Industrial Pollution in North America: Downward Trend Continues

Taking Stock 1996, a study of North American pollution by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), shows large manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada produced 1.225 billion kilograms of pollution in 1996, down from 1.254 billion kilograms 1995, continuing a decrease indicated by 1994–1995 data. Industry and national governments say declines have continued since 1996 and will be reflected in future pollution inventory statistics.

The third annual report by the CEC (a Montreal-based organization established by the United States, Canada and Mexico to address concerns arising from the North American Free Trade Agreement), provides an overview of pollution by each state and province. It examines at a continental level industrial pollution sent directly into the air, land and water or sent off-site for treatment or disposal (mostly in landfills).

The 419-page CEC report is based on information in the US Toxics Release Inventory and Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory. These reporting systems cover selected pollutants from groups of industries identified by governments, not all pollutants released into the environment.

Chemicals, primary metals and paper products are the major industries covered. Releases and transfers of metals (and their compounds) and per capita pollution are new analyses in this year's report.

The study uses a unique methodology to create a continental overview, using comparable data from the United States and Canada; data from Mexico will be added as its pollution reporting system is fully implemented.

The US inventory in 1996 covers 608 chemicals; Canada's covers 176. Taking Stock 1996 uses data on 165 chemicals for which common reporting requirements exist under the two systems. Available inventories do not include farms (pesticides, chemical fertilizers), small businesses (i.e., service stations, dry cleaners), or mobile sources of pollution (including cars and trucks).

The report also notes that data and rankings provided are not meant to imply that facilities are failing to meet legal environmental obligations, nor that any federal, provincial or state environmental program is inadequate.

The report shows that in 1996 some 20,534 comparable manufacturing facilities in the United States (19,190) and Canada (1,344) released or transferred 1.225 billion kilograms (2.7 billion pounds) of pollutants, down 2.3% from 1995. Compared with 1995, 1996 releases and transfers were down 2% in the United States and 5% in Canada. Canada's decrease occurred despite a larger number of reporting facilities. The United States had a 2% decline in reporting facilities in 1996 compared to 1995.

Industries in both countries predict continuing declines in releases and transfers from 1996 to 1998—6% in the United States and 8% in Canada.

"The CEC is committed to making publicly available information about pollutant releases and transfers more accessible and promoting it as a tool for encouraging reductions in pollution," said Janine Ferretti, Executive Director of the CEC.

"North Americans are fortunate that their countries collect data on pollutant releases and transfers in ways that make it possible to compare information. Through the comparisons of pollutant data in this report, the CEC is enabling North Americans to monitor progress in pollution reduction."

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For a printed copy of Taking Stock 1996:
Nathalie Daoust, Commission for Environmental Cooperation
393, rue St-Jacques Ouest, Bureau 200
Montréal (Québec) Canada H2Y 1N9
Tel: (514) 350-4318; Fax: (514) 350-4314; E-mail: ndaoust@ccemtl.org

Information about national inventories upon which Taking Stock 1996 was based:

United States
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI): http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri
TRI User Support: Tel: (202) 260-1531 or (800) 424-9346 (US only)

Canada
National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI): http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/npri
NPRI Headquarters: Tel: (819) 953-1656

Mexico
Registro de Emisiones y Transferencia de Contaminantes (RETC): http://www.ine.gob.mx/retc/retc.html
RETC information: Tel: (011-525) 624-3570

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is an international organization created under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation to address regional environmental concerns, help prevent potential trade and environmental conflicts, and promote effective enforcement of environmental law. The CEC mission underscores the importance of public participation to foster conservation of the North American environment.

Taking Stock 1996, a report by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is the third annual analysis of industrial pollutant releases and transfers in North America. This report provides a continental perspective of North American pollutant releases and transfers that can assist in a better understanding of sources and handling of industrial pollution.

Pollutant "releases" are chemicals in waste that are released on-site to air, water, underground injection or land. Pollutant "transfers" are chemicals in waste that are sent from the reporting facility to a facility that treats or disposes of the chemical.

This report draws its information from the 1996 Toxics Release Inventory in the United States and the 1996 National Pollutant Release Inventory in Canada. (It also uses 1995 data from the two systems to show changes over two years.) When Mexico's pollutant release information becomes available under the Registro de Emisiones y Transferencia de Contaminantes, the comparable data will become part of the Taking Stock reports.

These national inventories track quantities of industrial pollutants released into the air, water or land on-site, and those transferred off-site for treatment or disposal. Some treatment and disposal techniques can lead to releases of pollutants to the environment.

The inventories cover a limited number of industries and pollutants and provide a partial picture only of pollution released. For 1996, the US reporting system covers only manufacturing and federal government facilities; the Canadian system covers most large industries. For 1996, the US inventory covers 608 substances and the Canadian one covers 176. Taking Stock 1996 uses data on the 165 substances from manufacturing facilities that have common reporting requirements under the two systems. Reported chemicals represent 1% of all chemicals in commerce in the two countries.

Also, the inventories do not cover sources of non-point source pollutants such as farms (which use pesticides and chemical fertilizers), small businesses (such as service stations and dry cleaners), or mobile sources of pollutants, including cars, trucks or boats.

Because of differences in the two national reporting systems, the CEC developed a unique methodology to compare and analyze the data from the two countries. The data analyses are continuously evolving, based on comments from industry, community groups and governmental officials on the format of the report, and how the information can be presented most usefully. In response to comments on the first two Taking Stock reports, important revisions were made to this year's report, including the addition of more explanation and context in the text, new analyses on metals and descriptions of human health effects for the top chemicals (Table 4–7).

None of the rankings in the report is meant to imply that any facility is not living up to its environmental obligation under the law, or that any federal, provincial or state environmental program is inadequate.

Taking Stock is more than a snapshot of what is happening in North American pollutant management. It provides a unique tool for governments, companies and communities, allowing them to assess progress and trends in pollutant releases and transfers at a North American scale. Taking Stock creates an informational basis for tri-national cooperation to further reduce North American pollution.

• 1.225 billion kilograms of pollutants were released and transferred by the matched subset of North American industrial facilities in 1996. The amount from US sources was 1.102 billion kilograms from 19,190 facilities, while Canadian sources reported 124 million kilograms from 1,344 facilities.
• Most of these pollutants are released on-site at the industrial facility; on-site releases accounted for 70% of the total while transfers off-site for treatment or disposal were 30% of the total. Most were air emissions, which were 46% of the total releases and transfers.
• 15 % of the releases and transfers were for 45 substances that are known or suspected carcinogenic substances, representing almost 189 million kilograms. The major carcinogens were dichloromethane, lead and its compounds, chromium and its compounds, and styrene.
• Together, two sectors—the chemical industry (404 million kilograms) and the primary metals industry (312 million kilograms)—released or transferred more than all other industrial sectors combined.
• From 1995 to 1996, direct industrial releases of pollutants into the environment decreased 4% in the United States and 11% in Canada for the matched subset. Transfers for treatment or disposal increased, however, by 3% in the United States and by 10% in Canada.
• Of the 71 million kilograms of chemicals exported by the United States for recycling, treatment or disposal, Ontario received 30 million kilograms, Quebec 10 million kilograms, and the city of Monterrey, Mexico, 29 million kilograms.
• Canadian transfers for recycling, treatment or disposal in the United States, meanwhile, were reported at 32 million kilograms. However, because Canadian facilities voluntarily report transfers for recycling (unlike the mandatory US system), the amount sent from Canada to the United States may be understated.
• When data on transfers to treatment and disposal only are considered (for which both countries have mandatory reporting), Canadian facilities sent twice as much to the United States than it received from the United States (4 million vs. 2 million kilograms). Most of the transfers occur at the Ontario/Michigan border.
• The United States has many more reporting facilities per capita than Canada (72 vs. 45 facilities per 1 million people). However, releases and transfers per person are virtually the same (United States: 4.14 kg; Canada 4.15 kg). Releases and transfers per square kilometer of national territory were 118 kilograms in the United States and 12 kilograms in Canada.
• US facilities dominated the total releases and transfers of listed pollutants in 1996. However, average releases and transfers per form were 1.5 times higher in Canada. Larger average releases and transfers per form for Canadian facilities were seen in air releases (1.7 times higher), transfers to treatment (1.6 times higher) and transfers to disposal (2.5 times higher). For other releases (water, underground injection and on-site land) and for transfers to sewage averages per form were slightly smaller for Canadian facilities than for US facilities. The report suggests reasons include differences in industrial processes, facility size, and levels of pollution prevention and control under differing regulatory requirements in United States and Canada.
• Rankings for the top four states and provinces by pollutant releases and transfers are: Texas (122.3 million kilograms), Ontario (68.7 million kg), Louisiana (67.9 million kg) and Ohio (65.9 million kg). Together, industries in these four jurisdictions accounted for one-quarter of total releases and transfers in 1996. When releases only are considered, Ontario ranked fourth behind Texas, Louisiana and Ohio.
• Almost half of releases and transfers were of five chemicals: methanol, ammonia, zinc and its compounds, nitric acid and nitrate compounds, and toluene.
• The top 50 facilities (far less than 1% of all those reporting) generated almost one-third of total on-site releases in North America. Pollutants injected or released to land from these sites represented over 70% of the North American total. Of the top 50 facilities, 29 are chemical industry sites.

• Texas, Louisiana and Ohio released the largest amounts of pollutants into North America's environment in 1996.
• Pennsylvania moved from 2^nd to 1^st in North America in 1996 for pollutant transfers for treatment or disposal.
• The top 3 facilities in pollutant releases and transfers in North America:
  • Magnesium Corp of America, Rowley, UT
  • ASARCO inc., East Helena, MT
  • Courtaulds Fibers Inc., Axis, AL
• The top 3 facilities in releases of carcinogens in North America:
  • American Chrome and Chemicals, Corpus Christie, TX
  • Occidental Chemical Corporation, Castle Hayne, NC
  • Monsanto Co, Luling, LA

(All these released more carcinogens in 1996 than 1995)

• The top 3 facilities in releases and transfers of carcinogens:
  • American Chrome and Chemicals, Corpus Christie, TX
  • Occidental Chemical Corp, Castle Hayne, NC
  • ASARCO Inc, Ray Complex, Hayden Smelter, Hayden, AZ

(All three released and transferred more carcinogens in 1996 than 1995).

• The top 3 facilities in releases of metals and their compounds (a new measure introduced in Taking Stock 1996):
  • ASARCO Inc., East Helena, MT
  • Cyprus Miami Mining Corp, Claypool, AZ
  • Northwestern Steel and Wire Co., Sterling, IL
• The top 3 facilities in releases and transfers of metals and their compounds (a new measure introduced in Taking Stock 1996):
  • ASARCO Inc., East Helena, MT
  • Cyprus Miami Mining Corp, Clairol, AZ
  • Zinc Corp of America, Horsehead Ind., Monaca, PA
• Texas reported the greatest reductions in releases from 1995 to 1996 (14 million kg). North Dakota and Vermont reduced releases by more than 30% from 1995 to 1996. Releases increased in 18 states.
• Total US releases and transfers of carcinogens decreased 3% from 1995 to 1996.
• Total US releases and transfers of metals and their compounds increased by 18%, double the Canadian increase.
• Reductions continue in releases and transfers of chemicals targeted in the U.S. 33/50 program (down 9% from 1995 to 1996).
• Cook County, Illinois (which includes Chicago), had America's largest number of reporting facilities, followed by Los Angeles County, California, and Harris County, Texas (which includes Houston). Harris County had the largest releases and transfers in the U.S. (40 million kg), followed by Tooele County, Utah (30 million kg), and Lewis and Clark County, MN ranked third (20 million kg).

• Ontario ranked second among jurisdictions in North America for releases and transfers. Ontario moved from 3^rd to 4^th position for releases alone. Transfers in Ontario increased 19% from 1995 to 1996.
• Ontario reported the largest decreases of all provinces in releases (7 million kg) and releases and transfers (2 million kg) between 1995 and 1996. It also had the largest increase in transfers of all provinces (almost 5 million kg).
• Half of Canada's top 50 facilities for pollutant releases are in Ontario.
• Alberta ranks 3^rd among states and provinces in releases and transfers per capita.
• Canadian facilities among the top 50 facilities in pollutant releases:
  • 18) Inco Ltd. Copper Cliff Complex, Copper Cliff, ON
  • 20) Celanese Canada Inc., Edmonton, AB
  • 48) Sidbec-Dosco (Ispat) Inc., Contrecoeur, QC
  • 49) Nova Chemicals St. Clair Site, Corunna, ON
  • 50) Irving Pulp and Paper, Tissue Company, Saint John, NB
• Canadian facilities among the top 50 facilities in releases and transfers:
  • 24) Co-Steel Lasco, Whitby, ON
  • 25) Inco Ltd., Copper Cliff Complex, Copper Cliff, ON
  • 27) Celanese Canada, Edmonton, AB
  • 29) Lake Erie Steel, Nanticoke, ON
  • 34) Dominion Colour, Ajax ON
• Taking Stock 1996 reports rankings of facilities reporting carcinogens, and metals, as well as facilities reporting the greatest increase and decrease in releases and transfers for carcinogens, and metals.
• Canadian facilities among the top 50 facilities in releases of carcinogens:
  • 22) Celanese Canada, Edmonton, AB
  • 27) Dofasco Inc, Hamilton, ON
  • 35) Métallurgie Noranda Inc., Fonderie Horne, Rouyn Noranda, QC
  • 39) Novopharm Ltd, Scarborough, ON
  • Canadian facilities among the top 50 facilities in releases and transfers of carcinogens:
  • 18) Dominion Castings, Hamilton, ON
  • 31) Co-Steel Lasco, Whitby, ON
  • 32) Celanese Canada, Edmonton, AB
  • 37) Dofasco Inc, Hamilton, ON
  • 48) Stelco Inc. Hilton Works, Hamilton, ON
• Canadian facilities among the top 50 facilities in releases of metals and their compounds (a new measure introduced in Taking Stock 1996):
  • 19) Sidbec-Dosco (Ispat) Inc. Aciere, Contrecoeur, QC
  • 20) Gerdau MRM Steel Inc., Selkirk, MB
  • 24) Co-Steel Lasco, Whitby, ON
  • 30) Métallurgie Noranda, Fonderie Horne, Rouyn Nornada, QC
  • 34) AltaSteel, Edmonton, AB
  • 37) Lake Erie Steel, Nanticoke, ON
  • 39) Sidbec-Dosco (Ispat) Inc, Sidbec-Feruni (Ispat), Contrecoeur, QC
  • 41) Inco Ltd., Copper Cliff, Copper Cliff, ON
  • 42) Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Metallurgical Complex, Flin Flon, MB
  • 47) Sydney Steel Corp., Sydney, NS
• Canadian facilities among the top 50 facilities in releases and transfers of metals and their compounds (a new measure introduced in Taking Stock 1996):
  • 12) Co-Steel Lasco, Whitby, ON
  • 15) Lake Erie Steel, Nanticoke, ON
  • 25) Stelco McMaster Ltd, Contrecoeur, QC
  • 30) Dofasco, Hamilton, ON
  • 32) Sidbec-Dosco (Ispat) Inc, Acerie, Contrecoeur, QC
  • 35) Gerdau MRM Steel Inc, Selkirk, MB
  • 42) Ivaco Rolling Mills, L'Orignal, ON
  • 46) Slater Steels, Hamilton Specialty Bar Division, Hamilton, ON
• Canada's 11% reduction in releases from 1995 to 1996 was mainly from reduced releases to water. Air and land releases also decreased from 1995 to 1996, while underground injection increased.
• Most of Canada's 10% increase in transfers from 1995 to 1996 was due to increases in transfers for disposal (2 million kg).
• In Canada, releases and transfers of carcinogens decreased 13% between 1995 and 1996. The decrease for all substances was 5%.
• Metro Toronto had the largest number of reporting facilities in Canada, followed by Montreal (Quebec) and Peel Region (Ontario). In 1996, Ontario's Durham Region had the largest total releases and transfers in Canada (12 million kg); followed by the Edmonton area (10 million kg) and Lambton County, Ontario (which includes Windsor, 8 million kg).
• Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory includes reports from more than just manufacturing facilities. An analysis of reporting by Ontario's sewage treatment plants reporting to NPRI shows that they release 90 times more chlorine and 4 times more nitric acid and nitrate compounds than the Ontario manufacturing facilities reporting to NPRI.

• Significant changes occurred in the Registro de Emisiones y Transferencia de Contaminantes (RETC) program in 1998. Approximately 500 facilities submitted an annual certificate of operation (COA) by the July deadline; about 50 submitted voluntary information for the RETC program covering the calendar year 1997. (To date, the National Ecology Institute (INE), which operates the RETC, has received over 2000 COA forms.)
• The RETC program has hit several barriers to mandatory multi-media PRTR reporting for a wide list of chemicals, including the lack of:
  • a hazardous waste management policy;
  • a legal list of chemicals to be reported; and
  • consensus on public access to information and data presentation.
• About 42% of chemicals sent outside of the United States went to Mexico (30 million of 71 million kg); almost all (29 million kg) shipped to the City of Monterrey for recycling. Any comparable transfers from Mexico to the United States are unknown at this time and won't be available until the RETC is fully implemented.
• Several nongovernmental groups are actively promoting increased knowledge of chemical releases and transfers in Mexico.

Two tables from the report are reproduced on the following pages: Table 4–3: North American Releases and Transfers, by Province and State, 1996; and Table 4-5: Top North American Facilities with the Largest Total Releases and Transfers, 1996.

Please note that the rankings do not imply that any facility does not live up to its environmental obligations under the law, nor that any federal, provincial or state environmental program is inadequate. These rankings present the largest sources of releases and transfers of the reported chemicals from the covered facilities and provinces/states, and therefore document some of the largest sources of the listed pollutants to the environment. The rankings are done exclusively on the basis of reported quantities and are not risk-based.