  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - April 2, 2001
01-050
OLYMPIA - Reported releases of toxic chemicals into Washington's environment went down by 3.2 million pounds from 1998 to 1999, according to the state Department of Ecology (Ecology).
The 2001 edition of the annual "Chemicals in Washington State" report (formerly called the Toxics Release Inventory) lists data about chemical releases to the air, water and soil by manufacturers throughout the state. State law requires manufacturers to report releases that are allowed under their air, water or hazardous-waste permits, along with any accidental or one-time releases.
The new report indicates that the amount of reported toxic contaminants that were released into the environment dropped from 28.9 million pounds in 1998 to 25.7 million pounds in 1999.
"These numbers are especially significant because businesses and the state's economy were in a growth trend during 1999," said Greg Sorlie, who manages Ecology's hazardous-waste and toxics-reduction program. "With improved technology and better engineering, industries are able to grow their businesses without increasing their toxic output."
Sorlie noted that there were several important downward trends, including reduced toxic releases from manufacturers and industries, and a reduction of the core chemicals consistently required by EPA to be monitored since the report began in 1989.
Since 1989, reported releases have decreased by 20 million pounds. Reductions by manufacturers have reached 50 percent, and releases of the core group of chemicals have been reduced by 30 percent.
"The decreased numbers reflect the benefits of effective pollution-prevention planning," said Sorlie. "It's good for business, good for the public and good for the ecosystem."
The lower numbers also are partly due to more precision in estimating releases of permitted chemicals, he said.
For 1999, 297 companies reported releasing a total of 20.2 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the air, 2.5 million pounds onto the land, and 3.1 million pounds into the water.
Methanol was the most-released chemical, at 4.5 million pounds. Methanol is released into the air primarily from the pulping process at paper mills.
Carbonyl sulfide was the next-highest chemical release reported. It is primarily a product of the aluminum industry.
Paper and allied-products companies reported 10 million pounds of all chemical releases in Washington. They were followed by industries that produce primary-metal products, with 4.3 million pounds, and electric-service industries, with 3 million pounds.
The three facilities with the highest amounts of releases were Pacificorp Thermal Plant in Centralia (an electric service), with 2.8 million pounds; Weyerhaeuser in Longview (paper and allied-products manufacturer), with 2.6 million pounds; and Ft. James in Camas (paper and allied-products manufacturer), with 1.7 million pounds.
In 1999, the largest amount of toxic chemicals released in the state was reported in Cowlitz County, with 3.9 million pounds. However, this represented half-million pound decrease from 1998.
Other counties reporting more than 2 million pounds of releases were Clark, Lewis, King and Whatcom.
Sorlie stressed it is important to remember that toxic-release data are limited. The reports identify total releases for more than 600 chemicals identified by Congress as "toxic." Other factors to consider: only annual pounds are reported, not the rate of release, concentration or size of the facility; 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.
The CIW report can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0104012.html
For more information on the report or the chemicals in individual communities, citizens may call Ecology's Hazardous Substance Information Office at 800-633-7585.
Visit this site for more information on Ecology's Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr/index.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
