States ask EPA to reconsider Toxics Release Inventory changes
By Bruce Geiselman

Jan. 16 -- Attorneys general from a dozen states have written to federal environmental officials asking them to reconsider a plan to reform the Toxics Release Inventory reporting system.

The states´ attorneys said they submitted written comments challenging the legality of proposed changes that would allow more companies to use a short form for reporting chemical releases. The EPA proposal would raise the long-form reporting threshold for chemical releases from the current 500 pounds to 5,000 pounds. The shorter form requires less detailed information, and the EPA and other advocates argue it would save small companies time and money.

In addition, the states´ attorneys object to an EPA proposal that would reduce the frequency with which companies would be required to submit toxic release reports from every year to every two years.

The states´ attorneys said the changes would significantly reduce the amount of toxic chemical release information available to the public.

"Public disclosure has proven to be a strong incentive for polluters to reduce their use of toxic chemicals," said New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. "This move by EPA appears to be yet another poorly considered notion to appease a few polluting constituents at the expense of a valuable program."

California Attorney General Bill Lockyer expressed similar views. "People have a right to know about how much pollution is being released into our water, air and communities," he said.

The National Association of Manufacturers has endorsed the EPA proposal. NAM President John Engler has said the proposed reforms would reduce environmental regulatory burdens on small manufacturers while protecting the environment. In return, manufacturers could devote more of their resources to addressing other critical environmental issues, he said.

Interested parties had until Jan. 13 to submit their comments.