EPA trying to ease toxic reporting
- By Daniel Keegan
- May 03, 2000
The Environmental Protection Agency is developing "intelligent" software
to guide users through filing reports online about the release of toxic
chemicals.
The software, dubbed "TRI-ME," will be a component of the Toxic Release Inventory, a publicly accessible database that contains information
about toxic chemicals being used, manufactured, treated, transported or
released into the environment.
TRI-ME will offer pinpoint guidance and keyword searches to help users file
reports, said Maria Doa, director of the TRI program division. For example,
users could search for "ammonia" to learn all the steps and information
needed to file a report about ammonia releases.
Users also will be able to find information about whether it is necessary
to file a report for a certain chemical or type of facility. If a report
is necessary, users can ask the program to "guide me" when they are unsure
about a step, Doa said.
There is no timetable for the program's release, Doa said.