EPA TRI Facility · Food

Empirical Foods (ssc)

South Sioux City, NE · Parent: Empirical Foods Inc

Total releases
1.1M lbs
Chemicals reported
5
Latest report
2023
Primary pathway
Off-site Transfers
Verify at EPA TRI →

Empirical Foods (ssc) has reported 1.1M lbs of toxic releases across 5 chemicals to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, based on annual facility disclosures from 2019 through 2023. The facility operates in the Food sector. The primary release pathway is off-site transfers, accounting for 97% of total releases. All release data shown below is self-reported to the EPA under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Section 313.

#1,217 of 25,902 TRI facilities nationwide by total reported releases - among the top 4.7% of reporting sites by volume. Ranking reflects reported pounds, not toxicity or health risk.

Empirical Foods (ssc) files annual Form R disclosures to the EPA Toxics Release Inventory under EPCRA Section 313, classified under NAICS 311612 (Food). Across 5 years of records spanning 2019–2023, the site has disclosed 1.1M lbs in cumulative toxic releases across 5 distinct chemicals.

The dominant release pathway is off-site transfers at 1.1M lbs (97.0% of total volume), followed by air releases at 3.0%. Between 2019 and 2023, reported totals decreased by 5% - from 187.5K lbs to 178.3K lbs. The facility is operated under parent company Empirical Foods Inc.

TRI Form R values are self-reported estimates, not measured stack emissions, and treat every pound of reported chemical equally regardless of toxicity. Inclusion in the TRI database does not establish a health risk to nearby residents; it documents the annual reporting record that Empirical Foods (ssc) has filed with the EPA under federal community right-to-know requirements.

Quick Facts

Industry
Food
NAICS Code
311612
Total Releases
1.1M lbs
Chemicals Reported
5
Latest Report Year
2023

Compare this facility

See how Empirical Foods (ssc) stacks up against nearby facilities and the typical reporter.

Total reported releases
Empirical Foods (ssc)
1.1M lbs
Tyson Fresh Meats Inc
11.5M lbs

90% less than the comparison

Chemicals reported
Empirical Foods (ssc)
5
Tyson Fresh Meats Inc
8

38% less than the comparison

Comparison reflects reported pounds and chemical counts, not toxicity or health risk. Averages cover facilities reporting any release.

How does this facility release toxic chemicals?

How Empirical Foods (ssc) releases toxic chemicals into the environment. Total: 1.1M lbs.

Off-site Transfers 1.1M lbs (97.0%)
Air Releases 33.7K lbs (3.0%)
View 5-Year Emissions Trend →

Emissions Trend Summary

From 2019 to 2023, total releases decreased by 5% (187.5K lbs to 178.3K lbs).

Reported total releases by year

Empirical Foods (ssc) - annual TRI totals

million lbs

What this shows Year-over-year reported totals. TRI figures are self-reported estimates and can swing with production levels, waste-rock handling and reporting changes, not only with emissions controls.

Source EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)
Year Total Chemicals
2019 187.5K lbs 4
2020 213.6K lbs 4
2021 290.5K lbs 4
2022 250.6K lbs 5
2023 178.3K lbs 5

Chemical Releases

Aggregated across all reporting years (2019–2023). Sorted by total release volume.

Chemical Total Flags
Ammonia 804.5K lbs -
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution) 303.9K lbs -
Certain glycol ethers 9.0K lbs -
Peracetic acid 3.0K lbs -
Nitric acid 45 lbs -

Location

Coordinates
42.4850, -96.4130
ZIP Code
68776
EPA Facility ID
68776BFPRD36016

About TRI Data

Data as of 2023 reporting year. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory.

Data comes from the EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. Facilities that manufacture, process, or otherwise use listed toxic chemicals above threshold amounts are required to report annually to the EPA.

Release quantities are self-reported by the facility and may represent estimates rather than exact measurements. "Total releases" includes releases to air, water, land, and off-site transfers for disposal. Quantities shown here are aggregated across all available reporting years.

PlainEnviro presents this data without advocacy framing. The presence of a facility in the TRI database does not by itself indicate a health risk. For site-specific health questions, consult your local environmental or health agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chemicals does Empirical Foods (ssc) release?
Empirical Foods (ssc) has reported releases of 5 chemicals to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, totaling 1.1M lbs.
What industry is Empirical Foods (ssc) in?
Empirical Foods (ssc) is classified under the "Food" industry (NAICS code 311612), located in South Sioux City, NE.
How long has Empirical Foods (ssc) reported to the TRI?
Empirical Foods (ssc) has EPA Toxic Release Inventory data spanning 5 years, from 2019 to 2023.
How does Empirical Foods (ssc) release toxic chemicals?
The primary release pathway for Empirical Foods (ssc) is off-site transfers, accounting for 97.0% of total releases (1.1M lbs). Secondary pathway: air releases (3.0%).
Are emissions from Empirical Foods (ssc) increasing or decreasing?
From 2019 to 2023, total releases decreased by 5%, from 187.5K lbs to 178.3K lbs.
Is Empirical Foods (ssc) a health risk?
The presence of a facility in the TRI database does not by itself indicate a health risk. Release quantities are self-reported estimates. For site-specific health questions, consult your local environmental or health agency.

What to do with this facility's data

Use this facility profile as a starting point, then check how it compares.

  • See whether releases reported by Empirical Foods (ssc) are rising or falling over time. View trends
  • This facility ranks #1,217 of 25,902 TRI facilities nationwide by total reported releases - among the top 4.7% of reporting sites by volume. Ranking reflects reported pounds, not toxicity or health risk. See the full rankings
  • Check Nebraska's statewide profile for the full picture: total facilities, water systems, and Superfund sites. View Nebraska profile

TRI release totals are self-reported estimates submitted to the EPA, not independently measured stack emissions; a high rank reflects reported volume, not necessarily local health risk.

Related

Sources & how this page was built

Every figure on this page traces to public, federal-government data on Empirical Foods (ssc). The records below are the primary sources; our methodology explains how they are joined, computed, and verified.

Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro Editorial. TRI release totals are self-reported estimates, not measured stack emissions.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Toxics Release Inventory has required annual industrial disclosure since its creation under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act in October 1986, and this facility's record is drawn from PlainEnviro's database of more than 25,000 EPA-tracked facilities through the 2023 reporting year; see our methodology for full source citations and refresh cadence.