Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program

Urban Communities:
Introduction

An important goal of TRI is to empower citizens through information that will allow them to better understand industrial activity, environmental releases, and potential risks in their communities. Using information from TRI can help community members make informed decisions about how toxic chemicals are managed in their neighborhoods, and hold companies and governments accountable. TRI data also serve as a rough indicator of facilities' environmental performance and progress over time. Knowing that the data are available to the public often spurs companies to focus on and improve their chemical management practices.

In this section we profile thirteen urban communities in the United States from the standpoint of toxic chemical disposal or other releases. Urban areas are home to more than 80% of the U.S. population. They are also home to many of the industrial facilities that report to TRI. The thirteen urban communities profiled here are the most populous in the United States and the most populous in each EPA Region as defined by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) population. An MSA is an area of one or more socially and economically integrated adjacent counties, cities, or towns. These thirteen urban communities together contain about 29% of the U.S. population and about 19% of the facilities that report to TRI. Listed below, in decreasing order of their population, are the top U.S. MSAs, which are also shown in the following map:

Top Major Metropolitan Statistical Areas Map

For each urban community profiled, we graphically show the top TRI reporting industry sectors by quantity of toxic chemicals disposed of or otherwise released; the top chemicals disposed or otherwise released to the air, water, land and underground injection; and trends in the disposal or other releases from 2001 to the most recent year of data, 2010. While facilities have been reporting to TRI for more than two decades, only the years after 2000 are shown here for consistency in presenting the trends from year to year. In several years prior to 2001, industry sectors and chemicals were added to the TRI reporting requirements.

In each urban community profile we list the major industry sectors operating in the community. Much of this information was obtained from local business organizations or chambers of commerce, which advocate on behalf of the business community. It is important to note that not all of the industries mentioned in the urban community profiles are industry sectors required to report to TRI.

You can access much more information on TRI covered facilities and chemicals near your home by using the tools and resources available on the EPA website. For example, using myRTK and TRI Explorer, you can enter your ZIP code to get a list of facilities in your area and detailed information on the toxic chemicals they manage as waste. Additionally, myRTK provides chemical hazard and facility compliance information.

Urban Communities:Introduction

Urban Communities:
Introduction