RIGHT TO KNOW: EPA proposes lower reporting thresholds for persistent bioaccumulative chemicals

The Environmental Protection Agency moved last week to significantly expand the public's right to know about certain toxic chemicals. The agency published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would require more—lots more—reporting to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) of environmental releases of persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemicals, including dioxins and mercury. Currently, facilities are not required to report releases to air, water, or land unless they manufacture or process more than 25,000 lb annually or use more than 10,000 lb annually of a TRI-listed chemical. As a result, releases of many persistent chemicals, such as mercury, that bioaccumulate in wildlife and humans are not reported. Under the new proposal, the reporting thresholds for 13 chemicals or chemical groups would be lowered to either 10 lb or 100 lb per year, depending on the chemical's persistence in the environment and bioaccumulative capacity. The lowest threshold, 0.1 g per year, is reserved for dioxins. ...