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TRI UPDATE

Program UpdatesChemical list changesReporting form changesTRI-ME Reporting SoftwareForm R submissions/revisionsGuidance (Key Information for Reporting)EPA Audit Policy. TRI UPDATE. EPCRA Reporting Center / TRI Data Processing Center. The operations for the TRI Data Processing Center are now managed under the Agency's new CDX Contract awarded to Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC).The former EPCRA Reporting Center is now known as the TRI Data Processing Center.The transition occurred in December 2002..

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TRI UPDATE

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    2. Program Updates Chemical list changes Reporting form changes TRI-ME Reporting Software Form R submissions/revisions Guidance (Key Information for Reporting) EPA Audit Policy TRI UPDATE

    3. EPCRA Reporting Center / TRI Data Processing Center The operations for the TRI Data Processing Center are now managed under the Agency’s new CDX Contract awarded to Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). The former EPCRA Reporting Center is now known as the TRI Data Processing Center. The transition occurred in December 2002.

    4. TRI Data Processing Center Contact Information - Address For hand courier, certified mail, fed ex, UPS delivery: TRI Data Processing Center c/o Computer Sciences Corporation Suite 300 8400 Corporate Drive Landover, MD 20785 For regular mail: TRI Data Processing Center P.O. Box 1513 Lanham, MD 20703-1513

    5. TRI Data Processing Center Contact Information – Phone and Fax The main number for the CDX Facility / EPA Reporting Center is 301-429-5005. The TRI Data Processing Center extension is on the voice tree selections. The TRI fax number is: 301-429-8036.

    6. Facility Data Profiles In September 2003, EPA sent each facility an e-mail or letter informing them how to access their own TRI eFDP to make corrections, if necessary, to the data they submitted on or before July 1, 2003 for RY 2002. Facilities that have not provided an e-mail address are strongly encouraged to do so. By providing an e-mail address, facilities will be notified when their eFDP has been updated and will also be notified of program updates. For facilities who had problems accessing their FDPs, or did not have internet access, the following support was made available. FDP Support Hotline: 301-429-5005 E-mail: tri_efdp@csc.com

    7. STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE OEI conducted Phase I of the stakeholder process in an effort to enhance the TRI program and obtain input on the future direction of the program. Comments were solicited for 60 days on how to: streamline the processing and release of data without impacting data quality; improve compliance assistance; and improve the public data release. OEI initiated Phase 2, with a focus on burden reduction options for TRI reporting requirements. Comments were solicited until Feb. 4, 2004.

    8. MOST RECENT CHEMICAL LIST CHANGES Phosphoric acid deleted, effective RY 1999 Chromium compounds qualifier added: (except for chromite ore mined in the Transvaal Region of South Africa and the unreacted ore component of the chromite ore processing residue (COPR)) (May 11, 2001) Vanadium (except when contained in alloy) and vanadium compounds added, effective RY 2000 Certain PBT chemicals added, effective RY 2000, in the PBT final rule (October 29, 1999; 64 FR 58666)

    10. Addition to Form R for RY 2002 Technical contact e-mail box Several changes to the Form R were implemented for RY 2003: Part II, Section 5.5.3 – Surface Impoundments has been divided into 5.5.3A – RCRA Subtitle C Surface Impoundments and 5.5.3B – Other Surface Impoundments Part II, Section 8.1 has been divided into 8.1a – Total on-site disposal to Class I Underground Injection Wells, RCRA Subtitle C landfills, and other landfills; 8.1b – Total other on-site disposal or other releases; 8.1c – Total off-site disposal to Class I Underground Injection Wells, RCRA Subtitle C landfills, and other landfills; and 8.1d – Total other off-site disposal or other releases The M codes used in Column C of section 6.2 of the Form R have been updated. M63 (Surface Impoundment) was deleted and replaced by M codes M66 (RCRA Subtitle C Surface Impoundment) and M67 (Other Surface Impoundments). M71 (Underground Injection) was deleted and replaced by M codes M81 (Underground Injection to Class I Wells) and M82 (Underground Injection to Class II-V Wells). REPORTING FORM CHANGES

    11. GUIDANCE More recent TRI guidance documents for the following industries: Presswood and Laminated Products Industry Rubber and Plastics Manufacturing Printing, Publishing and Packaging Industry Textile Processing Industry Leather Tanning and Finishing Industry Semiconductor Industry Spray Application and Electrodeposition of Organic Coatings Food Processors

    12. GUIDANCE Aqueous Ammonia Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds Category Chlorophenols Certain glycol ethers EBDC Hydrochloric acid aerosols Lead and Lead Compounds Mercury and Mercury Compounds Nicotine and Salts Nitrate compounds Pesticides and Other Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic (PBT) Chemicals Polychlorinated alkanes Polycyclic aromatic compounds Strychnine and salts Sulfuric acid aerosols Wafarin and salts

    13. The TRI-Made Easy (TRI-ME) Reporting Software was distributed originally as a pilot in RY 2000, and is currently available to all facilities. At the present time, TRI-ME is distributed each reporting year via CD-ROM to all facilities who have reported to TRI in the last two reporting years. The software is also available as a download from EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/tri. The TRI-ME software is an interactive, intelligent, user-friendly software program that assists facilities in determining and completing their TRI reporting obligations. TRI-ME allow users to access and search the software’s Assistance Library. TRI-ME is intelligently linked to the Assistance Library so that the user can view pre-selected TRI definitions and guidance from the Assistance Library that are relevant to specific TRI-ME screens. TRI-ME REPORTING SOFTWARE

    15. Guides facilities in completing the Form R and Form A Certification Statement by explaining each element of the form through a questionnaire format. Guides the user through the process of determining whether the facility must report based on the facility’s primary SIC code and the number of employees hours. Helps determine the primary SIC code. Guides facilities through process of determining whether they exceed the chemical activity thresholds. Allows expert TRI users to bypass most of the TRI-ME guidance and directly enter the data into the forms. TRI-ME REPORTING SOFTWARE

    16. Streamlines the completion of Form R (e.g., Part II, section 7A information on waste treatment methods). Prevents facilities from making common errors while completing the Form R and Form A Certification Statement. Checks (validates) the forms to identify critical errors that must be corrected before submitting the forms to EPA. Also, suggests potential errors for user review. Allows users to print their forms on paper or to create a diskette, or to submit electronically. TRI-ME REPORTING SOFTWARE

    17. TRI-ME REPORTING SOFTWARE Recent Improvements to TRI-ME Enhanced load function, including loading from 3rd party software, that populates more fields than previous versions of the software Reporting by part enabled State contact information tab Electronic submission with electronic signature

    18. Electronic submission of forms: Facilities who have filed in the last two years may submit electronically via EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX), the Agency’s central portal for environmental data New as of RY 2002, these electronic submissions use an “electronic signature” (mail-in of hard copy signed letter no longer required) Security – Your information is protected by username and password (and secret question/answer) that you create Provides burden reduction – saves time over conventional submission methods TRI-ME REPORTING SOFTWARE

    19. Check the TRI homepage at www.epa.gov/tri for current information. TRI-ME AND CDX SUPPORT

    21. Facilities may revise their forms by submitting forms via Central Data Exchange (CDX), magnetic media, or paper. However, the use of CDX will enable you to submit your revisions in the fastest, cheapest, and most accurate way through our paperless process. “How to Revise or Withdraw TRI Data” instructions can be found on page 3 of the RY 2003 Toxic Chemical Release Inventory Reporting Forms and Instructions. Provide a new original signature and date for each revision EPA encourages you to use TRI-ME to submit and revise your TRI submission(s) via the Internet. TRI-ME allows you to submit to EPA without the need for mailing any paper (electronic submission is not available for trade secret forms). If you choose to submit via the Internet, DO NOT send duplicate paper or diskette copies of the reports. Please be aware that submitting via the Internet to the USEPA does not satisfy your state reporting requirements for your facility. You must report to your state separately and in the required format specified by your state (i.e., diskette, paper, etc.) SUBMITTING REVISIONS

    22. SUBMITTING REVISIONS Cont. If you have any questions about the electronic submission process, call 888-890-1995 between the hours of 8:00AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Time. For additional information about CDX, please see www.epa.gov/cdx/ If using a Facility Data Profile (FDP), please follow the instructions provided in the FDP. FDPs can be found at www.tri_efdp.org. If using a file copy Form R or Form A Certification to revise data, please make changes directly on the form with blue ink and check the revision box found on Page 1 of the Form R or Form A Certification Statement. Be sure to have the Certifying Official provide an original signature and date directly on the form under Part I, Section 3 for the Form R and Form A Certification Statement.

    25. Acid reuse systems (sulfuric and hydrochloric acid only) Acid aerosol manufactured and otherwise used Simplified method of estimating quantity for threshold determination: Total Amount of + Total Virgin Acid Acid in Reuse System Added in RY = Amount Acid Aerosols Manufactured/Otherwise Used ACID AEROSOLS THRESHOLD GUIDANCE

    26. Section 313 chemicals may be coincidentally manufactured during combustion of: Oil Coal Natural gas Waste Other materials

    27. Amount of metal compound manufactured is determined by the total weight of the compound, not the parent metal Be comprehensive: include all metal compounds and all combustion units and any other activities that may manufacture metal compounds

    30. RELEASE ESTIMATES Helpful hints for accurate release estimates Always use your best available information Estimate the quantity of Section 313 chemical, not the entire waste stream Differentiate fugitive from stack emissions Zero air emissions for VOCs are unlikely Watch out for releases of Section 313 chemicals with qualifiers Check your math and document your work! Result of release estimation errors Incorrect release estimates and inconsistencies from year to year

    31. Ammonia Requires threshold determination and release and other waste management quantity calculations for aqueous ammonia from any source (i.e., anhydrous ammonia placed in water or water dissociable ammonium salts) be based on 10% of the total ammonia present in aqueous solutions Anhydrous ammonia - include 100% for thresholds and releases Including air releases from aqueous ammonia Effective RY 1994

    32. Water dissociable nitrate compounds category For threshold determinations, use the weight of the entire nitrate compound Calculate only the weight of the nitrate ion portion when calculating releases and other waste management quantities Nitrate compounds are produced most commonly when nitric acid is neutralized Includes compounds like sodium nitrate, silver nitrate, and ammonium nitrate

    33. Elemental metals and metal compound categories are separately listed chemicals under Section 313 Separate activity threshold determinations Report for each listing (e.g., nickel or nickel compound) only if the threshold for each listing is exceeded If threshold exceeded for both the elemental metal and metal category compound (e.g., nickel and nickel compounds), you have the option to report separately or file one combined report If filing a combined report, file as metal category compound

    35. EPA AUDIT POLICY Audit Policy enhances environmental protection through incentives for companies to self-police, disclose and correct violations Companies that satisfy the Policy’s criteria are eligible for up to 100% reductions in otherwise applicable penalties Since implemented in 1995, over 1,500 companies have self-disclosed violations at over 6,065 facilities under the policy

    36. EPA AUDIT POLICY Conditions to qualify (nine criteria): Systematic Discovery of the Violation through Environmental Audit or Due Diligence Voluntary Discovery Prompt Disclosure Discovery and Disclosure Independent of Government or Third Party Plaintiff Correction and Remediation Prevent Recurrence No Repeat Violations Other Violations Excluded Cooperation For more information, including a copy of the Audit Policy (revised in May 2000), visit: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/incentives/auditing/auditpolicy.html

    37. EPCRA SECTION 313 ENFORCEMENT Companies violating any statutory or regulatory requirement are subject to penalties of up to $27,500 per day per violation Companies subject to citizen suits and could also be liable for attorney fees and litigation costs Government’s penalty is determined by applying the Enforcement Response Policy (ERP) to each violation

    38. EPCRA SECTION 313 ENFORCEMENT It is important to file your TRI reporting form on time. This year, EPA enforcement initiated enforcement actions against hundreds of facilities that failed to report on time. These facilities could face fines up to $27,500 per violation per day. These enforcement actions will be highlighted in an Enforcement Alert Bulletin to be distributed in this year’s Reporting Forms and Instructions, and to be available on the Internet at: http://www.epa.gov/Compliance/resources/newsletters/civil/enfalert/index.html

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