Environmental Right to Know

Feb 8, 2016

Top 400 Taxpayers See Tax Rates Rise, But There’s More to the Story

As Americans were gathering party supplies to greet the New Year, the Internal Revenue Service released their annual report of cumulative tax data reported on the 400 tax r...

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Feb 4, 2016

Chlorine Bleach Plants Needlessly Endanger 63 Million Americans

Chlorine bleach plants across the U.S. put millions of Americans in danger of a chlorine gas release, a substance so toxic it has been used as a chemical weapon. Greenpeace’s new repo...

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Jan 25, 2016

U.S. Industrial Facilities Reported Fewer Toxic Releases in 2014

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 2014 is now available. The good news: total toxic releases by reporting facilities decreased by nearly six percent from 2013 levels. Howe...

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Jan 22, 2016

Methane Causes Climate Change. Here's How the President Plans to Cut Emissions by 40-45 Percent.

UPDATE (Jan. 22, 2016): Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its proposed rule to reduce methane emissions...

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California Moves to Reinstate Reporting Standards Weakened by Federal EPA

California, a leader in strong environmental policy, has introduced a bill that would restore reporting requirements for toxic chemicals to pre-U.S. EPA rollback threshold levels. As the federal government weakens toxic waste regulation, states are taking charge of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and prioritizing the protection of their residents. The California Toxic Release Inventory Program Act of 2007 (Assembly Bill 833) maintains the previous level of reporting and prevents the federal changes from impacting the state program.

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RTK NET Publishes 2005 Toxics Release Inventory Data

The Right-to-Know Network (RTK NET) published the 2005 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data on March 23, providing public access to important U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data on the release and transfer of toxic chemicals in the United States. This is EPA's earliest release of the annual TRI data in the history of the program.

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CEQ Guidance Adds Needed Details to Bush Executive Order

On March 29, President George W. Bush's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released guidance to agencies that explains in greater detail how to implement the president's recent environmental order. On Jan. 24, Bush issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy and Transportation Management. The order replaced five detailed environmental orders, issued by President Bill Clinton, with vaguer, less aggressive provisions that broaden agency exemptions and consolidate power in executive offices.

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OMB Manipulated Climate Science, Report Says

Political officials throughout the Bush administration have edited and manipulated climate science communications, according to a recent report by a nonprofit watchdog group. Evidence shows the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to be involved in the manipulation.

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RTK NET Publishes 2005 Toxics Release Inventory Data

WASHINGTON, March 23, 2007—The Right-to-Know Network (RTK NET) published the 2005 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data on March 23, 2007, providing public access to important U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data on the release and transfer of toxic chemicals in the United States. This is EPA's earliest release of the annual TRI data in the history of the program.

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Journalist Audit Underscores Lack of Transparency

An audit by journalist groups found that public access to Comprehensive Emergency Response Plans (CERP), as required by law, was inconsistent and unreliable around the country. Only 44 percent of the requests for the CERP were granted in full, whereas 20 percent were partially released and 36 percent were completely denied.

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EPA Looking at Labs

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun a review of its laboratory network that may result in significant closures, according to some early agency plans. In response to budget cuts, EPA intends to reduce costs at least 20 percent by 2011. According to EPA officials in a phone briefing on March 15, the review is to assess the efficacy of the lab network, eliminate duplicative programs or efforts, and increase overall efficiency.

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Open Government Legislation Focus of Sunshine Week

Sunshine Week (March 11-17) is an effort by the media, civic groups, libraries, universities, legislators and others to highlight the importance of open government. This year, there are many legislative proposals to increase government oversight and transparency moving forward in Congress. The bills address contractor responsibility, environmental information, Freedom of Information Act reform, whistleblower protections and other important aspects of an open and accountable government. Contractor Responsibility

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Against the Public's Will

TRI2 This summary of responses to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) plans to cut toxic reporting offers a detailed analysis of the comments submitted EPA's public docket on the proposed changes to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The report identifies nine stakeholder groups, details the level of support or opposition of each group, and summarizes the main points raised by each group.

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Congress, White House Going in Opposite Directions on TRI

On Feb. 14, Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Reps. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Hilda Solis (D-CA) announced companion bills to restore the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and undo the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recently finalized reporting rollbacks. At the same time, President George W. Bush issued an executive order which may exempt all federal facilities from reporting requirements, resulting in another severe attack on the TRI program.

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