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EPA Announces Toxic Release Data for Year 2000; Lists Ten Largest Emitters in New Hampshire

Release Date: 05/23/2002
Contact Information: Contact: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office (617-918-1014) Dwight Peavey, EPA TRI Coordinator (617-918-1829)

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the public availability of data covering toxic releases to the environment by power plants, manufacturers and other facilities in New Hampshire. The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data shows a total of 6,160,861 pounds of chemicals released in New Hampshire during 2000. Totals and information on specific facilities are publically available on the world wide web.

New for the year 2000 reports, companies were required to report on the releases of a range of chemicals known as persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs) which accumulate in fish and other organisms, including humans. The chemicals include mercury, dioxins, PCBs, and polycyclic aromatic compounds.

The 2000 data show a four percent rise from 1999 in New Hampshire. Since 1988, New Hampshire industries have reduced pollutant releases by 83 percent, compared to a national average of 48 percent.

"The Toxic Release Inventory is a tremendous tool for both citizens and the EPA to see what kinds of chemicals are being released to our environment, and see the progress we're making at reducing pollution," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA's New England Office. "It's very good news that we now have information on dioxin and other PBT releases, which will help us track our progress as EPA and state agencies focus on reducing the emissions of these most dangerous compounds."

"Industries across New Hampshire are increasingly taking steps to reduce their emissions of toxics, as shown by our state's long-term reduction trend that far exceeds the national average," said Dana Bisbee, N.H. Department of Environmental Services Assistant Commissioner. He noted that the state's slight increase in 2000 appears to be attributable to a 33-percent increase in electricity demand on Public Service of New Hampshire's power plants during that thriving economic period, which caused increased emissions from those plants. "At DES," added Bisbee, "we continue to be committed to helping industries reduce their emissions through our pollution prevention program, our technical assistance program for small businesses, and through implementation of several State strategies targeted at reducing specific air toxics."

Today's data includes information on releases and other wastes from 667 toxic chemicals and chemical categories that companies are required to report under EPA's TRI Program. The data includes toxics released at the company's facility and those transported to disposal facilities off site. All manufacturing companies, as well as coal and oil fired power plants, that produce or use above the threshold limit for any chemical are required to participate. Thresholds range from thousands of pounds to 100 or ten pounds for PBTs, down to 0.1 grams for dioxin-like compounds.

The following is a list of New Hampshire's 10 largest on- and off-site emitters of the toxic chemicals. No attempt has been made to adjust the totals to reflect the relative seriousness of the chemicals emitted. It is important to note that these chemical emissions are reported to EPA under the TRI and do not reflect illegal discharges of pollutants to the environment.

Company Name,City	Total Pounds Released
Merrimack Station, Bow	2,699,914
Pulp & Paper of America L. L. C. Berlin Mill	694,604
Schiller Station, Portsmouth, Rockingham	500,617
Venture Holdings Corp. (dba Bailey Mfg.), Seabrook	466,934
Groveton Paper Board Inc., Groveton	194,737
Kalwall Corp. Panels & Accessories Div., Manchester	83,817
Nashua Corp., Merrimack	79,977
Newington Station, Newington	67,036
Kalwall Corp/ Flat Sheet Div., Bow	59,664
Johnson & Johnston Assoc. Inc., Hampstead	58,909

The reporting of data to the Toxics Release Inventory is required under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, passed in 1986. The TRI provides the amount, location and type of release to the environment -- whether a pollutant is emitted into the air, discharged into the water, or released onto the land. It also includes information on waste shipped off-site for disposal or further treatment. The TRI has been credited with arming communities with valuable knowledge and encouraging facilities to reduce their releases of toxic chemicals into the environment through source reduction, or pollution prevention, measures.

TRI information is easily accessible to the news media and to the public. Information is available on-line, https://www.epa.gov/tri, in hard copy and in a variety of computer formats, including CD-ROM. For copies or more information, the public is encouraged to call EPA's toll-free Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Hotline at 1(800) 424-9346.