Action Plan to Enhance the Comparability of Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs)

in North America

First published in 2002 Updated in 2005 Updated Oct. 2014

Public Meeting of the NAPRTR Project Toronto, Canada, 2012

Stakeholders from government, industry, NGOs, the public, and the media discussed key issues in PRTR reporting and provided recommendations and specific actions to enhance the comparability of PRTRs in North America.

Key Issues Identified

1. Differences in industrial sectors subject to reporting

2. Inconsistent application of NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes

3. Difference in the pollutants subject to reporting

4. Inconsistent PRTR terminology and definitions

5. Lack of harmonization among local, state/provincial and federal programs

6. Inconsistent data quality and reliability

Recommendations and Proposed Actions

1. Identify gaps in the application of stated criteria for the reporting of sectors and activities

a. Review and compare national criteria for the inclusion of industrial sectors or activities to identify possible additions

b. Establish a mechanism to share information on PRTR sector coverage and changes

c. Conduct sector-based workshops to identify reporting gaps or issues relevant to a specific sector

d. Adopt a phased-in approach for consideration of reporting of the identified sectors

Recommendations and Proposed Actions

2. Develop Consistency in the Application of NAICS Codes

a. Undertake a coordinated review of sector definitions and assignment of NAICS codes to identify inconsistencies

b. Develop a consistent cross-walk for different NAICS codes

c. Agree upon the timing for adoption of an updated version of NAICS codes

d. Work with the three PRTR programs to share best practices to ensure facility reporting of correct NAICS codes

Recommendations and Proposed Actions

3. Share information relative to the substances of common interest and meeting the criteria for inclusion

a. Review national criteria for the listing of substances b. Compare national PRTR reporting requirements (including

thresholds)c. Establish a mechanism to exchange toxicological assessment

informationd. Adopt a phased-in approach for expanding the list of pollutants

that must be reportede. Explore opportunities to expand comparability in cases where

the substance listings and thresholds remain different due to national needs and circumstances

Recommendations and Proposed Actions

4. Develop consistent PRTR terminology and definitions

a. Conduct a coordinated review of national PRTR terminology and definitions

b. Establish an equivalent PRTR nomenclature (via a cross-walk of terms)

c. Assess particular reporting elements where an expanded scope of information would improving our understanding of the data (e.g., pollution prevention comments)

Recommendations and Proposed Actions

5. Work towards local, state or provincial, and federal data integration or harmonization

a. Explore strategies to harmonize reporting requirements for sectors that are regulated under multiple jurisdictions

b. Explore potential avenues of cooperation with counterparts of local, state or provincial, and federal programs for sharing data

Recommendations and Proposed Actions

6. Share information on data quality assurance methodologies and toolsa. Conduct a coordinated review of national PRTR data quality

control and quality assurance activities

b. Develop a prioritized list of data quality issues

c. Conduct a series of trilateral, sector-based workshops involving a training component, or other activities, to increase compliance, quality and consistency of PRTR reporting

d. Establish partnerships with other agencies for sharing and use of sector-based data to support improvements in reporting

Additional Recommendations

7. Establish a North American “Challenge” program for industry champions of environmental performance

8. Ensure more accessible and usable information through spatial representation of PRTR data, added context and combination with other data

9. Establish partnerships among scientific organizations, health and environmental journalists, industry associations, academic institutions, others

10. Develop sustainable development plans, policies, and programs