Isle toxin releases
among lowestReleases reported in 2002
rose 2 percent over 2001 figures
Hawaii ranked 49th among states in the release of toxic chemicals during 2002, according to the annual Toxics Release Inventory of the Environmental Protection Agency.
In Hawaii, 39 facilities reported 3.2 million pounds of toxic chemical releases. Hawaii releases noted by the report increased 2 percent over 2001, primarily due to an increase in reporting from federal facilities, including the U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor Naval Complex, and electric-generating facilities.
The Toxics Release Inventory data reflects numbers submitted to the EPA by business and industry, and does not mean that facilities with elevated levels are violating state, local or federal environmental regulations.
Industries in the other states of the EPA's Pacific Southwestern Region -- Arizona, California and Nevada -- reported overall decreases in the amount of toxic chemicals released into the air, land and water in 2002.
"TRI continues to be a useful tool for states, counties and communities to know what types and amounts of chemicals are present in their neighborhoods," said Wayne Nastri, EPA regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest region.
Fact sheets and additional information on the 2002 data are available at www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/tri.