USVI and Regional Partners See Decrease in Toxic Releases, EPA Reports

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday unveiled its 2022 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) National Analysis, revealing a notable 21% reduction in environmental releases of TRI chemicals from covered facilities since 2013, including a significant 26% decrease in air emissions.

The report underscores a simultaneous decrease in pollution alongside a 14% growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector's economic output.

This year's analysis also highlighted a 24% reduction in production-related waste management from TRI facilities in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and eight Indian Nations since 2013. In 2022 alone, these regions (collectively known as Region 2) managed 94% of their waste through preferred methods like treatment, energy recovery, and recycling, limiting environmental releases to only 6%. Total releases and disposals in Region 2 amounted to 34.1 million pounds.

Furthermore, the EPA's report detailed that in 2022, 11% of facilities in Region 2 undertook new pollution prevention initiatives, surpassing the national average of 8%. The most frequent improvements included operational changes and enhanced training programs.