Preliminary data for the 2022 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting year has been made public by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to a press release. The data encompasses information regarding chemical waste management and pollution prevention efforts observed during 2022 in over 20,000 industrial and federal facilities across the nation.
"The information released today is one way EPA helps inform Americans about toxic chemical releases in their communities, including those that have been disproportionately impacted by pollution," said Michal Freedhoff, EPA assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
The preliminary data includes details about quantities of chemicals released into the environment or managed as waste, as well as pollution prevention efforts initiated by individual facilities. The data serves as a resource for the public to identify facilities that reported to the TRI and understand the chemicals managed as waste and their quantities, according to the EPA. While the dataset has not undergone the full TRI data quality process, it benefits from automated quality checks in the reporting software used by facilities.
The EPA is conducting further quality checks to address potential reporting errors. The preliminary data will undergo periodic updates, with a revised dataset planned for release in October. The EPA will utilize this revised dataset to develop the 2022 TRI National Analysis, expected to be published in early 2024.
Significant additions to the 2022 preliminary data include reporting from natural gas processing facilities, which have been incorporated into the scope of TRI coverage, according to the EPA. Moreover, the data now includes reporting on ethylene oxide (EtO) from certain contract sterilization facilities that were not previously subject to TRI requirements. A total of 24 contract sterilization facilities reported managing over 6 million pounds of EtO-related waste, with 8,863 pounds released to air in 2022. Additionally, the data encompass reporting on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for the third consecutive year, reflecting EPA's commitment to tracking these substances and their waste management, the EPA reported.
