Toxic Release Inventory TRI Report Summary For Chicago Metro

A summary of the 2009 Toxic Release Inventory for facilities in the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL-IN-WI metropolitan area has been released by US EPA. Total on-site disposal or other releases for the Chicago metropolitan area decreased by 25% from 2001 to 2009 with a 12% decrease from 2008 to 2009. Air releases decreased 29% from 2001 to 2009 and 14% from 2008 to 2009. Surface water discharges decreased by 50% from 2001 to 2009 and 17% from 2008 to 2009. The primary metals total disposal or other releases decreased by 20% from 2001 to 2009, including a 49% decrease in surface water discharges and a 31% decrease in air releases.

The Chicago metropolitan area had similar TRI releases compared to the national averages. In 2009, nationwide the releases of 313 toxic chemicals decreased by 12% from 2008. The analysis, which includes data on approximately 650 chemicals from more than 20,000 facilities, found that nationally total releases to air decreased 20% since 2008, and releases to surface water decreased 18%, and to land 4% since 2008.

The EPA analysis shows decreases in the releases of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals including lead, dioxin, and mercury. Total disposal or other releases of mercury decreased 3% and total disposal or other releases of both dioxin and lead decreased by 18%. Seven percent few facilities reported to TRI from the previous year, continuing a trend from the past few years.

EPA added 16 chemicals to the TRI list of reportable chemicals in November. These chemicals are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens, and represent the largest chemical expansion of the program in a decade. Data on the new TRI chemicals will be reported by facilities on July 1, 2012.

Caltha LLP provides specialized expertise to clients in Illinois in the preparation of EPCRA 313 Toxic Release Inventory reports, developing chemical tracking procedures, and preparing cost-effective EH&S management programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at
info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

TSCA Action Plans for Dyes, Flame Retardants, Industrial Laundry Detergents

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released action plans to address the potential health risks of benzidine dyes, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and nonylphenol (NP)/nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). The chemicals are widely used in both consumer and industrial applications, including dyes, flame retardants, and industrial laundry detergents. The plans identify a range of actions the agency is considering under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

The range of actions on these chemicals include adding HBCD and NP/NPE to EPA’s new Chemicals of Concern list, issuing significant new use rules for all three chemicals, and, for HBCD and benzidine dyes, imposing new reporting requirements on EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory and potentially banning or limiting the manufacture or use of the chemicals.

In addition to EPA actions, the Textile Rental Services Association has committed to voluntarily phase out the use of NPEs in industrial liquid detergents by Dec. 31, 2013 and industrial powder detergents by the end of 2014.

EPA first announced that it planned to develop the Chemicals of Concern list last December, which indicates that the chemicals may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health and the environment, under a previously unused TSCA authority.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Illinois to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at info@calthacompany.com or Caltha LLP Website

EPCRA 311-312 Excemption for Certain Farm Emissions

Effective January 20, 2009, US EPA is providing an administrative reporting exemption that applies to certain releases of hazardous substances from farm operations. The exemption applies to releases of hazardous substances to the air from animal waste at farms. The final rule reduces the burden of complying with Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) reporting requirements for the affected farms.

The final rule does not change the notification requirements if hazardous substances are released to the air from any source other than animal waste at farms (e.g., ammonia tanks), or if any hazardous substances from animal waste are released to any other environmental media, (e.g., soil, ground water, or surface water) when the release of those hazardous substances is at or above its reportable quantity.

Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide are the most common hazardous substances that are emitted from animal waste. Ammonia is a by-product of the breakdown of urea and proteins that are contained in animal waste, while hydrogen sulfide is another by-product of the breakdown of animal waste under anaerobic conditions. However, other hazardous substances, such as nitrogen oxide and certain volatile organic compounds may also be released from animal waste. This rule extends the administrative reporting exemption to all hazardous substances emitted to the air from animal waste at farms.

Caltha LLP assists facilities regulated under CERCLA and EPCRA in meeting their reporting requirements, including EPCRA 311 – EPCRA 312 reporting of releases of hazardous substances.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Illinois to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP atinfo@calthacompany.com
orCaltha LLP Website

Illinois Emergency Management Agency – IEMA - EPCRA Tier 2 Extension

Owners or operators of facilities that have hazardous substances on hand in quantities above threshold levels must submit Emergency Preparedness and Community Right-to-know Act (EPCRA) Tier 2 forms by March 1 each year. The Tier 2 report covers the previous calendar year.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has extended the reporting deadline for Illinois facilities until March 16, 2009.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) now requires all regulated facilities to submit Tier 2 information electronically by using Tier 2 Manager, IEMA's Tier 2 on-line filing system. Each facility's username is unique to its physical (9-1-1) address. IEMA also requires all EPCRA Section 302 (EHS) and EPCRA Section 311 (MSDS) submissions be made by using Tier 2 Manager. Hard-copy submissions are no longer accepted.

For Reporting Year 2008, there are two new required fields in Tier 2 Manager's Facility Section: 1) drop-down box to select a facility's jurisdictional fire department and 2) addition of a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) number. NAICS is replacing the SIC Code.

Facilities that reported in 2007, but are not subject to reporting in 2008, should make the facility inactive on the Tier 2 Manager Facility Home Page. Facilities that didn't file in 2007, but are reporting for 2008, must contact IEMA for a state-issued User ID and Password.

[Read more about recent changes to EPA EPCRA 311-312 reporting requirements]
[Read more about recent changes to EPA EPCRA 313 – TRI reporting requirements]

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Illinois to obtain air and wastewater permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at
info@calthacompany.com
or
Caltha LLP Website