If your business deals with or creates toxic chemicals, it needs to comply with the laws and regulations set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a publicly available EPA database that contains information on toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities reported annually by certain covered industry groups and federal facilities. This inventory was established under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) and expanded by the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990.

The resources below can help you gain a more thorough understanding of the requirements concerning toxic chemical releases and your business' role in compliance.

Who Must Comply

• Release Reporting Requirements
  Describes the types of businesses required to submit reports each year on the amounts of toxic chemicals their facilities release into the environment or otherwise managed as waste.

• TRI Guidance Documents
  Provides more information about requirements for specific industries and chemicals.

How to Comply

EPCRA Section 313 requires facilities to submit reports to both the EPA and their state. Reports must be submitted by July 1 of each year. Separate copies of the report should be sent to the EPA and the state. Facilities that reside in states that participate in the TRI State Data Exchange and file with the EPA electronically will automatically have their submissions sent to the state. The reporting software will inform facilities if their state is participating in this program.

• Reporting Materials and Guidance
  
  Contains links to every aspect of understanding, filling out, and submitting TRI reporting forms.

• State Programs
  Supplies contact information and links to state programs.

• TRI Electronic Reporting
  Covers information about the TRI reporting assistance software known as the Toxic Release Inventory- Made Easy Web (TRI-MEweb) and the desktop TRI-ME software.

Additional Resources

• TRI Training Workshops
  Provides information on basic and advanced training classes that are offered in April, May and June.

• Reporting Threshold
  Gives information on TRI chemical thresholds subject to reporting.

• Pollutants, Chemicals and Toxic Substances
  Explains how to comply with TRI regulations.