Toxic release information for Montana

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) making data and information available on the amount of toxic chemicals released in Montana and the U.S. in 2015.

The 2015 TRI Montana factsheet can be found here on the EPA website.

Nationally, the report shows releases of toxic chemicals into the air fell 56 percent from 2005-2015 at industrial facilities submitting data to the TRI program, including an 8 percent decrease from 2014 to 2015. Hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, toluene and mercury were among chemicals with significantly lower air releases at TRI-covered facilities.

Medical professionals have associated these toxic air pollutants with health effects that include damage to developing nervous systems and respiratory irritation.

EPA, states and tribes receive TRI data annually from facilities in industry sectors such as manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities and commercial hazardous waste management. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), facilities must report their toxic chemical releases for the prior calendar year to EPA by July 1 of each year.