their daily operations, but such permitted actions do not adversely impact human health and the environment,” said Commission - er Jason Brune. “Characterizing such
The TRI program collects infor- mation on certain releases to air, wa- ter and land, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention by facilities across the
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The Alaska Miner
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