Exploring Environmental
Challenges to Redevelopment in the Greater East St Louis Area
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Researching
Official
Environmental Data Sources
Right
to Know Network RTKNET.ORG—Portal
to all EPA databases.
This website is intended to increase the
transparency of the EPA data on hazardous waste releases throughout the United
States by simplifying searching various EPA data. Data available can be as far
back as the early 1980s. Much of the data is for reports of spills at
facilities that are still in operation (and therefore not currently a target of
brownfield redevelopment)—however, this data can be used as one of the pieces
of the brownfields puzzle and determining information about the piece of
property or industrial history. Some of
the databases in RTK will be more helpful than others. Though all of the
databases should be examined, below are databases that may be of particular
importance.
Toxic
Release (TRI) Database:
Last updated September 2008 data from 1987 to 2007.
TRI is a database of information about releases and transfers of toxic
chemicals from facilities in certain industrial sectors, including
manufacturing, waste handling, mining, and electricity generation. Facilities must also report total amount of
toxic chemicals in waste they produce.
Facilities must report the amounts released to air, land, water, and
underground—and how much is sent off-site.
Spills
and Accidents (ERNS) Database:
This
database contains information on toxic chemicals and other accidents report to
the National Response Center.
The
data available include incidents from 1982 through 2007.
Hazardous
Waste (BRS) Database:
This Biennial Reporting System (BRS) contains data
on the generation, shipment and receipt of hazardous waste. This biennial
reporting is in compliance with RCRA and includes data from 1989 through 2007.
Hazardous
Waste—Violations and Permits (RCRIS) Database:
The
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Information System (RCRIS) contains data
on hazardous waste handler permits and activities.
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
This query form allows you to retrieve data from the
CERCLIS database and provides information about sites on the National Priority
List, Active Sites and those with No Further Remediation Action Planned
(NFRAP). Search is available by geography.
This query allows the user to search by geography
for information about pollution and releases nearby.
Leaking Underground
Storage Tank Incident Tracking (Illinois EPA):
This database identifies the status
of all Illinois LUST incidents reported to the Illinois Emergency Management
Agency and to IL EPA. Included in this list are all reported LUSTs; unreported
LUSTs are not included on this database.