Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 28, 1999

99-088

Contact: Idell Hansen, Department of Ecology, (360) 407-6727
Caitlin Cormier, public information officer, (360) 407-6149

Ecology report shows chemical-release levels going down

OLYMPIA - Reported releases of toxic chemicals into Washington’s environment decreased by 6.3 percent from 1996 to 1997, according to the state Department of Ecology.

The 1999 edition of the annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) indicates the amount of toxic contaminants released fell by 1.6 million pounds (from 26 million pounds to 24.4 million pounds), even though the economy and industry were in a period of growth.

The TRI report lists data on chemical releases to the air, water and soil by manufacturers throughout the state. State law requires manufacturers to report any accidental or one-time releases, along with releases that are allowed under their air, water or hazardous-waste permits.

"The TRI data provide one indicator of environmental progress in Washington," said Greg Sorlie, who manages Ecology’s hazardous-waste and toxics-reduction program. "In this case, the data show a direct correlation between the decrease of chemical releases and Ecology's requirement that businesses develop pollution-prevention plans beginning in 1990."

For 1997, 284 companies reported releasing a total of 21.6 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the air, 2.5 million pounds into the water, and 340,715 pounds onto the land.

Methanol was the most-released chemical, at seven million pounds. Methanol is released into the air primarily from the pulping process at paper mills.

Ammonia, carbonyl sulfide and hydrogen fluoride were the next-highest chemical releases reported.

Paper and allied products companies reported 12.5 million pounds, or 51 percent, of all chemical releases in Washington. They were followed by industries that produce primary metal products, with 3.6 million pounds (15 percent of all releases), and transportation-equipment manufacturers, with 2.1 million pounds (8.5 percent of releases).

Twenty manufacturing facilities with the largest quantities of TRI releases accounted for 74 percent of all chemical releases in Washington. The four facilities with the highest amounts of releases were in the paper and allied products manufacturing sector: Weyerhaeuser in Longview, 4.5 million pounds; Fort James in Camas, 1.4 million pounds; Boise Cascade in Wallula, 1.4 million pounds; and Georgia Pacific in Bellingham, 1.2 million pounds.

In 1997, the largest amount of toxic chemicals released in the state was reported in Cowlitz County, with 5.6 million pounds. Other counties reporting more than two million pounds of releases were Clark, Pierce, King and Whatcom.

Sorlie stressed it is important to remember that TRI data are limited. The reports identify total releases for more than 600 chemicals identified by Congress as "toxic." The list of chemicals identified can change from year to year.

Other factors to consider: only annual pounds are reported, not the rate of release or concentration; the report does not include toxic chemicals introduced through pesticide applications, motor vehicles and wood stoves; and a report of toxic release does not necessarily mean there were toxic effects on humans or the environment.