TRI Data Show Improved Environmental Performance by Manufacturing Sector as Economy Grows

BOSTON (March 5, 2019) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 2017 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis. Results of this publicly available database show that since 2007, releases of TRI chemicals in the U.S. manufacturing sector have declined while the economy has grown. Industrial facilities have reduced releases of TRI chemicals by taking action to prevent pollution. Across the six New England states, the reported data show many positive trends for reductions in toxic chemical releases.

In Region 1, total release quantities of TRI-listed carcinogens declined by 50 percent over the past 11 years (2007-2017) and 2 percent between 2016 and 2017. In Connecticut there was a 57 percent decrease between 2007 and 2017. Almost every industry sector in Region 1 has reported reductions in air releases of carcinogens since 2007, with the chemical manufacturing and primary metal sectors reporting the largest reductions. TRI data illustrate that a robust economy and sound environmental policies can achieve measurable results for better public health protections.

"By communicating TRI data in a clear and consistent manner, EPA is utilizing the power of transparency to notify the public of important public health information and simultaneously encourage industry to improve environmental outcomes," said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. "The latest TRI analysis confirms that under President Trump the U.S. continues to improve its air quality while growing its economy."

"Across the six New England states, the TRI data show many positive trends for reductions in toxic chemical releases, showing that a robust economy and sound environmental policies can achieve measurable results for better public health protections," said EPA New England Acting Regional Administrator Deb Szaro.

"This year's TRI results give proof that economic growth and an improved environment can go hand in hand. For over 30 years, TRI has given the public the right-to-know about chemical releases in their neighborhoods and showed what companies are doing to reduce and prevent those releases. That commitment continues. Our focus today is making the TRI website more accessible, interactive and engaging to the public," said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Assistant Administrator Alexandra Dapolito Dunn.

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