Anheuser-Busch brewery leads Larimer County toxic compound air emissions in 2011 TRI report, down from 2010

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s annual national analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory shows that ammonia releases at the Anheuser-Busch brewery decreased to 25,021 pounds for 2011, down from 29,650 pounds reported in 2010.

Larimer County’s largest emitter of toxic compounds continues to be the coal-powered Rawhide Energy Station, which buried or released more than 648,000 pounds of toxic compounds in 2011. Airborne releases were 9,917 pounds of the total.

Top Larimer County toxic compound air emitters in 2011:

• Anheuser-Busch of Fort Collins: 25,021 pounds of ammonia.

• Rawhide Energy Station northwest of Wellington: 9,917 pounds of hydrochloric acid, mercury compounds, barium compounds, hydrogen flouride, lead and other compounds.

• Avago Technologies of Fort Collins: 9,700 pounds of hydrogen flouride, n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and ethylene glycol.

• QG,LLC of Loveland: 3,352 pounds of ethylene glycol.

The TRI program publishes information on toxic chemical disposals and other releases into the air, land and water, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention activities in neighborhoods across the country. Many of the releases from TRI facilities are regulated under various EPA programs and requirements designed to limit human and environmental harm.

TRI data is submitted annually to EPA and states by multiple industry sectors including manufacturing, metal mining, electric utilities, and commercial hazardous waste facilities. Facilities must report their toxic chemical releases to EPA under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act by July 1 of each year. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires information on waste management activities related to TRI chemicals.