TRI for Tribal Communities
The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) tracks the management of certain toxic chemicals that may pose a threat to human health and the environment. U.S. facilities in different industry sectors must report how much of each chemical is released to the environment and/or managed through recycling, energy recovery and treatment. (A "release" of a chemical means that it is emitted to the air or water, or placed in some type of land disposal.)
The information submitted by facilities is compiled annually by EPA. TRI helps support informed decision-making by industry, government, non-governmental organizations and the public. The information presented here is part of a larger effort to inform tribes of the availability of TRI data and other resources that may help assess tribal environmental and health concerns.
- Why should tribes be interested in TRI?
- How many TRI facilities are on tribal lands?
- How can tribes access TRI data?
- Are tribes at risk from toxic chemical releases on or near their lands?
- Is there help available for tribes concerned about toxic chemical releases?
Why should tribes be interested in TRI?
TRI data will allow tribes to:
- identify sources of toxic chemical releases that may impact the health of tribal communities,
- track increases or reductions of toxic chemical releases from TRI facilities over time, and
- prioritize efforts to reduce pollution from TRI facilities located near tribal communities.
How many TRI facilities are on tribal lands?
In 2017, there were 41 facilities located on tribal lands associated with 18 different federally recognized tribes. These facilities reported a total of 10 million pounds of releases, more than 96% of which were on-site releases to air, water, or land.
Lists of Tribes and Facilities in 2017
- Tribes with at least one TRI facility on or within 10 miles of their lands
- Facilities located on or within 10 miles of tribal lands
How can tribes access TRI data?
There are several ways to access TRI data.
TRI Tribal Factsheets + Data on TRI Facilities & Industry Sectors
- Use the TRI Explorer's tribal searches to view:
- fact sheets about toxic industrial releases in Indian Country,
- data about toxic releases from TRI facilities on or near tribal lands, and
- data about industry sectors' toxic releases on or near tribal lands.
TRI Tribal Advanced Search Dashboard
- Use the TRI Tribal Advanced Search Dashboard to:
- view an extensive set of interactive charts about TRI reporting on or near tribal lands,
- search for specific tribe(s), and
- better understand releases from TRI facilities located near tribal communities.
2017 TRI National Analysis Tribal Data
- Use the National Analysis "Where You Live" tool to:
- map TRI facilities located on tribal lands, with links to 2017 TRI data about those facilities, and
- view interactive charts of Indian tribes with TRI-reporting facilities on their lands, indicating which industry sector and chemicals accounted for the majority of toxic disposal or other releases for 2017 (the charts are located in the "Tribal Communities" section).
Map of TRI Facilities + Facility-Level Data
- Enter an address in the My Right-to-Know tool to view:
- a map of TRI facilities near a particular location, and
- summary-level TRI facility data, including quantities of chemicals released.
There are other online TRI tools as well as resources for understanding and using the data. See the full list on the TRI Data and Tools webpage.
Are tribes at risk from toxic chemical releases on or near their lands?
- the toxicity of the chemical(s) released,
- the quantity of the chemical(s) released,
- the route of exposure (air, water, land),
- how often a person was exposed, and
- the fate of the chemical in the environment.
TRI has some of this information. TRI data provide estimates of quantities of toxic chemicals that are released to the environment, as well as information on how those chemicals are managed prior to or instead of being released. These data can be used to identify potential toxic chemical hazards near tribes; however, release estimates alone are not sufficient to determine exposure or to calculate potential risks to human health and the environment.
To estimate immediate or long-term risks in your community, TRI data should be combined with other information, such as the toxicity of the chemical and the chemical's transportation and fate. Find out more on the What Can TRI Tell You About Risk webpage, or by browsing Factors to Consider When Using TRI Data.
Is there help available for tribes concerned about toxic chemical releases?
Yes, a variety of resources are available to assist tribes.
Tribal Contacts
- TRI Program Regional Coordinators: Tribes concerned about toxic chemicals released from specific industrial facilities may contact the TRI Coordinator in their region.
- EPA Tribal Program Managers: Tribes are encouraged to contact the Tribal Program Manager in their region with questions about facilities near tribal communities.
Online Tools
- Report a suspected violation of environmental laws or regulations
- EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) tool: Find out if a facility is in compliance with EPA laws and regulations.
- EPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI): RSEI Scores can be used to help establish community priorities for further investigation. RSEI incorporates TRI data on the amount of toxic chemicals released, together with factors such as the chemical’s fate and transport through the environment, each chemical’s relative toxicity, and potential human exposure. Visit the EasyRSEI Qlik Dashboard for additional information.
- EPA's EJSCREEN: Create maps and generate detailed reports based on various geographic areas and datasets. Includes data from multiple factors that may affect public and environmental health within a community or region.
- ToxTown by National Library of Medicine: Learn about various environmental health concerns, including many of particular interest to tribes.
- TOXMAP by National Library of Medicine: Visually explore TRI and Superfund data using national, regional, or local GIS maps.