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Nrdc: Epa Is Part Of The Problem In Flint

Thursday, January 14, 2016 12:14:41 AM America/Los_Angeles
CHICAGO (January 13, 2016)
Press reports published today reveal a disappointingly passive response from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency to address concerns about drinking water in Flint, MI before and since the city was
gripped by a lead poisoning crisis, according to attorneys at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Last October,
NRDC, the ACLU of Michigan and local groups petitioned the EPA to use its emergency powers to secure
safe, lead-free water for the Citys children and families. In December, the Agency
responded with a "status update"
saying that it intended to hold off on acting on the petition. Also, in November, many of the same groups
filed a
60-day notice announcing their intent to sue
City and State officials in federal court.
Following is reaction to the EPAs new statements from NRDC Midwest Director Henry Henderson:
If this is how the EPA views their powers, the Agency might as well stay out of the Flint crisis because they have
clearly been part of the problem. The people of Flint have been let down by every level of governmentCity, State
and Federalthrough the sorts of inaction and lack of transparency that are painfully on display in comments from
Region 5 Director Susan Hedman.
It is beyond understanding that the EPA was paralyzed for 9 months while waiting for a legal opinion on their own
powers in the midst of a crisis where an entire city was being poisoned.
Despite all the attention to the plight of Flint, many residents remain concerned about inaction to fix the problems
with their water system. The situation today, with water that remains toxic, illustrates why it remains essential for
Americans to be able to file citizen suits to protect themselves when government fails them. That is clearly the case in
Flint and it is why we noticed our intent to sue. It looks like the federal engagement should come from the courts.
More information on the 60-day notice of intent to sue can be found at
http://www.nrdc.org/media/2015/151116.asp
More on the Flint situation from NRDCs Switchboard blog at:
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/hhenderson/flint_still_flubbed_more_answe.html
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/hhenderson/epa_flakes_on_flint_guest_post.html
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/hhenderson/poisoning_people_the_future_an.html
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2016StateoftheStateAddress
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cleanenergyeconomyandprotectitsenvironmentinhisannualStateoftheStateaddress.
AstatementfollowsfromRichardSchrader,NewYorkLegislativeDirectorattheNaturalResources
DefenseCouncil:
TheGovernorhasannouncedaboldpathforthestatetocontinuemovingawayfromthedirtyenergy
sourcesofthepast,towardthecleanenergysourcesthatwillpowerusintothefuture.Theseplansforthe
comingyeararepromisingforthehealthofourchildren,thestrengthofourlocalworkforce,thesecurityof
ourcommunities,andthefutureforourstate.Fromphasingoutcoalpowerinthenextfewyearstophasing
inoffshorewind,boostingsolarpower,increasingenergyefficiencyandmakingourcarscleaner,thestate
cancontinueitsforwardmomentuminthebattleagainstclimatechangeandcreatethousandsoflocaljobs
intheprocess.Atthesametime,commitmentstopreservethestate'swildplaces,supportitsfarming
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HouseResolutionAgainstCleanWaterProtectionsPutsPolluters
BeforePeople
WASHINGTON(January13,2016)HouseRepublicanstodaypassedlegislationattackingcleanwater
protections.TodaysactionaresolutionofdisapprovalundertheCongressionalReviewActblocksthe
CleanWaterRule,theObamaadministrationslandmarkactionadoptedlastyear.BecausetheSenate
previouslypassedthesamelegislation,themeasurewillnextgotoPresidentObama,whohasthreatened
tovetoit.
ThefollowingisastatementbyJonDevine,aseniorattorneyintheWaterProgramattheNatural
ResourcesDefenseCouncil:
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sourcesofmorethan100millionAmericans,andworkingtodefeattheprotectionsthatensurecleanwater
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TodayslegislativeactionwouldgutthiscommonsenseruleandpreventEPAandtheArmyCorpsfrom
takingfutureactionstoclarifywhatthelawprotects.
ThePresidentisRightMuchWorkRemainsAfterYearofHistoric
ProgressNRDCsSuh:WeWillRedoubleOurEffortsin2016
WASHINGTON(January12,2016)ThefollowingisastatementbyRheaSuh,presidentoftheNatural
ResourcesDefenseCouncil,onPresidentObamasStateoftheUnionaddress.
Withoutquestion,wemadehistoricprogresslastyearinfightingclimatechange,expeditingourtransitionto
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Cal/EPAAssessmentFindsPesticideChlorpyrifosPosesRisksto
CaliforniaChildren
SANFRANCISCO(January11,2016)Alongawaited
healthassessment
fromtheCalifornia
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(Cal/EPA)findsthatchildrenareatriskfromthedangerousagricultural
pesticidechlorpyrifos.Thechemicalisawidelyusedtoxicpesticidethatcaninterferewithbrain
developmentinfetuses,infantsandchildren.
However,despiteextensivetechnicalcommentsfromexpertscallingintoquestionamodeldevelopedby
Dow,thecompanywhichsellschlorpyrifos,theassessmentcontinuedtorelyonthismodel.Themodeldoes
notaccountforextensiveevidencetyinglowlevelchlorpyrifosexposuresduringcriticalwindowsofbrain
developmenttolastingneurologicaldamage.
ArecentstudyfoundthatLatinochildrenwerealmosttwiceaslikelytoattend
schoolsincloseproximity
to
wherethemosttoxicpesticides,includingchlorpyrifos,areapplied.
Followingisastatementby
VeenaSingla
,staffscientistwithNRDCshealthprogram:
Theassessmentisastepintherightdirectionbecauseitfinallyaccountsfortheonthegroundrealitythat
communitiesfaceeverydaypesticidedriftingawayfromfieldsandintonearbyhomesandschools,a
realitythattheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyignored.Buttherearestillsignificantflawswhich
Cal/EPAneedstoaddressbeforefinalizingthedocument.TheDepartmentofPesticideRegulations
relianceonindustryscienceseriouslyunderestimatesthreatstochildren.
Latinochildrenlivinginagriculturalcommunitiesaredisproportionatelyatriskofexposuretothistoxic
pesticide.Sofailuretoadequatelyevaluatethehealthimpactsfromchlorpyrifosisanongoingenvironmental
injusticedirectlyimpactingthiscommunity.
Cal/EPAmustnotcontinuetoallowindustrysciencetotrumpthehealthofCaliforniaskids.Thefinalized
riskassessmentneedstothoroughlyevaluatetheharmtothedevelopingbrainofchildren,andwebelievea
banofchlorpyrifosfromCaliforniafieldsisneededtoprotectkidsandcommunitiesfromtheharmsofthis
toxicpesticide.
Background
TroublingdatacontinuestoemergefromCalifornia,wheremorethan1millionpoundsofchlorpyrifosare
usedeveryyearonthestatescrops.In2013(thelatestyearforwhichdataareavailable),therewasa
big
jump
inchlorpyrifosuseinCalifornia.
Newstudiesindicatethatinadditiontotheirbrains,childrenslungsmayalsobeatriskfromchlorpyrifos.
Researchersfoundgreaterrisksfor
asthmalikesymptoms
or
decreasedlungfunction
inkidsassociated
withexposurestopesticidesincludingchlorpyrifos.
Additionally,thereisextensiveevidenceshowingthatlowlevelexposuresofchlorpyrifosduringcritical
windowsofbraindevelopmentcancauselastingdamage.Studieshaveshownthattheseimpactsinclude
developmentaldelays,reducedcognitivecapacity,behavioralproblemsandlearningchallenges.Arecent
studyfoundlongtermharmtochildrenexposedtochlorpyrifosinthewomb11yearoldswhosemothers
hadbeenexposedtochlorpyrifoshadtremorsinbotharmsthataffectedtheirabilitytodraw.Thestudys
authorsexpressedconcernthatthisdamagecouldhinderthesechildrenswritingabilitiesandsuccessin
school.
Resources
Citingharmstokids,leadingscientistsandhealthcareprofessionalscallforbanondangerous
pesticide
byVeenaSingla,Jan.2016
EPAProposestoBanDangerousPesticideFromOurFood
byVeenaSingla,Oct.2015
DPR,ProtectKidsTHISSchoolYear
byAndreaSpacht,Aug.2015
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byVeenaSingla,July2015
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by
VeenaSingla,June2015
AgriculturalPesticideUseNearPublicSchoolsinCalifornia
bytheCaliforniaEnvironmentalHealth
TrackingProgram,April2014
NewLegislativePackageAnnouncedtoProtectCaliforniansfromAir
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WedonthaveamomenttolosewhenitcomestoaddressingtheuglymessthatshappeninginPorter
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JenniferSass,SeniorScientistwiththeNaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil,madethefollowingstatement:
Neonicshaverocketedtothetopofthelistofthemostwidelyusedinsecticides,despitetheEPA'sinability
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acresoffarmlandandtheAgencypresentsclearevidencethatbeesareputatriskfromneonics,theEPA
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Factsheet:
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GuidanceStillFallsShortofRecommendationsfromScientificAdvisors
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redmeat,poultryandeggs,andshouldreducetheirconsumption,accordingtonewfederaldietary
guidelinesjointlyreleasedtodaybytheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureandtheDepartmentofHealthand
HumanServices.ReducingAmericansmeatconsumptionwillnotonlyhelpimprovepublichealth,but
reduceclimateandwaterpollutionfromthemeatindustry.
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consumption.Thereportadvisesthatcuttingbackonmeatcanreducetheriskofcardiovasculardisease,
obesity,type2diabetesandsometypesofcancer.
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advisorsthattheFDAexplicitlylinkthesciencebasedbenefitsofadoptingdietslowerinredmeat,and
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program,aswellasformthebasisforfederalnutritionpolicy.Theywillalsohelpinformthedietaryadvice
andinformationdeliveredbypublichealthandnutritionexpertstothegeneralpublic.
AstatementfollowsfromErikOlson,SeniorStrategicDirectoroftheHealthProgramattheNatural
ResourcesDefenseCouncil:
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supersizedimpactsnotonlyonourhealth,butontheenvironmentfromintensiveuseofwatertomassive
greenhousegaspollution.Thesesensiblechangeswillmeanhealthierschoollunchesforourchildren,
betternutritionaladviceforall,andprogressinthefightagainstclimatechange.
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''TransCanadawaswrongtotrytoramthedirtytarsandspipelinedownourthroatsanditswrongtotryto
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Morethan80,000PeopleUrgeEPAtoBanDangerousPesticide
Chlorpyrifos
Doctors,scientists,farmers,farmworkersandothersfromacrossthecountryaskforlongoverduebanof
neurotoxicagriculturalchemical
Washington,D.C.Morethan80,000peopleurgedtheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)tobanthe
useofthedangerous,widelyusedpesticidechlorpyrifosfromuseonallcrops.
OnOctober30,2015,EPAproposedtobantheneurotoxicpesticideonfoodcrops,15yearsafterbanningit
forresidentialuse.TodayistheendofthepubliccommentperiodonEPAsproposedban.Recentappeals
courtdecisionsgaveEPAadeadlinetotakemeaningfulactionona2007legalpetitiontobanthechemical.
EPAsopencommentperiodontheproposedbanonchlorpyrifosendstoday,January5.
Atotalbanonchlorpyrifosiswhatfarmworkers,agriculturalcommunitiesandallconsumersdeserve,said
PattiGoldman,theEarthjusticeattorneyhandlingthecase.EPAsandotherindependentfindingsshow
thatchlorpyrifoscausesbraindamagetochildrenandpoisonsworkersandbystanders.Itisimperativethat
EPAmovequicklytoprotectworkersandchildrenbyissuingafinalandtotalbantothiswidelyused
pesticide.
Acoalitionoffarmworker,environmentalhealthandlaborgroupssubmittedcommentsonbehalfoflegal
experts,scientistsandthegeneralpublic.EarthjusticeandFarmworkerJusticesubmitted
technical
comments
onbehalfofacoalitionofgroups,includingPesticideActionNetwork(PAN),NaturalResources
DefenseCouncil(NRDC)andUnitedFarmWorkers(UFW.)
Giventheincrediblystrongscienceonthehealthharmsofchlorpyrifos,itsabsurdthatEPAhastakenso
longtoact,saidDr.MargaretReeves,seniorscientistatPAN.Kids,farmworkersandfamiliesinrural
areasaregettinganextradoseofthisbrainharmingchemicalasitdriftsfromnearbyagriculturalfieldsits
onproduce,intheairandinthewater.Afullbanofalluseswillfinallyensurethatcommunitiesaresafe
fromthishighlyhazardouspesticide.
CallingEPAsdelayegregious,the9thCircuitCourtofAppealsorderedEPAtorespondtothe2007
petitionbyOctober30andtomakeafinaldecisiononthebanbytheendof2016.Earthjusticefiledthe
originallawsuitspurringthecourtdeadlineonbehalfofPANandNRDC.
Fortoolong,farmworkershaveworkedaroundthischemicaldeemedtoodangerousforhouseholduse,
saidVirginiaRuiz,directorofoccupational&environmentalhealthatFarmworkerJustice.EPAneedsto
banallusesofchlorpyrifosandendthisdoublestandard.
Today,EPAalsoreceivedaletterfrommorethan65environmentalhealthscientistsandhealthcare
professionals,citingextensiveevidencethatchlorpyrifosharmschildrenandurgingthegovernmenttoban
thepesticide.
Studiesindicatethatdisruptionsinchildrensbraindevelopmentareassociatedwithverylowlevelsof
chlorpyrifosexposure,andtheeffectsappeartobepermanent,irreversibleandlifelong.Giventhe
seriousnessoftheseeffects,saidDr.JenniferSass,seniorscientistwithNRDC.EPAshouldactnowto
banthisdangerouspesticideandprotectchildren.
InDecember2014,EPAacknowledgedtheextensivebodyofpeerreviewedsciencecorrelatingchlorpyrifos
exposurewithbraindamagetochildren,includingreducedIQ,delayeddevelopmentandlossofworking
memory.Theagencyfoundthatdrinkingwatercontaminatedwiththepesticideisparticularlyharmfulto
infants,andhighlightedtheseriousriskstoworkersfromhandlingchlorpyrifosorenteringfieldsafter
spraying.
Farmworkersandtheirfamiliesdeservethesameprotectionsastherestoftheworkersinthiscountry,
saidErikNicholson,nationalvicepresidentofUnitedFarmWorkers.ItisnowtimeforEPAtotake
chlorpyrifosoutofallfieldsandnurseriestoensureasaferworkplaceforall.

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Nrdc: Epa Is Part Of The Problem In Flint

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