A: The Toxics Release Inventory, or TRI, is a reporting requirement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and is commonly known as the "right-to-know" program. People have a right to know what substances companies produce and discharge into their environment. TRI acts as a tool that communities can use to learn more about the types and amounts of chemicals released in or near their neighborhoods, and for emergency planning.
A: For the past 10 years, over 25,000 manufacturing businesses have reported their air, water and land releases to the public under this program. Starting this year, electric utilities and several other types of industries will, for the first time, be required to file TRI reports with the EPA.
A: Reports for 1998 releases must be filed with the EPA by July 1, 1999. Tampa Electric participated along with other utilities in an early public release of this information in June, as an accumulation of preliminary data compiled by the Edison Electric Institute.
A: In order to comply with the numerous environmental laws that regulate Tampa Electric's operations, we file reports with federal, state and local regulatory agencies. These reports have always been publicly available. The TRI program is a new reporting format for Tampa Electric and other electric utilities.
A: The designated manufacturing and industrial facilities covered by the TRI program are required to report releases for certain substances if the facility "manufactures" or "processes" 25,000 pounds or more of any listed chemical, or "otherwise uses" 10,000 pounds or more of the listed chemical. "Manufacture" means to produce, prepare, import or compound the chemical. "Process" means to prepare the chemical, after it has been manufactured, for distribution in commerce. The "otherwise use" is defined by EPA to mean the use of the chemical, including one in a mixture, a trade name or waste, that is not covered by the terms "manufacture" or "process." Tampa Electric will report these specified releases to the air, water and land, including chemicals transported off-site.
A: Tampa Electric burns coal to meet its customers' growing needs for reliable, low-cost electricity. Coal contains many natural substances that were part of the world when it was formed. Some of these are released when the coal is burned. The EPA regards the burning of coal as a manufacturing process, so we must report the by-products of combustion. We have installed pollution control equipment to remove the fly ash and other substances from the flue gas. Even after cleaning these various streams to ensure compliance with environmental laws, there are still some chemicals that leave the power plant. The largest releases are diluted hydrochloric acid, hydrogen fluoride and sulfuric acid, formed when chlorine, fluorine and sulfur in the burning coal combine with other substances in the furnace.
A: The TRI information is not designed to show if chemical releases pose potential health or environmental hazards. Rather, the reports only show how many pounds of chemicals that companies release, dispose, treat, recycle, etc. Tampa Electric will be ready to respond to questions from the communities that we serve and make sure that our customers understand the information, beyond just the numbers. We will make our TRI information easily available to the public and make outside experts available to put it into proper context.
A: We have prepared a detailed "white paper" on TRI, available on our Web site at www.tampaelectric.com. Our media contact, Laura , can be reached at 813/ 228-1572. For technical questions, please call, 813/ 228-1111 ext. 46160. Interested parties can also visit EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov for details on the program and the reports.
Tampa Electric media contact.
For technical questions call (813) 228-1111 ext. 34740
Interested parties may also visit the EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov
