This article reports on changes to the United States Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) proposed in 2005 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Under the first two proposed rules, facilities would stop reporting relatively unused information (like storm water reporting) and EPA would automatically supply data that does not change (like longitude and latitude coordinates), rather than requiring facilities to report the data. A second proposed set of rule changes would reduce the scope of the TRI. Proposals that EPA has explored include: raising reporting thresholds for small businesses or for facilities and chemicals with small reportable amounts; expanding the number of facilities exempt from detailed reporting; and allowing facilities to report production waste in 'ranges' instead of specific amounts. The authors find that these changes would reduce information available to the public on toxic emissions.(Original source: http://www.crtk.org/library-newsletters-3.cfm?date=2005-02-01%2000:00:0…)
