Hamilton, TN

High Risk (73/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Hamilton in Tennessee · Population: 370,913

TRI sites such as Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations Llc.; Nippon Paint Automotive Americas; South Atlantic Galvanizing; SDWIS systems such as TENNESSEE AMERICAN WATER; HIXSON UTILITY DISTRICT; SAVANNAH VALLEY U.D.; NPL sites such as Amnicola Dump; Southside Chattanooga Lead; Tennessee Products anchor Hamilton, TN's EPA extract. Derived burden score 73/100 (High Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Hamilton include SAVANNAH VALLEY U.D., while Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations Llc. leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 48 / peak 126 in 2024.

Burden score 73/100 (High Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Hamilton -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Hamilton, TN: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

-3.1%

52 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

+151.3%

394.4 thousand lb → 991.1 thousand lb, every facility that filed

These two measures point in opposite directions. Releases from the facilities present in both years fell, while the inventory-wide total rose. The difference is which facilities filed, not a different estimate of the same plants.

Between the two reporting years, 3 facilities filed for the first time and 4 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.

  • Hamilton, TN's total reported releases fell from 389.6 thousand lb in 2022 to 377.4 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Hamilton, TN's water releases rose from 70 lb in 2022 to 223 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Hamilton, TN's land releases fell from 54.4 thousand lb in 2022 to 24.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Hamilton, TN's air releases rose from 198.2 thousand lb in 2022 to 226.4 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
370,913
TRI Facilities
50
Water Systems
10
Superfund Sites
3
Total Releases
2.5M lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 190 (54%) 156 3 126
2023 175 (48%) 187 3 137
2022 169 (50%) 171 1 105
2021 191 (54%) 159 1 101
2020 219 (60%) 144 0 151
2024 Good Air Quality: 54% of days
Unhealthy days: 3
Median AQI: 48

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Tennessee, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (10)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
TENNESSEE AMERICAN WATER 207,046 0
HIXSON UTILITY DISTRICT 68,306 0
SAVANNAH VALLEY U.D. 30,571 1
WALDEN'S RIDGE U.D. 9,265 0
TN AMERICAN SEQUATCHIE VALLEY 8,001 0
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN WATER SYSTEM 7,761 0
UNION FORK-BAKEWELL U.D. 6,464 0
JASPER HIGHLANDS WATER SYSTEM 1,280 0
LONE OAK UTILITY DISTRICT 644 0
SUCK CREEK WATER SYSTEM 606 0

TRI Facilities (50)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations Llc. 659.6K lbs
2 Nippon Paint Automotive Americas 611.9K lbs
3 South Atlantic Galvanizing 452.5K lbs
4 Mueller Co 176.8K lbs
5 Chattem Chemicals Inc. 124.2K lbs
6 Astec Inc 110.9K lbs
7 Sofix LLC 81.7K lbs
8 Azz Enclosure Systems - Chattanooga LLC 45.6K lbs
9 Brenntag Mid-South Inc. 33.2K lbs
10 Pilgrim's Pride Corp Chattanooga Fresh Facility 28.5K lbs
11 Basf Corp 26.4K lbs
12 Signal Mountain Cement Co DBA Buzzi Unicem USA 20.8K lbs
13 Hawker Powersource Inc 20.2K lbs
14 Basf Corp 13.9K lbs
15 Allied Metal Co 12.9K lbs
16 Pilgrim's Pride Corp Chattanooga Debone/cook Facilit 10.6K lbs
17 Kordsa Inc. 10.4K lbs
18 Royal Chemical Co 10.3K lbs
19 Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc. 10.3K lbs
20 Lamberti Synthesis USA Inc 10.1K lbs
21 Advanced Technical Ceramics Co 9.9K lbs
22 Wr Grace Chattanooga Plant 8.7K lbs
23 Plastic Omnium Auto Exteriors LLC 8.4K lbs
24 Nippon Shokubai America Industries Inc. (formerly Na Industr 6.3K lbs
25 Motor Wheel LLC 5.3K lbs
26 Chattem Inc Plant 2 4.3K lbs
27 Woodbridge Inoac Technical Products LLC 4.2K lbs
28 US Tva Sequoyah Nuclear Plant 2.3K lbs
29 Roadtec Inc. (riverside Drive Plant) 1.8K lbs
30 Astec - Manufacturers Road 1.6K lbs
31 Univar Solutions USA 1.4K lbs
32 Nouryon Surface Chemistry LLC 1.3K lbs
33 Fxi Inc. - Chattanooga 1.3K lbs
34 Ergon Terminaling Inc-Chattanooga 804 lbs
35 Paladin Attachments 628 lbs
36 Komatsu America Corp. 544 lbs
37 Sonoco Products Co Chattanooga Tn Mill 498 lbs
38 Carlisle Polyurethane Systems 331 lbs
39 Tag Manufacturing Inc. 292 lbs
40 Saint-Gobain Norpro 228 lbs
41 Lambcon Inc. 130 lbs
42 Heatec Inc. 118 lbs
43 Applied Thermal Coatings Inc. 60 lbs
44 Tpg Pressure - Bakewell 58 lbs
45 Yanfeng 50 lbs
46 Ready Mix USA Llc-Chattanooga River Plant 8 lbs
47 Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc. Plant 2 7 lbs
48 Accu-Cast Inc 2 lbs
49 Foley Products Co - Chattanooga 0 lbs
50 Clean Harbors Chattanooga LLC 0 lbs

Superfund Sites (3)

Site Name Status HRS Score
Amnicola Dump Deleted NPL Site 40.91
Southside Chattanooga Lead NPL Site 50.00
Tennessee Products Deleted NPL Site 0.00

Cities in Hamilton (7)

Chattanooga
56 facilities · 6 water
Ooltewah
4 facilities · 0 water
Soddy Daisy
3 facilities · 1 water
Bakewell
1 facilities · 1 water
Signal Mountain
0 facilities · 3 water
Georgetown
0 facilities · 1 water
Hixson
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Hamilton, Tennessee?
Hamilton, TN has an environmental risk score of 73/100 (High Risk), based on 50 TRI facilities, 3 Superfund sites, and 10 water systems on record. 1 water system have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Hamilton?
Yes, Hamilton, TN has 3 Superfund sites on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Hamilton?
Hamilton, TN has 50 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 2.5M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Hamilton?
In 2024, Hamilton, TN recorded a median AQI of 48 and a peak AQI of 126. 54% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Hamilton?
Hamilton, TN has 10 EPA-regulated water systems. 1 system has reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Hamilton?
Environmental compliance in Hamilton, Tennessee is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Tennessee state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro