TRI Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS THE TOXICS RELEASE INVENTORY?
The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program is an annual reporting requirement passed by Congress in 1986. It is part of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE TRI PROGRAM?
The primary purpose of the TRI is to provide information to the public concerning the quantity of releases of about 650 listed substances to air, water or land.
WHAT DOES TRI REQUIRE?
TRI requires individual facilities to file an annual report due July 1, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state environmental agencies. This report, referred to as the Form R, quantifies the amount of each listed substance that is released by a facility to the air, water or land. The report also provides the amount of these substances the facility has "manufactured, processed or otherwise used."
WHAT DOES TRI MEAN BY "RELEASE" TO THE AIR, WATER OR LAND?
For metals mining facilities, a "release" to the land includes naturally occurring minerals that remain in the mined rock that is moved, stored or disposed of in managed facilities at the mine site. This material makes up at least 80-99% or more of substances that most metals mines will report. As a result, the TRI reports from metals mines will be unlike the reports from other industries in that most of the reported material is contained in managed facilities on the mine site. TRI also defines "release" as emissions to the air and discharges to the waterways.
HOW IS TRI DATA USED?
TRI is used to inform the public about manufacturing or other facilities in their state or community. The EPA compiles all of the reports into a national database and issues state-by-state summaries in the spring following the July 1st reporting deadline. This report, is published and made available on the internet, summarizes all of the data by chemical, state, federal facilities and industry. It also summarizes releases by type and environmental medium, provides lists of such information as total releases and "Top 10" chemical releases, and it makes comparisons with previous years' reports.
DOES TRI REQUIRE COMPANIES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR RELEASES?
TRI is intended to provide information to the public-it is not meant to impose any health, safety or environmental regulations.
ON OR ABOUT HOW MANY OF THE NEARLY 650 SUBSTANCES LISTED UNDER TRI WILL MINING COMPANIES BE REPORTING?
Most metals mines will be reporting on about 10 to 12 substances. Most of them are naturally occurring minerals that remain in the mined rock that is moved, stored or disposed of in managed facilities at the mine site.
WHY WILL METALS MINING COMPANIES REPORT SUCH LARGE VOLUMES OF TRI SUBSTANCES?
During the normal course of operations, metals mines move, store, process and dispose of very large volumes of rock to extract the metal-silver and gold, for example. Naturally occurring minerals remain in this mined rock and the EPA requires these quantities to be reported under TRI.
DOES THE TRI REPORT PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE RISK POSED BY THE SUBSTANCES COVERED BY TRI?
TRI is a weight-based report. It is not intended to assess risk. TRI data is not used to determine actual toxicity, exposure or risk to the public associated with the releases that are reported.
