Analysis: 18 Million Pounds of Toxics Dumped into VA Waterways
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
RICHMOND, Va. - A new analysis of data reported to the national Toxics Release Inventory finds that industrial facilities dumped more than 18 million pounds of toxic chemicals into Virginia waterways in 2007, the latest data reported.
Professor Peter DeFur at the Center for Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University reviewed the report by Environment Virginia, an advocacy organization. While he notes that the chemicals involved were released in accordance with state and federal permits, DeFur says the end result is still large amounts of chemicals being dumped into Virginia's rivers.
"We have toxic chemicals that are legally being released, and there's a better way to do business."
DeFur says that the two-year delay in releasing these toxic chemical reports is usual at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"It takes a long time for EPA to first compile the data, and then they have to go through and make sure everything's in order and sort it out. And then after they do that, they put it a format that can be made available to the public."
One of the largest releases came from BWX Technologies, Incorporated. The nuclear technology company released more than one million pounds of chemical waste into the James River, making BWX the nation's second-largest reported polluter with toxic chemicals nationwide in 2007. The company says it follows all regulatory standards.
BWX Technologies is now known as the Babcock and Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group, Incorporated.
The Environment Virginia analysis is based on raw numbers from the EPA.
The Virginia Department of Environment notes that the total number of chemicals released at facilities in the state decreased by four percent in 2007.
The full analysis is at www.environmentvirginia.org
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