Give the whole truth about toxic chemical pollution
Orlando Sentinel: Americans will know less about toxic chemicals in their communities because the Bush administration has relaxed a reporting requirement for polluters. Congress needs to undo this damage to public health and the right to know.
For two decades, the Toxic Release Inventory Program has required most industrial facilities to report publicly the amounts of toxic chemicals they manage and release into the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the program has helped spur a nearly 60 percent drop in toxic emissions; making the information public has empowered communities and led polluters to clean up.
Pollute, don't report
But in December, the Bush administration raised the reporting threshold, despite 99 percent opposition in comments submitted to the EPA. Now facilities can emit four times as much toxic chemicals, and manage 10 times as much, without reporting the amounts and whether pollution ends up in the air, water or ground.
The administration said the rollback was meant to ease the burden on small business, but many of the facilities are owned by large corporations. According to the Government Accountability Office, more than 3,500 facilities have been let off the hook from detailed reporting. While their pollution collectively represents a small percentage of overall toxic emissions nationwide, that's cold comfort if you live near one of the facilities.
Legislation introduced last week in Congress would overturn the reporting rollback. Its approval would serve public health and the right to know.