Techno Bits/Technical Bulletins

The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting thresholds for lead and lead compounds have been lowered to 100 pounds. The EPA's final rule was published in the Federal Register on January 17 but the effective date was delayed from February 16 until April 17 as part of the Bush administration's review of all final and proposed rules published at the end of the Clinton administration. The threshold has been lowered because lead and lead compounds are considered to be highly persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals by the EPA. The final rule is effective for Reporting Year 2001 with Form Rs due July 1, 2002. The final rule lowered the threshold for TRI reporting for lead to 100 pounds per year from the current threshold of 25,000 pounds per year for facilities that manufacture the metal and the current 10,000 pounds per year for facilities that "otherwise use" lead and lead compounds. Note that Massachusetts facilities exceeding the new threshold will be required to submit a Massachusetts TURA Form S report as well. A fact sheet is available at www.epa.gov/tri/leadoutreach.pdf.

Archived - June 18, 2003