New York companies that manage chemicals continue to make progress in preventing pollution and reducing chemical releases, according to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analysis issued earlier this month.
As of 2020, the latest year for which data is available, New York companies' release of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) chemicals into local water was reduced by more than 20%, from 4.7 million pounds to 3.7 million pounds, according to an EPA news release.
The New York reduction rate was nearly twice the 10% reduction nationwide of TRI chemical emissions into water.
"New York is home to a variety of thriving industries and different types of facilities," EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa F. Garcia said in the news release. "It is encouraging to see this continued downward trend in many TRI categories. Furthermore, the newly updated features found in the TRI report make it a valuable resource and tool for people to understand better how chemicals are used and handled in our communities."
Garcia, a New York native and former Rutgers University law professor, was appointed Region 2 administrator in November. Region 2 encompasses New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight tribal nations.
EPA's Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis indicates that companies that manage chemicals are continuing to make progress in preventing pollution and reducing emissions into the environment local environment. The analysis also includes enhancements intended to make the data more useful and accessible to communities, as well as demographic information in its "Where You Live" mapping tool. The tool eases overlay mapping of facility locations, including overburdened and vulnerable communities.
In 2020, 95% of TRI chemical waste managed in Region 2 facilities was not released into the local environment, according to the news release. Instead, the waste was managed through "preferred practices" such as energy recovery, recycling and treatment. The percentage managed in Region 2 was 6% higher than the national average.
The analysis reports that Region 2 facilities reported the releasing 31.4 million pounds of TRI chemicals, which was 7.2 million pounds less – a 19% decrease – from TRI chemicals reportedly released in 2019.
TRI chemical emission from 2011 to 2020 decreased by 8.6 million pounds, 22%, thanks to emission reductions at petroleum product and chemical manufacturing facilities and electric utilities.
In 2020, 6% of Region 2 facilities reported they had implemented new source reduction activities, with electrical equipment manufacturing reporting the highest source reduction rates.
