U.S. TRI Program a Leader in International Chemical Release Reporting
The U.S. EPA's TRI Program was established in 1987 under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, and later expanded by the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990. In establishing its TRI Program, the EPA effectively instituted the very first pollutant release and transfer registry (PRTR) in the world.
Since its implementation in 1987, the EPA's TRI Program has modified its PRTR to further enhance the public's right-to-know about the disposition of toxic chemicals in communities. These modifications have included: addition of toxic chemicals to the original TRI list of toxic chemicals; requiring more industry sectors to report their releases and other waste management quantities of listed toxic chemicals, and implementation of stricter reporting requirements for certain toxic chemicals that are of particular concern (e.g., mercury, dioxins).
The EPA's PRTR (i.e. TRI) is the oldest and most comprehensive PRTR system in the world. Revered internationally as the premiere PRTR, environmental authorities in other countries throughout the world are gradually but increasingly implementing their own PRTR programs, using the EPA's PRTR as the benchmark prototype model upon which their respective PRTRs are based. As of 2008, there are over twenty PRTRs in the world, and at least five additional PRTRs are currently being planned. In the coming years many more PRTRs will undoubtedly be implemented.
Countries with PRTRs:
Greece, Germany, France, Finland, Estonia, Czech Republic Denmark, Cyprus, Belgium, Austria, Australia, United Kingdom, Estonia, Sweden, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Portugal, Norway, Poland, Netherlands, Malta, Luxembourg, Lithunia, Latvia, Ireland, Hungary, Italy,
Mexico, Canada
, and the United States.
TRI Around the World
EPA's TRI Program works closely with international organizations and participates in international activities to assist in the development of PRTR programs in other countries. These international organizations and activities are listed below.
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Organization for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentThe Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) OECD and PRTRsThe OECD began work to encourage development of PRTRs![]() To help member countries implement efficient and effective PRTR systems, OECD produces documents describing the experiences of countries that have developed PRTRs; current and emerging uses of PRTR data; how PRTRs differ; and the identification, selection, and adaptation of release estimation techniques that industry can use to calculate pollutant releases and transfers. The OECD coordinates PRTR activities between the industrialized nations of Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific through its PRTR Task Force. The goal of the Task Force is to enable the OECD member countries to provide and improve information about implementation of PRTRs.
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North American Commission for Environmental CooperationThe North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) CEC and PRTRsThree countries and their respective PRTRs are affiliated with the CEC. These countries are: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Canada’s PRTR program is the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) and is maintained by Environment Canada. Mexico’s PRTR program is the Registro de Emisiones y Transferencia de Contaminantes (RETC) and is maintained by Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (La Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT)).The CEC annually publishes its Taking Stock: North American Pollutant Releases and Transfers report
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United Nations Environment ProgramThe United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) UNEP’s International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals (IRPTC) |
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United Nations Institute for Training and ResearchThe United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) UNITAR and PRTRs Under a cooperative agreement established under the Dominican Republic - Central American – United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), development of PRTRs in Central America and the Dominican Republic were identified as primary goals. UNITAR, through funding from EPA and in coordination with the Comision Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarrollo (CCAD), is working to facilitate development of PRTRs in two countries in Central America. EPA’s TRI Program is providing technical guidance to this undertaking. Another PRTR effort of UNITAR | |
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