Out of over 1,000 zip codes in Virginia, two localities in the Historic Triangle have ranked in the top 20 for the highest toxic air emissions.
A report released by the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club Wednesday names James City County and York County as the 12th and 18th “most toxic” localities in the state, according to a Sierra Club news release.
The United States Postal Service lists over 1,200 zip codes for the state of Virginia.
“Throughout the state, major corporations’ toxic air pollution emissions are rising, despite Virginia’s slight overall decrease in air pollution,” Kendyl Crawford, Conservation Program Manager with the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, said in the release.
The toxic air ratings are based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2015 Toxic Release Inventory report — a database that details toxic chemical releases and air pollution across America, according to the release.
In addition to James City and York counties, Hampton Roads localities occupied five of the top 25 spots on the list, partially due to industry in the area, the release said. The other localities are Isle of Wight, Chesapeake and Newport News.
In James City County, the Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp. released over 400 thousand pounds of toxic chemicals in 2015, the release said. The company is located on Pocahontas Trail on the southern end of the county.
The corporation maintains it has a strong focus on the environment.
“Sustainability is embedded in our manufacturing operations and is a lever of operational excellence,” the company wrote in its annual report. “We recognize the impact our operations have on the environment and the local communities where we operate and are committed to continuous efficiency improvements.”
Huntington Ingalls Inc. and Mica Co of Canada Inc. in Newport News and International Paper Franklin Mill in Isle of Wight also significantly contribute to air pollution, the release said.
The release said Environmental Protection Agency data shows five Hampton Roads localities released more than 2.4 million pounds of toxic pollutants into the air in 2015, the year for which the most recent data is available.
Crawford also called for the state government to allow more public comment on air pollution issues.
“We call on the Department of Environmental Quality and our elected officials to support increased opportunities for engagement,” Crawford said in the release. “Virginians living in highly polluted areas should be given more opportunities to speak for themselves and to fight these large corporations spewing toxic chemicals into the communities where they live.”
