In 1986, the U.S. Congress enacted into law the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). The primary objective of the law is to inform the public of potential chemical hazards in their communities.

Each year manufacturing and mining facilities subject to the EPCRA law are required to submit reports on the use and management of chemicals at their facilities to federal, state and local government. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compiles portions of these reports in a database, commonly referred to as the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). State and local governments use relevant information in the reports to respond, if necessary, in the event of a chemical spill or other emergency.

The TRI report is an annual compilation of data about the use and management of chemicals at a manufacturing or mining facility. The TRI report includes emissions to air, discharges to water, placements on land or off-site transfers to landfills or recycling facilities, even though such activities are authorized or permitted by regulatory authorities as safe.

Facilities are required to report from a list of designated chemicals when the quantity managed, used or handled is above a specified threshold. The list includes naturally occurring mined metals and metal compounds such as copper, lead, zinc and nickel.

Manufacturers in Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes 20-39 (which includes primary metal smelters and refineries in SIC 33) have been required to file TRI reports since 1987. These facilities also report on pollution prevention and recycling activities.

In 1997, the EPA extended the TRI reporting requirements to seven other industries, including metal mining and commercial hazardous waste management facilities. Metal mines and the other newly added industrial sectors are required to file their first TRI report on July 1, 1999, for the calendar year 1998.

The TRI report is not designed to provide an evaluation of risk to people or the environment. According to the EPA, data in the TRI report "are not sufficient to determine exposure or to calculate potential adverse effects on human health and the environment." Since chemicals in the TRI report are addressed by other laws designed to protect human health and the environment, the TRI report does not add any additional information as to the risk posed. Instead, risk to human health and the environment is controlled by laws, regulations and permits with which facilities must comply in order to operate.