The West Virginia Scorecard© is an annual public report about pollution prevention efforts by state companies. The report is based on a NICS analysis of toxic chemical releases companies report to the USEPA. The 2002 releases are compared to a 2000 benchmark  Through its analysis, NICS provides citizens with thorough, objective, accurate and up-to-date information about releases of toxic chemicals into the state's environment as well as data about waste management, recycling, treatment, energy recovery and offsite disposal. The report is part of a continuing effort by NICS to encourage pollution prevention and waste reduction among industries in the state.

The latest edition of the West Virginia Scorecard© is dated November 2003. This edition marks the 14th anniversary of its publication.

A copy of the 2003 Scorecard© can be downloaded by clicking here. The document is in PDF format and then zipped in order to minimize download times. You will need a program to unzip files and Adobe Acrobat Reader. The file size is 1.93 Mb.

Companies are required to report toxic chemical releases to the USEPA if a facility manufactures or processes at least 25,000 pounds of a listed substance or otherwise uses 10,000 pounds of a listed chemical during a calendar year. Some 650 toxic chemicals make up the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) and are divided into three groups: those that are suspected carcinogens; persistent and bioaccumulative toxics or PBTs, and "other." Reporting thresholds for PBTs varies with each substance.

In a section of the Scorecard©, West Virginia companies describe steps they are taking to reduce pollution and minimize waste.