14 Apr 2006

New report by EPA says 2 American Samoan firms released toxic chemicals in 2004

10:15 am on 14 April 2006

New data released yesterday by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says two facilities in American Samoa reported a total of 3,735 pounds of toxic chemicals released into the air, land and water in the year 2004.

The data comes from the EPA's Toxics Release Inventory, an annual measure of toxic chemical releases, transfers and waste generated by facilities in the United States.

According to the EPA there was a reported decrease in air releases due to a 4,730 pound decrease in ammonia air releases from COS Samoa Packing Co.

Nationally, the amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment decreased by 4 percent from 2003 to 2004, and has declined 45 percent since 1998.