EPA: Toxic chemical releases increased 26.9% in R.I. in 2014

Toxic chemical releases increased 26.9 percent in Rhode Island in 2014 compared with 2013, according to Toxic Release Inventory data released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week.
The EPA said 91 facilities reported that in 2014, the most recent year available, 383,794 pounds, an increase of 81,310 pounds, were released. In addition, approximately 40.7 percent of releases in Rhode Island were emitted to the air that year, the agency said.
During 2014, approximately 16.5 million pounds of chemicals were released in the six New England states, a reduction of 11.7 percent, or approximately 2.2 million pounds.
In Rhode Island, the main pollutants were methanol, barium compounds, nitric acid, nitrate compounds and copper compounds.
The EPA also listed 10 facilities that reported the largest amount of on- and off-site environmental releases in the state:

  • Providence Metallizing Co. Inc., Pawtucket: 59,502 pounds
  • Newport Biodiesel Inc., Newport: 46,963
  • Osram Sylvania Inc., Central Falls: 42,778
  • ChemArt, Lincoln: 38,132
  • General Cable Industries LLC, Lincoln: 20,112
  • ExxonMobil Oil Corp., East Providence: 19,511
  • Taco Inc., Cranston: 15,486
  • Senesco Main Yard, North Kingstown: 15,441
  • Monarch Metal Finishing Co. Inc., Providence: 10,497
  • New England Union Co. Inc., West Warwick: 9,771

“Data from the Toxic Release Inventory is an important tool for citizens to know what chemicals are being used in their communities, and what companies are doing to prevent pollution,” Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office, said in a statement. “This year is the 30th anniversary of TRI, and we are proud that EPA continues to make this information easily accessible through online tools, maps and reports.”
The EPA said reporting includes information on chemicals released at a company’s facility, as well as those transported to disposal facilities off site. The TRI does not reflect the relative toxicity of the chemicals emitted or potential exposure to people living in a community with reported releases, the agency said.
Reporting under TRI also does not indicate illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment.
Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, facilities must report their toxic chemical releases for the prior year to EPA by July 1 of each year.

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