Updated at 12:14 p.m., Thursday, March 22, 2007
EPA says Hawai'i toxic releases down in '05
Advertiser Staff
A nationwide survey released today shows Hawai'i reporting a decrease in toxic releases of 1.9 percent from 2004 to 2005, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency.The data comes from the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory, an annual measure of toxic chemical releases, transfers and waste generated by facilities in the United States. It includes chemicals discharged to air, water, underground injection and land, including landfills.
In Hawai'i, 39 facilities reported a release of a total of 3.1 million pounds of toxic chemicals in 2005 compared to 3.2 million pounds the previous year. That ranks the state 49 out of 50.
The decrease primarily was caused by Hawaiian Electric Co.'s Kahe power plant reporting a decrease of 110,000 pounds of air release.
Nationally, the amount of toxic chemicals released increased by 3 percent for that year.
The top 10 facilities for total on- and off-site releases throughout Hawai'i are:
1. Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc, Kahe Generating Station with 775,000 pounds.
2. U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor Naval Complex with 515,000 pounds.
3. Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. Wai'au Generating Station with 341,000 pounds.
4. Maui Electric Co. Kahului Generating Station with 245,000 pounds.
5. Chevron Products Co. - Hawai'i Refinery with 217,000 pounds.
6. Hawai'i Electric Light Co Inc. Hill Generating Station with 216,000 pounds.
7. AES Hawaii Inc. with 161,000 pounds.
8. Tesoro Hawai'i Refinery with 145,000 pounds.
9. Hawai'i Electric Light Co. Inc. Puna Generating Station with 101,000 pounds.
10. Maui Electric Co. Ltd. Ma'alaea Generating Station with 82,000 pounds.
