OMB Watch encourages interested individuals to take part in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Stakeholder Dialogue Phase II that focuses on burden reduction options for the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program. The TRI is a flagship database that contains information about releases and transfers of toxic chemicals from manufacturing facilities. Since the establishment of TRI, the simple act of publicizing the amount toxic chemicals that facilities release has pressured companies to reduce these releases by more than half.

Each of the options being considered by EPA would create loopholes significantly reducing the amount of information available to the public. Allowing industry to hide data about toxic releases eliminates the incentive for facilities to lower their emissions. This burden reduction initiative could threaten the very usefulness of TRI.

Please see OMB Watch's action alert to send your comments to EPA.