Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Today, the EPA’s Office of the Inspector General released its findings that the Agency must strengthen its oversight of state drinking water programs. The report comes as Flint, MI residents are still without clean, safe drinking water after failures on the state and federal level. The EPA watchdog did not place sole blame on the Agency for what happened in Flint, but did place significant blame for not acting more swiftly after the disaster was discovered.
In response Sierra Club Deputy Legislative Director Dalal Aboulhosn released the following statement:
“Flint and the dozens of communities around the country living without safe drinking water didn’t need a formal report to tell them that the federal government should’ve acted more swiftly -- and still should -- to protect them. What the needed then and still do today is strong safeguards -- on the state and federal levels -- that puts their health and safety first, and reacts swiftly to this crisis that is stripping futures away from so many children. It’s past time the EPA establishes a serious process to acknowledge and address unsafe drinking water in communities around the country and takes action to end this problem today. The people of Flint, like all communities, deserve to have their right to safe drinking water upheld.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.