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

Release Date: 06/18/1998
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(#98068) NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported today in its annual Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) showed that the 45 million pounds of toxic chemicals listed as released into New Jersey's environment in 1988 had dropped to 10.6 million pounds in 1996; a decrease over the eight-year period of 76%.

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 continue 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 in 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 Jersey communities dropped from 12.5 million pounds in 1995 to 10 million pounds in 1996, a decline of roughly 18%. However, land discharges reported in the state more than doubled from 426,207 pounds in 1995 to 930,080 pounds in 1996. This was due to an increase in the volume of toxic chemicals that companies are disposing in their own permitted on-site landfills. The TRI data also showed an increase in discharges of toxic chemicals into New Jersey waters, from 2.6 million pounds in 1995 to 5.4 million pounds in 1996. Included in the increase are 4.6 million pounds due to newly reported chemicals, primarily nitrate compounds (3.7 million pounds). 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 582 facilities in New Jersey reporting 1996 toxic release data, the ten with the highest volume are: Dupont Chambers Works in Deepwater (4.3 million pounds); Bayway Refining Co. in Linden (2.1 million pounds); Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. in Waldwick(485,754 pounds); Ford Motor Company in Edison (455,843 pounds); Du Pont in Gloucester (372,673 pounds); Permacel in North Brunswick (372,311 pounds); Mallinckrodt Baker, Inc. in Phillipsburg (343,358 pounds); General Motors Corp. in Linden (325,821 pounds); Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe in Phillipsburg (318,554 pounds); and, Coastal Eagle Point Oil Company in Westville (277,237 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