New TRI Software Under Development for Foundries.

EPA is currently working on Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting software to assist foundries with the completion and filing of their Form Rs for SIC codes 332, 3335, 3336 and 3339. According to EPA, this software, entitled Toxics Release Inventory Made Easy or "TRI-ME," will be an interactive, user-friendly program that will walk facilities through the entire Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) section 313 reporting experience. The software will lead prospective reporters through a series of questions, eliminating a significant amount of the analysis required to determine when or if a facility must comply with the reporting requirements of EPCRA 313. For those facilities required to file Form Rs, the software will prompt the reporter to provide facility-specific information, perform the necessary calculations and complete the TRI forms. In addition, TRI-ME software has a "one-stop" feature that enables the user to do keyword searches of available EPCRA section 313 guidance, and by preserving worksheets and information, the software serves as a record-keeping device for covered facilities. EPA plans to have Version 1 of the TRI-ME software available to foundries for use in completing forms due on July 1 for the 1999 reporting year. Version 1 contains industry-specific guidance for three industry sectors--chemical distributors, bulk stations and terminals, and foundries.