Trends Report Highlights: Federal Facilities
2004-2006 Trends Report Highlights
Reported by Chemical | Reported by Federal Agency | Reported by Federal Facility | Managed by Chemical | Managed by Federal Agency
Facilities owned and operated by Federal agencies are required to report to TRI, regardless of their NAICS code. For 2006, federal facilities reported approximately 5.2 million pounds of Priority Chemicals (PCs).The total number of facilities reporting has remained relatively constant, ranging from 190 to 197 facilities, since 2004.Since 2004, the quantity of PCs has increased each year, including an increase of approximately 1.4 million pounds from 2005 to 2006Increases in lead and lead compounds accounted for most of this increase primarily due to:
- Increased quantities of lead reported by numerous Department of Defense (DOD) facilities due to increase activity at firing ranges for the War on Terror, including an increase of approximately 811,000 pounds by a facility in Missouri ;
- A Department of Energy (DOE) facility in Idaho reported an increase of approximately 77,000 pounds of lead and lead compounds due to accelerated decommissioning and the demolition of buildings that are no longer used.These activities are expected to continue through at least 2012.This facility also is decreasing the lead in its onsite inventory that was used as lead shielding; and
- A Department of Justice (DOJ) training facility in Virginia began reporting for the first time in 2006, reporting approximately 66,000 pounds.
Since 2004, DOD facilities accounted for at least 75 percent of the total quantity of PCs reported by federal facilities, especially lead and lead compounds. We believe this increased quantity was likely caused by the increase in training and other activities at federal facilities in support of military and security operations to counter terrorism worldwide.
On January 24, 2007, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order (EO) 13423: Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management mandating, among other goals, that each federal agency shall “(i) reduce the quantity of toxic and hazardous chemicals and materials acquired, used, or disposed of by the agency, (ii) increase diversion of solid waste as appropriate, and (iii) maintain cost effective waste prevention and recycling programs in its facilities.” The formal instructions for implementing this EO require that federal agencies (and their contractors) comply with the requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), including reporting to TRI (see Section VIII.C of the Implementing Instructions. In order to achieve the goals of Section 2 of the EO, each federal agency is required to develop goals and support actions to identify and reduce the release and use of toxic and hazardous chemicals. In identifying the list of toxic chemicals, hazardous substances, and other pollutants that may result in significant harm to human health or the environment, each federal agency must consider a list of factors, one of which is “Existing environmental hazard lists such as priority chemicals identified by EPA’s Resource Conservation Challenge and any agency-specific toxic or hazardous chemicals lists.” We believe EO 13423 will improve the management of these chemicals at all facilities across the federal community and, eventually, reduce their generation.
Reported by Chemical
Since 2004, federal facilities have reported generating up to seven of the PCs, including five PCs for 2006 (see table below). For 2006, lead and lead compounds accounted for approximately 99 percent of the total quantity of PCs reported by federal facilities.
Priority Chemical | 2004 (pounds) |
2005 (pounds) |
2006 (pounds) |
Percent of Total Quantity Reported (2006) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lead and lead compounds |
3,271,964 |
3,659,762 |
5,179,761 |
98.9% |
Naphthalene |
18,777 |
14,183 |
52,780 |
1.0% |
Mercury and mercury compounds |
15,819 |
32,747 |
2,605 |
<0.1% |
Polychlorinated biphenyls |
0 |
53 |
175 |
<0.1% |
Polycyclic aromatic compounds |
10,665 |
18 |
<1 |
<0.1% |
1,2,4-trichlorobenzene |
123,783 |
0 |
0 |
0.0% |
Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds |
0 |
<1 |
0 |
0.0% |
Hexachlorobenzene |
54 |
0 |
0 |
0.0% |
Hexachloroethane |
17,867 |
101,119 |
0 |
0.0% |
Total |
3,458,929 |
3,807,881 |
5,235,321 |
100% |
Reported by Federal Agency
Since 2004, facilities in DOD and DOE have accounted for the majority of PCs reported by federal facilities, including approximately 96 percent of the total quantity of PCs generated for 2006.
Agency | 2004 (pounds) | 2005 (pounds) | 2006 (pounds) | Quantity Change (2005-2006) | Percent of Total PC Quantity Reported (2006) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Department of Defense |
2,577,562 |
2,912,769 |
4,103,272 |
1,190,503 |
78.4% |
Department of Energy |
746,082 |
749,855 |
902,691 |
152,836 |
17.2% |
Department of Homeland Security |
120,650 |
125,962 |
138,639 |
12,677 |
2.6% |
Department of Justice |
495 |
170 |
66,757 |
66,587 |
1.3% |
Department of Health and
Human Services |
0 |
3,515 |
10,059 |
6,544 |
0.2% |
Department of Interior |
8,025 |
8,467 |
8,841 |
374 |
0.2% |
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration |
4,930 |
1,781 |
2,696 |
915 |
0.1% |
Department of Transportation |
669 |
327
|
958 |
631 |
<0.1% |
Department of Treasury |
288 |
4,775 |
873 |
-3,902 |
<0.1% |
Department of Interior |
0 |
0 |
487 |
487 |
<0.1% |
Tennesee Valley Authority |
127 |
125 |
49 |
-76 |
<0.1% |
Total |
3,458,829 |
3,807,745 |
5,235,321 |
1,427,576 |
100.0% |
Reported by Federal Facility
The following table shows the federal agencies in which facilities generated each of the PCs from 2004 to 2006.
Priority Chemical | Federal Agency | 2004 (pounds) |
2005 (pounds) |
2006 (pounds) |
Change in Quantity (2005-2006) | Percent of Total Quantity Reported (2006) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1,2,4-trichlorobenzene |
Department of Defense |
123,783 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0% |
Total 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene |
123,783 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0% |
|
Dioxin and dioxin-like compounds |
Department of Defense |
0 |
<1 |
0 |
<1 |
0.0% |
Total Dioxin and dioxin-like
compounds |
0 |
<1 |
0 |
<1 |
0.0% |
|
Hexachlorobenzene |
Department of Defense |
54 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0% |
Total Hexachlorobenzene |
554 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0% |
|
Hexachloroethane |
Department of Defense |
17,867 |
101,119 |
0 |
-101,119 |
0.0% |
Total Hexachloroethane |
17,867 |
101,119 |
0 |
-101,119 |
0.0% |
|
Lead and lead Compounds |
Department of Defense |
2,393,824 |
2,765,864 |
4,049,902 |
1,284,038 |
77.4% |
Department of Energy |
742,855 |
748,749 |
900,732 |
151,983 |
17.2% |
|
Department of Homeland Security |
120,650 |
125,962 |
138,639 |
12,677 |
2.6% |
|
Department of Justice |
495 |
170 |
66,757 |
66,587 |
1.3% |
|
Department of Health and
Human Services |
0 |
3,442 |
9,828 |
6,386 |
0.2% |
|
Department of Interior |
8,025 |
8,467 |
8,841 |
374 |
0.2% |
|
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration |
4,930 |
1,781 |
2,696 |
915 |
0.1% |
|
Department of Transportation |
669 |
327 |
958 |
631 |
<0.1% |
|
Department of Treasury |
288 |
4,775 |
873 |
-3,902 |
<0.1% |
|
Department of the Interior |
0 |
0 |
487 |
487 |
<0.1% |
|
Tennessee Valley Authority |
127 |
125 |
49 |
-76 |
<0.1% |
|
Department of State |
100 |
100 |
0 |
-100 |
<0.1% |
|
Total Lead and lead compounds |
3,271,964 |
3,659,762 |
5,179,761 |
1,519,999 |
98.9% |
|
Mercury and mercury compounds |
Department of Energy |
3,072 |
1,088 |
1,904 |
816 |
<0.1% |
Department of Defense |
12,748 |
31,576 |
605 |
-30,971 |
<0.1% |
|
Department of Health and
Human Services |
0 |
47 |
96 |
49 |
<0.1% |
|
Department of Veterans Affairs |
0 |
36 |
0 |
-36 |
0.0% |
|
Total Mercury and mercury
compounds |
15,819 |
32,747 |
2,605 |
-30,142 |
<0.1% |
|
Naphthalene |
Department of Defense |
18,742 |
14,183 |
52,765 |
38,582 |
1.0% |
Department of Energy |
35 |
0 |
15 |
15 |
<0.1% |
|
Total Naphthalene |
18,777 |
14,183 |
52,780 |
38,597 |
1.0% |
|
Polychlorinated biphenyls |
Department of Health and
Human Services |
0 |
26 |
135 |
109 |
<0.1% |
Department of Energy |
0 |
0 |
40 |
40 |
<0.1% |
|
Department of Defense |
0 |
27 |
0 |
-27 |
0.0% |
|
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls |
0 |
53 |
175 |
122 |
<0.1% |
|
Polycyclic aromatic compounds |
Department of Energy |
121 |
18 |
0 |
-18 |
0.0% |
Department of Defense |
10,544 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.0% |
|
Total Polycyclic Aromatic
Compounds |
10,665 |
18 |
0 |
-18 |
0.0% |
|
Total |
3,458,929 |
3,807,881 |
5,235,321 |
1,427,440 |
100% |
Managed by Chemical
The table below shows how federal facilities managed each of the PCs in 2006, using disposal, energy recovery, treatment, and recycling:
Disposal: For non-recycled PCs federal facilities used disposal as the primary management method for three (lead and lead compounds, mercury and mercury compounds, and PACs) of the five PCs. Lead and lead compounds accounted for approximately 99 percent of the total quantity of PCs that were disposed of.
Energy Recovery: For non-recycled PCs, federal facilities primarily used energy recovery for naphthalene. Treatment: Federal facilities only treated small quantities of naphthalene and polychlorinated biphenyls.
Recycling: Federal facilities recycled approximately 683,000 pounds lead and lead compounds, accounting for 89 percent of the total quantity of PCs that were recycled. Federal facilities also recycled a significant quantity of naphthalene and a relatively small quantity of mercury.
Priority Chemical | Disposal (pounds) | Energy Recovery (pounds) | Treatment (pounds) | Recycling (pounds) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lead and lead compounds |
5,179,761 |
0 |
0 |
683,440 |
Mercury and mercury compounds |
2,605 |
0 |
0 |
377 |
Naphthalene |
1,677 |
50,173 |
931 |
85,219 |
Polychlorinated biphenyls |
16 |
119 |
40 |
0 |
Polycyclic aromatic compounds |
<1 |
<1 |
0 |
0 |
Total |
5,184,059 |
50,292 |
971 |
769,035 |
Managed by Federal Agency
The table below shows how facilities in each federal agency managed PCs in 2006. Lead and mercury comprised approximately 99 percent of the total PC quantity. Although federal facilities disposed significant quantities of these metals, many also recycled considerable quantities of lead and mercury. In fact, numerous agencies recycled quantities that far exceeded disposed quantities.
Agency | Priority Chemical | Disposal (pounds) | Energy Recovery (pounds) | Treatment (pounds) | Recycling (pounds) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Department of Defense |
Lead and lead compounds |
4,049,902 |
0 |
0 |
506,149 |
Mercury and mercury compounds |
605 |
0 |
0 |
54 |
|
Naphthalene |
1,667 |
50,173 |
925 |
85,219 |
|
Department of Energy |
Lead and lead compounds |
900,732 |
0 |
0 |
99,887 |
Mercury and mercury compounds |
1,904 |
0 |
0 |
176 |
|
Naphthalene |
10 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Polychlorinated biphenyls |
0 |
0 |
40 |
0 |
|
Polycyclic aromatic compounds |
<1 |
<1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Department of Health and
Human Services |
Lead and lead compounds |
9,828 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Mercury and mercury compounds |
96 |
0 |
0 |
146 |
|
Polychlorinated biphenyls |
16 |
119 |
0 |
0 |
|
Department of Homeland Security |
Lead and lead compounds |
138,639 |
0 |
0 |
65,844 |
Department of Interior |
Lead and lead compounds |
9,328 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Department of Justice |
Lead and lead compounds |
66,757 |
0 |
0 |
667 |
Department of Transportation |
Lead and lead compounds |
958 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Department of Treasury |
Lead and lead compounds |
873 |
0 |
0 |
10,585 |
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration |
Lead and lead compounds |
2,696 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
Tennessee Valley Authority |
Lead and lead compounds |
49 |
0 |
0 |
290 |
Total |
5,184,059 |
50,292 |
971 |
769,035 |