By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

EIGHT facilities on Guam reported a 68 percent decrease in total releases of toxic chemicals released into the air, land and water in 2005, according to new data released by the U.S. 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.
Total releases include toxic chemicals discharged to air, water, underground injection, land (including landfills), and the amount transferred off-site for disposal.
But the EPA stressed that the data provided does not mean that facilities with elevated levels are out of compliance with state, local or federal environmental regulations.
The Guam facilities reported a decrease of 509,000 pounds in overall releases of all chemicals. The overall air releases decreased by 81 percent with facilities reporting 128,000 pounds.
Land releases were also down 63 percent at 1,661 pounds while water releases increased to a total of 104,000 pounds. The water release increase was due to a 25,000 -pound increase at the U.S. Navy Guam Main Base.
Overall, Guam ranks 53rd out of 56 states and territories in total releases of toxic chemicals in 2005.
Wayne Nastri, the EPA’s administrator for the Pacific Southwest region, said the Toxic Release Inventory is an important tool for regulators, emergency responders, businesses and communities because it helps them better understand and be aware of the types and amounts of chemicals being released in their neighborhoods.
Nationally, the amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment increased by 3 percent from 2004 to 2005.
The reporting of data to the Toxics Release Inventory is required under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, passed in 1986.
This program has been credited with arming communities with valuable know-ledge and encouraging facilities to reduce their releases of toxic chemicals into the environment through source reduction, or pollution prevention measures.