DENVER—Toxics Release
Inventory (TRI) data released by EPA this week not only shows that reported
toxic pollution increased by five percent for the second time since the TRI
program began in 1987, but also that industry reported releasing and disposing
of more than a billion pounds of cancer-causing chemicals into America's air,
land and water in 2002, according to an analysis by Environment Colorado Research
and Policy Center.
"EPA programs like
the Toxics Release Inventory have helped raise public awareness of the amount
of toxic chemicals released into our environment annually," said Mark Detsky,
energy attorney for Environment Colorado.
According to the TRI analysis,
electric utilities released 90,371 pounds of mercury to the air in 2002, a negligible
decrease from 2001. Coal-fired power plants are by far the largest source of
airborne toxic mercury pollution, contributing two-thirds of the total airborne
mercury emitted from all reported sources in 2002. Mercury is a toxic heavy
metal that, when ingested, can cause serious neurological damage, particularly
to developing fetuses, infants, and children. Power plants in Colorado released
over 355 pounds of mercury to the air in 2002.
Xcel energy has proposed
building a new coal-fired power plant in Pueblo, where two coal plants currently
violating EPA air pollution standards already exist.
In January 2004, EPA proposed
to curtail efforts to clean up mercury emissions from the nation's 1,100 coal-fired
power plants. EPA's proposal would have delayed even small reductions in mercury
pollution from power plants until 2018, at the earliest, which would allow six
to seven times more mercury into the air than the reduction required by the
Clean Air Act.
"We have the technology
today to drastically reduce power plant mercury pollution, but unfortunately
the Bush administration wishes to let utility companies dictate decisions affecting
our children's health," said Detsky.
On Thursday, 184 members
of the U.S. House of Representatives, with bi-partisan support including 23
Republicans, sent EPA Administrator Leavitt a letter criticizing "EPA's
continuing failure to take into account both its own analyses and the potential
presented by existing technology." The letter calls on Leavitt to issue
a new mercury pollution proposal that protects public health and complies with
the Clean Air Act.
Environment Colorado also
released TRI reports' of chemical emissions and waste identified to be known
carcinogens, reproductive toxicants or developmental toxicants. Analyzing EPA
data, the results for Colorado revealed:
- In 2002, industry reported
releasing and disposing of more than a billion pounds of chemicals classified
as carcinogens. Facilities in Colorado reported releasing 6.2 million pounds
of carcinogens, ranking the state 24th in the country.
- In 2002, industry reported
releasing and disposing of more than 966 million pounds of chemicals classified
as developmental toxicants. Facilities in Colorado reported releasing over 5.8
million pounds of developmental toxicants, ranking the state 18th in the country.
Developmental toxicants are chemicals that can impede the proper physical and
mental development of young children.
- In 2002, industry reported
releasing and disposing of more than 486 million pounds of chemicals classified
as reproductive toxicants. Facilities in Colorado reported releasing 5.6 million
pounds of reproductive toxicants, ranking the state 13th in the country. Reproductive
toxicants are chemicals with the potential to impair the male or female reproductive
system, leading to sterility, spontaneous abortion or stillbirth.
Environment Colorado called
on the Bush administration to reconsider its mercury proposal in favor of one
requiring a 90 percent reduction in mercury emissions by 2008. To that end,
Environment Colorado also called on the EPA to reject proposals that seek to
limit data collected under the Toxics Release Inventory. Presented as "burden
reduction" measures for industry, some EPA's proposals could weaken public
access to data about toxic chemicals released into the environment.
"The public has a right
to know about toxic chemicals released into and over their backyards,"
stated Detsky. "The TRI program is successful because people depend on
this right to information, in order to make their own decisions on what is best
for their community."
