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EPA Reports On Toxic Releases To Air, Water and Land in New York

Release Date: 06/18/1998
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(#98067) NEW YORK, N.Y.-- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported today in its annual Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) that the 99.7 million pounds of toxic chemicals listed as released in New York during 1988 had dropped to 26 million pounds in 1996, a decrease over the eight-year period of 73.9%

. EPA recently analyzed releases from five major industrial sectors and found a national decline in toxic releases, led by chemical manufacturing, followed by primary metals, electrical equipment, pulp and paper, and petroleum refining.

EPA Regional Administrator Jeanne M. Fox said, "While we are encouraged by the downward trend in the release of chemicals on the original list, we must contunue our efforts to maintain it. This data demonstrates that it is possible to decrease pollution and maintain a strong economy."

The annual Toxic Release Inventory is a compilation of the country's latest data on toxic releases into a yearly report that provides a state-by-state and national listing of pollution trends. This year's report covers toxic releases into the air, water and land in 1996. The report shows that the releases of toxic chemicals into the air in New York communities dropped from 30.6 million pounds in 1995 to 26.9 million pounds in 1996. Discharges of toxic chemicals into New York waters declined from 5.6 million pounds in 1995 to 3.9 million pounds in 1996. Land disposal of toxic chemicals dropped slightly, from 1.2 million pounds in 1995 to 1.1 million pounds in 1996.

Ms. Fox added that, "In a continuing effort to make toxic release information more accessible and relevant to the interested public, EPA recently announced a chemical right-to-know initiative that will provide information on the health effects of the high volume chemicals on the list."

Of the 692 facilities in New York that reported 1996 data, the ten facilities with the highest volume of toxic releases are: Eastman Kodak Co. in Rochester (7.3 million pounds); Finch Pruyn & Company, Inc. in Glens Falls (2.5 million pounds); Garlock, Inc. in Palmyra (1.5 million pounds); General Electric Co. in Waterford (1.4 million pounds); Corning, Inc. in Canton (1.2 million pounds); Tesa Tape Inc. in Middletown (989,724 pounds); Metal Container Corp. in New Windsor(888,315 pounds); 3M in Tonawanda (848,700 pounds); Alcoa in Massena (756,829 pounds); and, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. in East Syracuse(580,055 pounds).

TRI information is available online at https://www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri or by calling the Hotline number at 1-800-424-9346.

For more information contact:
Richard Cahill, Press Office
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
NY, NY 10007-1866
Voice: 212-637-3666 FAX: 212-637-5046 E-Mail: cahill.richard@epamail.epa.gov