Washington, DC-- Today, Congress released conference text for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included several important provisions to that address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution in American communities, drinking water and military bases. The final language omits four core safeguards from PFAS.
Geneva, Switzerland-- Today, during the third convention on the Minamata Treaty on Mercury, the Zero Mercury Working Group, The Beautywell Project and Sierra Club released results from their tests of mercury levels in Amazon and eBay skin-lightening products-- revealing that 60% of the tested products contained illegal levels of the chemical. The groups assessed 158 products from 12 countries. They found that of those, 60% all exceeded the one part per million limit adopted as U.S law, and the soon-to-be-implemented global limit for the 128 countries who signed the UN Minamata treaty on Mercury.
Minneapolis, MN— Today, The Beautywell Project and the Sierra Club’s Gender, Equity & Environment Program launched a media campaign targeting major online retailer Amazon to stop selling skin lightening creams that contain illegal levels of mercury.
Washington, DC-- Today, eighty two public health and environmental organizations sent a letter to Sen. Inhofe, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, signaling concern about proposals to remove critical provisions related to per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Washington, DC-- Today, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler released an update on the agency’s per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Action Plan. In the update, the agency said it would begin the process to set a legal limit on the amount of PFAS allowed in drinking water. The process of completing an enforceable water standard could take up to ten years. In addition, the announcement only mentions implementing these safeguards on two of the thousands of chemicals in the PFAS family. The agency released its full Action Plan February.
Today, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto came out in opposition to the continued buildout of polluting plastic and petrochemical facilities in Western Pennsylvania in favor of climate action.
As a result of a legal challenge to a massive proposed petrochemical facility in Belmont County, the company behind the project will implement several critical air pollution concerns that state regulators failed to address.
Oscoda, MI-- Today, the Air Force’s Wurtsmith Restoration Advisory Board met in Oscoda to discuss environmental remediation plans at Wurtsmith Air Force Base-- a site highly contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) due to the agency’s use of PFAS-based fire fighting foams. Community leaders called from the U.S. Air Force to clean up the PFAS contamination from the former Wurtsmith Air Force. PFAS is linked to ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, and certain cancers.
Washington, DC-- Today, at a hearing titled “The Devil They Knew: PFAS Contamination and the Need for Corporate Accountability, Part III,” Congress will hear from corporations responsible for the nation’s per and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) contamination crisis and the people suing the companies for negligence. PFAS chemicals-- linked to cancers, infertility and immune system failure in children-- are now in the blood of 99% of Americans and more than 100 million Americans’ drinking water.
Shell’s facility is one of five proposed for the region that would put health, safety, and clean drinking water at risk
Oscoda, MI-- Today, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is holding a public meeting after announcing a non-binding, verbal agreement with the Air Force. Both parties controversially claimed the agreement would speed the cleanup of PFAS contamination at the closed Wurtsmith Air Force base in the area-- an area where surrounding communities have long suffered with contaminated water.
Washington, DC-- Moments ago, the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by 220 by 197 which includes strong initial efforts to address the contamination caused by the Department of Defense’s use of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-- harming the drinking water of millions of Americans.