Since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans on Sept. 21 to reduce TRI chemical release reporting, the agency has faced an ever-growing flurry of criticism and opposition. The program receives tremendous support, because for nearly 20 years it has been an essential tool in addressing environmental and public health concerns. In response to EPA's proposals to cut reporting on TRI chemical releases, in order to eliminate paperwork for reporting companies, individuals and organization have expressed outrage and begun to rally around the program.

The National Environmental Trust hosted a Dec. 1 press conference where public health professionals, state officials, and first responders described how the proposals would among other things hamper planning for emergencies and hinder the fight against cancer. Michael Harbut, M.D., of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, explained, "We know that a lot of chemicals regulated under the TRI program cause cancer. To reduce the amount of information available to cancer researchers is just plain terrible."

Several groups used the occasion to unveil reports critical of EPA's management of the TRI program of late. U.S. PIRG coordinated press events and report releases of "Undisclosed Pollution" in 20 states describing the state-level impact of EPA's proposals. OMB Watch released a report, entitled "Dismantling the Public's Right to Know," that details EPA's systematic weakening of the TRI program. According to Sean Moulton, senior policy analyst with OMB Watch, "The current EPA leadership seems more concerned with sparing companies a bit of paperwork than it is with protecting the public."

Organizations are also making their opposition to EPA's proposals known to members of Congress. More than 100 regulatory, emergency, environmental, labor and social investment groups have signed onto a letter asking Congress to ensure that EPA abandons TRI cutbacks. According to the letter, the groups "oppose the EPA's recent proposals to reduce the amount of information collected and made public under the Toxics Release Inventory" and "urge Congress to call for the EPA to immediately withdraw these proposals."

A bipartisan letter from several U.S. Senators sent to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson points to congressional leaders' concerns over EPA's plans. According to the letter, "We are concerned that alternate year reporting would deny citizens up-to-date information about local toxic releases, reduce incentives to minimize waste generation, withhold important information from public health agencies, and undermine the ability of States and EPA to guide their compliance assistance and enforcement priorities." The letter was signed by Sens. Jim Jeffords (I-VT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ).

The proposed cutbacks are receiving increased coverage in media outlets across the country. Newspapers have printed more than 60 stories on the proposals, and at least 10 papers editorializing against the cutbacks. A Dec. 10 Toledo Blade editorial entitled "Keep Toxic Release Law" states, "One of the most successful anti-pollution measures in the United States over the past two decades is the Toxics Release Inventory. Congress should put a stop to a plan by the Bush Administration to substantially weaken this important public information law."

In a related development, EPA Assistant Administrator Kimberly Nelson of the Office of Environmental Information has announced her departure from the agency at the start of 2006. Nelson is seen by many as the chief proponent inside the agency of the TRI reporting rollbacks. A Dec. 9 Inside EPA story maintains that "EPA information chief Kim Nelson's impending resignation could undermine the agency's ability to finalize controversial changes to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) her office proposed this fall..."

The EPA's public comment period on the proposals closes Jan. 13. Those wishing to weigh in on EPA's plans can use OMB Watch's TRI Action Alert to send comments to EPA and Congress. To find out more about the proposals, please visit OMB Watch's TRI Resource Center.