A summary of Toxic release data was published (pdf) by the EPA last week. It says "From 2001-2007, total production-related waste managed decreased by 11% and the number of facilities reporting decreased by 15%."
That seems to be inconsistent with what we know about the Bush environmental record and their major environmental roll-backs.
How did they do it? They changed the rules.
In December 2006, the EPA increased the threshold for reporting most of the 666 chemicals listed in the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program. The TRI is a part of the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
From OMB Watch (01/09/07):
The rule increases the reporting threshold for the majority of the 650-plus TRI chemicals tenfold, from 500 lbs. to 5,000 lbs., with a restriction that only 2,000 lbs. of the chemical may be released directly to the environment. Also, for the first time in the 18-year history of TRI, EPA is permitting reduced reporting for the most dangerous category of toxic chemicals, persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs). These ill-conceived changes will leave more people in the dark about what chemicals are in the air they breathe and water they drink.
EPA officials have claimed that the proposed rule does not de-list chemicals from the TRI program, but, according to the agency's own calculations, a 2,000-lb. threshold would likely eliminate detailed reporting for at least 16 chemicals. An initial OMB Watch analysis of the 2004 TRI data indicates that EPA may be underestimating the reporting loss for chemical pollutants. OMB Watch projects that EPA's reporting changes would have eliminated all detailed reporting on 39 chemicals and the reporting on more than half the pollution created for another 28 chemicals.
As expected, the latest TRI data that reflects the increased threshold shows a decrease in production-related waste and the number of reporting facilities.
The same data summary reports (pdf):
On-site disposal or other releases decreased by 6%; however, off-site disposal or other releases increased by 2%.
(...)
From 2006 to 2007, total production-related waste managed, which reflects waste management practices rather than ultimate disposition of a chemical, decreased by 1% ... while the quantity treated increased by 4%.
(...)
Federal facilities showed an overall decrease in disposal or other releases of 11 million pounds or 11% from 2006 to 2007. Total production-related waste managed at federal facilities increased by 2 million pounds or 1%.
If we did not know that the reporting threshold for disposal or other releases had been increased by a factor of 10, these numbers would not make sense.
:: ::
Now for the good news: The Obama administration and Congress have returned TRI reporting requirements back to the way they were.
From the EPA Toxics Release Inventory Program website:
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements changed on March 11, 2009, as a result of a change in federal law. The 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, returned TRI reporting requirements back to the rules in effect prior to December 22, 2006. These changes affect TRI reports due July 1, 2009.
(...)
EPA will issue a rule shortly revising the regulatory text in the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect these changes. TRI-ME software and other reporting assistance materials are being revised and will also be available soon.
One more of the Bush "environmental programs" undone.