Study: US fertiliser makers reduce TRI emissions

27 April 2000 21:03  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (CNI)--A survey of US nitrogen and phosphate fertiliser manufacturers released Thursday indicates their emissions as reported in the annual Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) fell 10% in 1998 from the previous year.

According to the study by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), phosphate manufacturers cut their emissions by 18%, while releases from nitrogen plants were down by a more modest 1%. Based in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, IFDC is a private research firm.

The Fertilizer Institute, which represents more than 90% of the US fertiliser industry and funded the IFDC study, said that since the industry began reporting TRI-related emissions in 1987 it has reduced environmental emissions by 81% as a ratio of pounds released against tonne of product produced.

The survey, which is a compilation of information reported annually to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under a federal right-to-know law, includes data from 38 nitrogen and 20 phosphate manufacturing facilities.

Ammonia is the major chemical released from nitrogen plants; phosphoric acid is the primary substance emitted from phosphate facilities.

As a result of a recent US district court decision, this will be the last TRI survey on which phosphate fertiliser manufacturers will have to report phosphoric acid releases.

The court case which drew this ruling was filed by the Fertilizer Institute in response to EPA's 1998 denial of the industry's petition to de-list phosphoric acid.

By: Glenn Hess
+1 713 525 2653

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