Environmental Statistics: It’s All About Comparable Quality

Barry D. Nussbaum, Chief StatisticianBarry D. Nussbaum, Chief StatisticianU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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International Association for

Official StatisticsOctober 20, 2010

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Report on the Environment

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EPA’s Report on the Environment

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How long is the U.S. coastline?How long is the U.S. coastline?

a)a) 95,000 miles 95,000 miles b)b) 19,924 km 19,924 km c)c) 66,645 miles66,645 milesd)d) 58,618 miles 58,618 miles e)e) 66,419 miles66,419 milesf)f) Any of the aboveAny of the aboveg)g) None of the aboveNone of the above

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How long is the U.S. coastline?How long is the U.S. coastline?

a)a) 95,000 miles 95,000 miles b)b) 19,924 km 19,924 km c)c) 66,645 miles66,645 milesd)d) 58,618 miles 58,618 miles e)e) 66,419 miles66,419 milesf)f) Any of the aboveAny of the aboveg)g) None of the aboveNone of the above

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The Richardson Effect

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Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)

• Data on toxic chemical releases and waste management activities

• Reported annually by certain industries

• Also reported by Federal facilities

• Provides communities with information to support decision making

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Presenting Data: TRI

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…and the metadata

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Simpler Presentation of TRI Data

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Air Pollution in Middlesex County

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Other Uses of TRI Data

Financial Sector

Used by some mutual funds for “social responsibility”

Labor UnionsUsed in contract negotiations

Internal RevenueUsed for tax on CFCs

Internal ProcessingReactions to filing lead to lower releases

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TRI Data: Beware

• TRI is not everything– Mobile Sources are not included– Smaller facilities are not included– Toxic Substances Control Act lists 76,000

chemicals– TRI includes 650 chemicals

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TRI Data: Beware

• Releases are in pounds

• Dioxins are measured in grams

• Releases are NOT health waited

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TRI Data: Beware

• The data base changes– TRI started in 1988– In 1998, metal mining was added (and

releases more than doubled)– Just publishing the data encourages

reductions in the releases– Out of 650 chemicals, 332 are core chemicals

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Accuracy of Data Collection Efforts

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