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.

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Thousands urge EPA to protect waterways from pollution

Clean water

Thousands urge EPA to protect waterways from pollution

Nearly 30,000 people are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to end the dumping of PFAS chemicals, and thousands more are telling the agency to dramatically reduce pollution from slaughterhouses. Environment America Research & Policy Center and U.S. PIRG Education Fund submitted comments from these individuals to the EPA Thursday as the agency considers updating pollution control standards, which is required by the Clean Water Act.  The groups are also calling on the EPA to strengthen standards for other industrial sources -- including power plants and refineries.

Media Releases  

A Perfect Storm: When tropical storms meet toxic waste

Toxic threats

A Perfect Storm: When tropical storms meet toxic waste

The Environment North Carolina Research & Policy Center and the North Carolina PIRG Education Fund released a report Thursday highlighting the serious threat posed by toxic “Superfund” waste sites in the paths of hurricanes and tropical storms during the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.   

Media Releases  

Statement: EPA’s new lead rule fails to ensure safe drinking water

Clean water

Statement: EPA’s new lead rule fails to ensure safe drinking water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized on Tuesday its update to the Lead and Copper Rule -- the federal regulation that is supposed to keep lead out of our drinking water. The final rule fails to order full removal of all lead service lines within 10 years - despite  concerns raised by EPA’s own science advisors and comments submitted by 63 organizations and more than 18,000 individuals from across the country.  The new rule also offers little more than limited testing to address widespread lead contamination of schools’ drinking water.

Media Statements  

Statement: EPA’s new lead rule fails to ensure safe drinking water

Clean water

Statement: EPA’s new lead rule fails to ensure safe drinking water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized on Tuesday its update to the Lead and Copper Rule -- the federal regulation that is supposed to keep lead out of our drinking water. The final rule fails to order full removal of all lead service lines within 10 years - despite  concerns raised by EPA’s own science advisors and comments submitted by 63 organizations and more than 18,000 individuals from across the country.  The new rule also offers little more than limited testing to address widespread lead contamination of schools’ drinking water.

Media Statements  

Statement: EPA’s new lead rule fails to ensure safe drinking water

Clean water

Statement: EPA’s new lead rule fails to ensure safe drinking water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized on Tuesday its update to the Lead and Copper Rule -- the federal regulation that is supposed to keep lead out of our drinking water. The final rule fails to order full removal of all lead service lines within 10 years - despite  concerns raised by EPA’s own science advisors and comments submitted by 63 organizations and more than 18,000 individuals from across the country.  The new rule also offers little more than limited testing to address widespread lead contamination of schools’ drinking water.

Media Statements  

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