Reporting Toxic Releases

The EPA requires us to track all chemicals listed by the agency as Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) substances at all our fossil fuel-fired power plants. Most of the chemicals we report are captured by pollution control equipment or are contained in ash that is either stored in ash ponds on site or sent to the coal mine for reclamation. The ash and scrubber sludge used as backfill in the mine are considered chemically stable and pose no environmental or health risk to the community.

In July 1999, we submitted our first TRI report to the EPA under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA). Previously, the EPA only required companies classified as manufacturing industries to file annual TRI reports. The EPA expanded that list in May 1997 to include electric utilities and six other industry groups.

While TRI quantities reported by APS and other utilities are large, EPA studies have concluded that health risks relative to the volume of the substances emitted from power plants are low.

Coal ash has many beneficial uses and we are working to use much of that ash for use in concrete or related products. When ash is added to concrete products, it enhances the strength and quality of the product. Continued commitment to ash sales will help decrease some of our TRI numbers while providing a useful ingredient for other industries.

APS Reportable Releases

*2001 numbers have been revised from last year’s estimates to actual numbers.