Toxics Release Inventory

The Environmental Protection Agency requires industries, manufacturing facilities, and utilities to report on the release of any of 650 chemicals it defines as potentially hazardous to human health. This collection of data is called the Toxics Release Inventory.

TVA files annual reports on the amounts of TRI chemicals released by its fossil-fuel plants (those that burn coal or oil). Only 26 substances on the list are emitted by TVA plants in quantities large enough to require reporting.

The TRI doesn’t include sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which all fossil plants emit and monitor routinely. Since 1977, TVA has reduced its sulfur dioxide emissions by 91 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions have been reduced by about 88 percent since 1995.

As a federal agency TVA must report TRI releases from all of its operations, not just its fossil plants. Although the amounts are small, the emissions numbers TVA submits are comprehensive and include substances that might be used for cleaning or maintenance activities at any TVA facilities, including nuclear or hydro plants. Only federal facilities must include all of their operations other than just coal- or oil-burning plants. Private utilities are not covered under this requirement.

Inhalation health-risk assessments performed at all TVA fossil plants show no significant health risks to employees or members of the public from the release of any of the chemicals in the TRI.

For more information about the Toxics Release Inventory, including reporting requirements and a list of the chemicals reported on by TVA, see Frequently Asked Questions.

In fiscal year 2011, TVA’s fossil plants produced 75.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. From 1977 to 2011, TVA spent about $5.4 billion to reduce its air emissions. TVA is in compliance with federal and state regulations governing air, land and water releases.

TVA’s total fossil plant TRI releases for 2011 were 39,094,318 pounds, a 9 percent decrease from 2010. This was due to

Less ash was handled offsite from fossil plants
Additional air controls were brought on line at fossil plants
Less coal usage by fossil plants

2011 data for all coal-burning plants

All amounts are in pounds

Chemical	Air	Water	Land	Off-Site Disposal	Total
Hydrochloric Acid (aerosol)	6,216,000	0	0	0	6,216,000
Hydrogen Fluoride	1,720,200	0	0	0	1,720,200
Sulfuric Acid (aerosol)	11,341,924	0	0	0	11,341,924
Ammonia	486,593	21,832	0	0	508,425
Antimony Compounds	0	0	0	0	0
Arsenic Compounds	2,165	2,720	190,390	4	195,279
Barium Compounds	26,339	135,600	8,197,400	4,441,245	12,800,584
Beryllium Compounds	148	0	19,931	0	20,079
Cadmium Compounds	0	0	0	0	0
Chromium Compounds	3,417	3,891	392,200	77,317	476,825
Cobalt Compounds	352	0	36,400	0	36,752
Copper Compounds	2,881	52,182	462,839	150,600	668,502
Lead Compounds	3,683	10	328,190	74,760	406,643
Manganese Compounds	6,305	6,775	934,200	226,700	1,173,980
Mercury Compounds	1,723	3	1,450	230	3,406
Nickel Compounds	3,205	7,129	345,010	64,000	419,344
Selenium Compounds	4,002	7,300	15,970	0	27,272
Silver Compounds	0	0	0	0	0
Thallium Compounds	90	1,706	106,750	0	108,546
Vanadium Compounds	4,788	22,100	869,500	207,800	1,104,188
Zinc Compounds	14,789	22,646	1,026,529	202,700	1,266,664
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene	1	0	2	0	3
Naphthalene	372	0	0	0	372
Nitrate Compounds	0	599,000	0	0	599,000
Dioxin (grams)	15	0	0	0	15
Dioxin (lbs)	0	0	0	0	0
Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds	234	0	84	12	330
Hydrazine	0	0	0	0	0
Total	19,839,211	882,893	12,926,845	5,445,368	39,094,318