As dioxin emissions are at levels lower than the current reporting thresholds for TRI chemicals, the government agency has acknowledged that it would have to lower the current reporting threshold. The public comment period closes July 6, 1997. The TRI lists chemicals and chemical categories subject to federal reporting requirements when manufactured or used in large quantities. The pulp and paper industry has already been a leader in virtually eliminating dioxin. In fact, according to an analysis of 1996 U.S. EPA and state environmental and health authority data, dioxin advisories on waterbodies downstream of U.S. pulp mills now number only 18 - about one percent of the nation's total 1,740 waterbodies under all types of fish consumption advisories.
Similar results are evident across Canada.