The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s annual Toxics Release Inventory shows that Avago Technologies in Fort Collins emitted 18 tons of the volatile organic compound n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in 2014, but that’s down from the nearly 35 tons released in 2013. The electronics manufacturing company released 8.8 tons of the VOC in 2012.
The EPA data also showed that ammonia releases at the Anheuser-Busch brewery decreased in 2014 to 20,716 pounds. The brewery released 25,407 pounds of ammonia in 2013, 20,657 pounds in 2012, 25,021 pounds in 2011 and 29,650 pounds in 2010.
Top Larimer County toxic compound air emitters in 2014:
• Avago Technologies of Fort Collins: 36,629 pounds of n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or NMP, a volatile organic compound.
• Anheuser-Busch of Fort Collins: 20,716 pounds of ammonia.
• Rawhide Energy Station north of Wellington: 6,328 pounds of hydrochloric acid plus mercury compounds, hydrogen flouride, lead and other heavy-metal compounds.
Larimer County’s overall largest emitter of toxic compounds continues to be the coal-powered Rawhide Energy Station, which buried or released into the air more than 752,288 pounds of toxic compounds in 2014, up from 614,604 pounds in 2013.
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 for the previous year to EPA under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act by July 1. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 also requires information on waste management activities related to TRI chemicals.
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