Lenoir, NC
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 Lenoir in North Carolina · Population: 54,917
TRI sites such as Sanderson Farms Inc; Masterbrand Cabinets LLC - Kinston Operations; Covation Biomaterials Kinston Site; SDWIS systems such as KINSTON, CITY OF; DEEP RUN WATER CORPORATION; LA GRANGE WATER SYSTEM anchor Lenoir, NC's EPA extract. Derived burden score 25/100 (Low 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 Lenoir include ROBERSONVILLE, TOWN OF, while Sanderson Farms Inc leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 34 / peak 77 in 2024.
Burden score 25/100 (Low 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 Lenoir -- 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 Lenoir, NC: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
Same facilities, both years
-8.6%
6 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023
Whole inventory
-9.2%
199.8 thousand lb → 181.4 thousand lb, every facility that filed
Between the two reporting years, 0 facilities filed for the first time and 1 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.
- Lenoir, NC's total reported releases fell from 198.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 181.4 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Lenoir, NC's air releases rose from 50.9 thousand lb in 2022 to 64.6 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Lenoir, NC's land releases fell from 142.1 thousand lb in 2022 to 110.8 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Lenoir, NC's water releases rose from 3.1 thousand lb in 2022 to 3.6 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
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 | 295 (96%) | 13 | 0 | 77 |
| 2023 | 272 (89%) | 32 | 1 | 105 |
| 2022 | 217 (90%) | 23 | 1 | 108 |
| 2021 | 284 (93%) | 22 | 0 | 97 |
| 2020 | 290 (98%) | 6 | 0 | 58 |
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 North Carolina, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.
Water Systems (5)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| KINSTON, CITY OF | 27,475 | 0 |
| DEEP RUN WATER CORPORATION | 14,196 | 0 |
| LA GRANGE WATER SYSTEM | 3,167 | 0 |
| ROBERSONVILLE, TOWN OF | 1,700 | 2 |
| NEUSE REGIONAL WTR & SWR AUTH | 0 | 0 |
TRI Facilities (8)
| # | Facility | Total Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanderson Farms Inc | 580.4K lbs |
| 2 | Masterbrand Cabinets LLC - Kinston Operations | 120.1K lbs |
| 3 | Covation Biomaterials Kinston Site | 109.8K lbs |
| 4 | Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp | 6.8K lbs |
| 5 | Eaton's Crouse-Hinds LLC | 51 lbs |
| 6 | Lenox Inc-Lenoir | 4 lbs |
| 7 | S&w Kinston Plant | 0 lbs |
| 8 | Sanderson Farms LLC | 0 lbs |
Cities in Lenoir (4)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Lenoir, North Carolina? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Lenoir? ▼
How many toxic release facilities are in Lenoir? ▼
What is the air quality in Lenoir? ▼
Is the drinking water safe in Lenoir? ▼
What environmental agencies cover Lenoir? ▼
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.