WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a dramatic revision to its drinking water limits for four toxic PFAS chemicals. The agency is lowering its lifetime health advisory levels for two PFAS chemicals - PFOS and PFOA - by more than 1000-fold to 20 and 4 parts per quadrillion, respectively. EPA is also setting new health advisories for two common PFAS chemicals that were invented as replacements - known as GenX and PFBS, to 10 and 2000 parts per trillion respectively.
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated a Trump-era rule that undermines a vital mechanism states and Tribes use to protect their clean water under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
Por años, el Sierra Club ha promocionado estatal y federalmente mejores salvaguardas para el agua y en contra de la toxicidad, y ahora redobla sus esfuerzos con esta nueva campaña para usar sus recursos nacionales y así amplificar y expandir sus esfuerzos locales.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, on World Water Day, the Sierra Club is launching its new Clean Water, Toxics, and Resilience Campaign. For years, the Sierra Club has pushed for stronger water and toxics safeguards at both the state and federal level, and now the Club is redoubling its efforts with this new campaign to bring the national organization's resources to amplify and expand local efforts. Our program will build bottom-up strategies to address complex issues related to water quality, water management, pollution prevention, toxic chemicals, and climate resilience.
EL PASO, TEXAS / LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO-- Recently, a coalition of environmental and community groups–including Sierra Club, Environmental Integrity Project, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, Chaparral Community Coalition for Health and Environment, Familias Unidas del Chamizal, Earthworks, Sunrise El Paso, and Sunset Heights Neighborhood Improvement Association–filed comments with the Texas Commission on Environment
Today, the Biden administration released the “Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan,” a comprehensive plan to invest in removing and replacing toxic lead pipes, strengthen enforcement of protections against lead hazards, close gaps in childhood lead testing data, and track investments in lead pipe cleanup in disadvantaged communities.
Today, the Virginia State Water Control Board approved a water permit for the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) via a 3-2 vote, finalizing state approval for the MVP to build across hundreds of Virginia waterways.
In an important victory for clean water in Montana, a Montana district court judge ruled on Thursday that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) repeatedly ignored the law and failed to protect water quality from an expansion of the Rosebud coal strip mine near Colstrip, one of the largest coal strip mines in the nation. The Western Environmental Law Center, Earthjustice, Roger Sullivan and Walton Morris represented the Montana Environmental Information Center and Sierra Club in this case.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new report released today found concerning levels of toxic PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) found in home garden fertilizer products widely sold throughout the United States. The report, based on testing conducted by the Sierra Club and the Ecology Center, found PFAS chemicals in nine fertilizers made from sewage sludge -- commonly called “biosolids” in ingredient lists -- and maps more than 30 companies selling sludge-based fertilizers and composts for home use across the US. Eight of the nine products exceed the screening guideline for PFOS or PFOA set in Maine, the state with the strictest safeguards for PFAS levels in sludge spread on agricultural lands.
Equitrans Midstream Corporation announced that they were delaying the in-service date and raising the total cost of the fracked gas MVP yet again
NCDEQ announced its second rejection of MVP's efforts to extend into NC
ST PAUL, MN -- One week ahead of Earth Day, a coalition of Minnesota environmental, worker, Indigenous and progressive groups released a mid-term climate report card grading Governor Walz on his actions to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for Minnesota. Unfortunately, the report card found that Governor Walz’s actions fall short of the bold and decisive measures needed to respond to the climate crisis. Of the nine areas identified in the report card, Governor Walz received mainly F’s and D’s.