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Environmental
Profile of PCBs |
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UNITED STATES PCB EMISSIONS INVENTORY
Summary | TRI | NRC | Transformer Database | Fish Advisories | STORET | IADN/RAPIDS | PCS
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)
The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) is a public-access database maintained by U.S. EPA that allows the user to input a query regarding a particular contaminant, such as PCBs. The system will return facility information and chemical reports, which tabulate air emissions, surface water discharges, releases to land, underground injections, and transfers to off-site locations [TRI, 1999, website update: 9/8/99]. The TRI can be accessed by: www.epa.gov/enviro then select the "Queries" link, which will pull up a menu that includes a link for the TRI.
TRI Totals
for PCBs Released, Transferred as Waste, and Stored as Waste
The TRI database was accessed through the TRI Explorer link: http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer/chemical.htm
Totals of PCBs released, transferred as waste, and stored as waste were
compiled and tabulated. Then, using the Envirofacts link (GIVE REF), the
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes and the corresponding pounds
of PCBs produced for each particular industry was compiled by the latest
reporting year for the facility.
In addition, The Binational Toxics Strategy (BNS) summarized TRI data for setting goals and challenges for PCBs. At the following link, Table 1, is a summary of TRI releases in the Great Lakes States during the years 1993 through 1997. Although the document states that it may not be cited or quoted, the data can be accessed from the on-line report: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bns/pcb/steppcb.html
TRI Definitions
The definitions described below are linked directly to the table headings of the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reports for releases, waste transfers, and waste storage. If the user clicks on a table heading, such as "Fugitive Air" while in a TRI document, the browser will produce the definition for that heading. These definitions are copied directly from the TRI on-line source accessed by www.epa.gov/cgi-bin/broker, following the directions to obtain a report for the desired year, then clicking on the table heading.
Fugitive
Air
Fugitive air
emissions are all releases to air that are not released through a confined
air stream. Fugitive emissions include equipment leaks, evaporative
losses from surface impoundments and spills, and releases from building
ventilation systems.
Stack
Air
Point source air emissions occur through confined air streams such as stacks,
vents, ducts, or pipes.
Total Air
Emissions
This is the sum of fugitive air and stack air release amounts (in pounds).
Surface
Water Discharges
Releases to water include discharges to streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, and
other bodies of water. This includes releases from contained sources, such
as industrial process outflow pipes or open trenches. Releases due to runoff,
including stormwater runoff are also reportable to TRI.
Underground
Injections
Underground injection is the subsurface emplacement of fluids through wells.
TRI chemicals associated with manufacturing, the petroleum industry, mining,
commercial and service industries, and Federal and municipal government related
activities may be injected into class I, II, III, IV, or V wells, if they do
not endanger underground sources of drinking water (USDW), public health or
the environment. Class I wells are industrial, municipal, and manufacturing
related wells which inject fluids into deep, confined and isolated formations
below potable water supplies.
Releases
to Land
Disposal to land on site is the release of a toxic chemical to land within
the boundaries of the reporting facility. Releases to land include disposal
of toxic chemicals in landfills (in which wastes are buried), land treatment/application
farming (in which a waste containing a listed chemical is applied to or incorporated
into soil), surface impoundments (which are uncovered holding areas used to
volatilize and/or settle materials), and other land disposal methods (such
as waste piles) or releases to land (such as spills or leaks).
Total On-site
Releases
This field is the sum of total air emissions, surface water discharges, underground
injections, and releases to land.
Total Off-site
Releases
Off-site releases are from Section 6 (transfers off-site to disposal) of the
Form R. Off-site releases include metals and metal compounds transferred off-site
for solidification/stabilization and for waste water treatment, including to
POTWs.
Total On-
and Off-site Releases
This field is the sum of total on-site release and total off-site release amounts
(in pounds).
Transfers
to Recycling
The total amount (in pounds) of the toxic chemical transferred from the facility
to a off-site location during the calendar year (January1 - December 31) for
recycling to manage the toxic chemical. This refers to the ultimate disposition
of the toxic chemical, not the intermediate activities used for the waste stream.
Transfers
to Energy
Recovery
The total amount (in pounds) of the toxic chemical transferred from the facility
to a off-site location during the calendar year (January1 - December 31) for
energy recovery to manage the toxic chemical. This refers to the ultimate disposition
of the toxic chemical, not the intermediate activities used for the waste stream.
Transfers
to Treatment
The total amount (in pounds) of the toxic chemical transferred from the facility
to a off-site location during the calendar year (January1 - December 31) for
treatment to manage the toxic chemical. This refers to the ultimate disposition
of the toxic chemical, not the intermediate activities used for the waste stream
Transfers
to POTWs
The total amount (in pounds) of the toxic chemical transferred from the facility
to all Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) during the calendar year (January1
- December 31). POTW refers to a municipal sewage treatment plant. The most
common transfers will be conveyances of the toxic chemical in facility wastewater
through underground sewage pipes, however, trucked or other direct shipments
to a POTW are also included in this estimate.
Other Off-site
Transfers
In TRI Explorer, toxic chemicals in waste that were reported as transferred
off-site but for which the off-site activity (i.e., recycling, energy recovery,
treatment, or disposal) was not specified or was not an accepted code have
been classified as "other off-site transfers."
Recycled
On-site
The total amount (in pounds) of the toxic chemical recycled on-site during
the calendar year (January 1 - December 31) prior to the year for which the
report was submitted. This includes only the amount of the toxic chemical actually
recovered for reuse, not the total amount of the toxic chemical in the wastestream
entering recycling units on-site. This amount does not include quantities of
the toxic chemical that were recycled on-site as the result of a catastrophic
event, remedial action or other, one-time event not associated with production.
Recycled
Off-site
The total amount (in pounds) of the toxic chemical sent off-site for recycling
during the calendar year (January 1 - December 31) prior to the year for which
the report was submitted. This includes all amounts of the toxic chemical intended
to be recycled and sent off-site for that purpose, not just the amount of the
toxic chemical actually recovered. This figure includes all transfers off-site
reported in section 6.2 which are classified with a recycling code. This amount
does not include quantities of the toxic chemical that were transferred off-site
for recycling as the result of a catastrophic event, remedial action or other,
one-time event not associated with production.
Energy
Recovery On-site
The total amount (in pounds) of the toxic chemical in waste burned for energy
recovery on-site during the calendar year (January 1 - December 31) prior to
the year for which the report was submitted. This includes only the amount
of the toxic chemical actually combusted in the unit, not the total amount
of the toxic chemical in the wastestream sent for energy recovery. This also
does not include quantities of the toxic chemical that are combusted for energy
recovery on-site as the result of a catastrophic event, remedial action or
other, one-time event not associated with production.
Energy
Recovery Off-site
The total amount (in pounds) of the toxic chemical in waste sent off-site to
be burned for energy recovery during the calendar year (January 1 - December
31) prior to the year for which the report was submitted. This includes all
amounts of the toxic chemical that were intended to be recovered for energy
and were sent off-site for that purpose. This figure includes all transfers
off-site reported in section 6.2 which are classified with an energy recovery
code. This does not include quantities of the toxic chemical that are combusted
for energy recovery off-site as the result of a catastrophic event, remedial
action or other, one-time event not associated with production.
Treated
On-site
The total amount (in pounds) of the toxic chemical treated on-site during the
calendar year (January 1 - December 31) prior to the year for which the report
was submitted. This includes only the amount of the toxic chemical actually
treated (destroyed) by processes at the facility, not the total amount of the
toxic chemical present in wastestreams sent to those processes. This amount
does not include quantities of the toxic chemical that were treated for destruction
on-site as the result of a catastrophic event, remedial action or other, one-time
event not associated with production
Treated
Off-site
The total amount (in pounds) of the toxic chemical sent for treatment off-site
during the calendar year (January 1 - December 31) prior to the year for which
the report was submitted. This includes the total amount of the toxic chemical
intended to be treated (destroyed) and sent off-site for that purpose, not
the amount of the toxic chemical actually treated (destroyed) by off-site processes.
This figure includes all transfers off-site reported in section 6.2 which are
classified with treatment waste management codes and most transfers to POTWs
reported in section 6.1, except for metals. This does not include transfers
of metals to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) because metals cannot be
treated (destroyed) and will ultimately be disposed. Transfers of metals to
POTWs are included in section 8.1. This amount also does not include quantities
of the toxic chemical that were transferred off-site for treatment as the result
of a catastrophic event, remedial action or other, one-time event not associated
with production.
Quantity
Released On- and Off-site
The total amount (in pounds) of the toxic chemical released due to production
related events by the facility to all environmental media both on and off site
during the calendar year (January1 - December 31) prior to the year for which
the report was submitted. This includes air emissions, discharges to water
bodies, underground injection, and land disposal on site (all releases reported
in section 5). It also includes transfers of the toxic chemical off-site for
disposal (transfers reported in section 6.2 which are classified with a disposal
waste management code) and amounts of metals transferred to POTWs (metals reported
in 6.1).
Total Waste
Managed
This field is the sum of recycled on-site, recycled off-site, energy recovery
on-site, energy recovery off-site, treated on-site, treated off-site, and quantities
released on- and off-site.
TRI Summary by Medium and Process (1990-1999)
On- and Off- Site Releases by State and Year
TRI - On/Off Site Releases - State and Year - Excluding MI and NY
TRI - On/Off Site Releases - State and Year - MI and NY Only
Great Lakes and U.S. Totals for PCBs
