Protect the Boundary Waters in northeastern Minnesota
Our nation’s most visited canoeing spot is due for permanent protection from mining.
Toxic threats
It’s up to us to protect our ecosystems and communities from toxic chemicals.
Most of the 80,000 chemicals on the market in the United States have been put into use without testing long-term consequences for the environment, or their impacts on our health. We should make sure that any chemical in use is safe, eliminate those we know are dangerous, and stop using any that are damaging healthy ecosystems. And if an industry makes a toxic mess, we should know right away, and they should be the ones to pay for cleaning it up.
The Latest on Toxic threats
Statement: EPA advises stronger limits on levels of toxic PFAS chemicals to protect Americans’ health
Statement: Congress should pass legislation to protect drinking water from PFAS contamination
Updates
U.S. House committee approves $36 million for schools to get the lead out
Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Funding to Combat Lead Exposure
Two more states take action to limit lead in schools’ drinking water
Featured Resources
Lead in schools’ water
Get the Lead Out: Safe drinking water at school
Safe for swimming?
Environment Illinois 2021 Legislative Agenda
The Latest
Environmental, public health groups to Senate: Act on toxic PFAS in drinking water
Eighty-two organizations, including Environment America and U.S. PIRG, delivered a letter Wednesday to the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee calling for comprehensive federal legislation to protect Americans’ drinking water from contamination by the toxic class of chemicals known as PFAS. The organizations, which hail from 30 states, asked the EPW Committee to designate all PFAS as hazardous substances, prohibit their use in firefighting foam, and direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue drinking water standards and stop the dumping of PFAS into our nation’s waterways.
Maine looks to make polluters pay for farmland contaminated by ‘forever chemicals’
Statement: PFAS Firefighter Protection Act takes on dangerous ‘forever chemicals’
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Rep. Dan Kildee (MI-5) introduced the PFAS Firefighter Protection Act into the Senate and the House this week. The bill aims to ban firefighting foams made with a class of toxic chemicals commonly referred to as PFAS. Firefighting foams, frequently used at airports and military installations, are one of the major sources of PFAS groundwater contamination in the United States. The bill would ensure that such foams are no longer in use within two years from the date it is passed.
Statement: Clean schools program means cleaner, healthier future
Vice President Kamala Harris will announce on Monday a clean schools infrastructure program, which features grant funding for public school energy upgrades, money for electric school buses, and investments in rural schools.
One of the worst years for manatees ever
The end of 2021 marks one of the grimmest years for Florida manatees. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, nearly 1,000 manatees have died this year. That's more than double the five-year annual average.