EPA Slow to Act on PFAS Contamination Crisis

EPA Slow to Act on PFAS Contamination Crisis

A hearing on Capitol Hill today probed EPA’s failure to set safety standards for a class of toxic chemicals called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — also called the “forever chemicals” because they take thousands of years to break down.  Both Democrats and Republicans are concerned because PFAS has seeped into many public water systems in the United States and globally, especially near and on military bases and industrial sites, exposing millions to these chemicals at dangerous levels and causing health problems in those communities. 

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Hero of the Week: Mama Lila Cabbil, Michigan Water Warrior (1944-2019)

Hero of the Week: Mama Lila Cabbil, Michigan Water Warrior (1944-2019)

As Black History Month draws to a close, we can think of no better hero than Mama Lila Cabbil, who is being remembered this week in Michigan for her tireless work on civil rights and environmental justice, and as a founder of the People’s Water Board Coalition and the Detroit People’s Platform.  She passed away […]

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Lake Erie Now Has a “Bill of Rights”

Lake Erie Now Has a “Bill of Rights”

On Tuesday, a citizen-led referendum in Toledo to provide Lake Erie a “Bill of Rights” passed by an impressive 61-39 margin, according to the Toledo Blade’s coverage of the unofficial election results.  Yes — you read that right — the Lake now has rights, thanks to a small group of determined citizens in Toledo.  The initiative requires that the Toledo City Charter be amended to provide that the Lake Erie watershed has legal rights to “exist and flourish,” and provides a right for citizens to sue private actors that threaten the Lake’s health.

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EPA Says It Will Regulate Toxic PFAS Chemicals…Eventually

EPA Says It Will Regulate Toxic PFAS Chemicals…Eventually

Yesterday the EPA released its long-awaited plan to address Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) a family of chemicals that are linked to cancer and other illnesses, and that are found widely across the U.S. in drinking water and soil.  But the “action” plan, which promises to begin a process by the end of the year […]

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The Green New Deal: What’s In It?

The Green New Deal: What’s In It?

There has been some confusion and even disinformation about what is IN and what is not in the Green New Deal bill, H.R. 109.  We will summarize it for you here.

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EPA Enforcement Hits New Lows

EPA Enforcement Hits New Lows

The Trump Administration is not just rolling back environmental rules, it is also cutting down on inspections and enforcement according to a summary issued by the agency on Friday.  We had previously reported the drop in criminal cases brought by EPA against the worst polluters, but this new data shows the decrease in enforcement also carries over to civil cases and even to inspections, which provide the basis for enforcement actions. 

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