Toxic Release Inventory Program to Now Come Under Different EPA Office

Previously housed under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Environmental Information, the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program will now fall under the EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. EPA is stressing that this is strictly an organizational change and NOT a TRI reporting requirement change. The TRI Program "tracks the management of more than 650 toxic chemicals that may pose a threat to human health and the environment." Specifically, "U.S. facilities in certain industry sectors must report annually how much of each chemical is released to the environment and/or managed through recycling, energy recovery and treatment." This information is then submitted annually to EPA and compiled in the TRI.

Facilities that handle toxic chemicals, including ready mixed concrete plants, are required to calculate the quantities that were handled; if any quantity is over an allowable threshold, that chemical and amount would need to be reported under the program. Should a facility need to report, the reporting deadline is July 1 each year.