In my last Blog Post I wrote about the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) 2007 update to the the "Toxics Release Inventory" (TRI). Hazardous materials releases that must be reported to USEPA are listed in the TRI database.
I entered my home zipcode in the TRI datase last week, and discovered that a Georgia-Pacific Chemical facility is located within one miles of my home.
Where is the Irony you ask?? Today, I read in the Sacramento Bee that the same Georgia-Pacific was fined $2.4 Million for illegally diluting their chemical waste and disposing it into the sewer. They saved $300,000 per year by not hauling their waste to an approved disposal site.
Where is the environmental harm? Liquids that are disposed in the sewer system travel to sewage treatment plants. Sewage Treatment Plants rely on a delicate balance of natural bacterial organisms to decompose sewage. These bacterial balances can be disrupted when unexpected chemicals enter the process. Not only do chemicals harm Sewage Treatment plants, but the liquids from them are sent directly to our local rivers with out further treatment.
Home buyers should check the TRI database so they can make informed decisions about the are they are thinking of purchaseing a home.
Environmentally Yours,
Nancy Lancaster is a Realtor and Ecobroker practicing in the greater Sacramento region for Lyon Real Estate . Visit Nancy Lancaster website to find homes for sale in Sacramento. Nancy Lancaster sponsors a unique program called "Healthy Homes For You".
What's also fascinating about the TRI database is that it will give you the nation's top 100 corporate polluters.
Might be considered an "off-site condition" required disclosure in some states.
Hi Joseph...thank you for your insightful comment. I think you're right about these facilities being candidates for disclosures. I think buyers should have this information.
So, Georgia Pacific was fined - how soon will they actually cough up the money? I have lately been hearing of so many of these (too) big corporations that just tie the fines and penalties up in appeals and decades later still haven't paid out.
More importantly, how safe is your water?
Another example of "Spill Over Cost" to all of us all in the name of profit for the corporation at the expense of the consumer and neighbor...
Dear Nancy,
Everythime I think I am "getting a handle" on things that need to be "scruitinized" on my clients behalf...I get introduced to yet another little detail that is truly scarry. Thanks for the efforts and I am going to find out if the website works for us in Virginia. M
Nancy~
I am going to feature this post. I really appreciate your "good-eye" and the link. I think all of us at the Eco-All Stars Group will benefit from checking it out.
I am wondering if you (any of us) have seen the ad from Georgia pacific that alludes to real estae professionals and what you think of it...
Hello Janeanne,
Thank you for featuring my post! I'm not familiar with the Georgia Pacifi ad you mentioned. Where have you seen it...tv, internet, newspaper? What does it say? I'm really curious...Thanks again, Nancy
Hi Marilyn,
Thank you for your comment. Please let me know if you find the TRI site useful for Virginia.
Nancy
Lynn & Mary,
Thank you for taking the time to post a comment. Your points are very valid I'm going to check on the progress of the Georgia Pacific fines and post and update.
Nancy
This is a very good resource for buyers and sellers -- important to disclose if the seller knows - and important for buyers to be aware of what may be around them. The problem is that sometimes the chemicals flow from far away -- so it is also important to test the water.