WASHINGTON – Under pressure from industry groups, the U.S. EPA has decided to withdraw certain data elements sought under last year’s information collection request for its Toxics Release Inventory rules.

In announcing the revisions, EPA bowed to concerns that many TRI filers were unaware of the proposed changes, which various critics say were hidden within the ICR. IPC, among others, claimed EPA’s proposals should have been conducted through its notice-and-comment rule-making process.

The proposed changes to the TRI forms included collection of small business information, more detailed information on how facilities estimate their data, additional point of contacts, and reasons for withdrawals and revisions.

On behalf of its members, IPC filed comments opposing the changes.