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Question of the Week -- Should the US release its report on toxic chemicals in drinking water?

Posted  May 16, 2018

By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team

In January, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, was set to release a report that found the dangers from certain toxic chemicals are far worse than originally thought. These chemicals are found near military bases and some industrial plants in wide-ranging areas, such as New York, West Virginia, and Michigan. The study’s release, however, was blocked at the last minute by officials at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) out of concern about a “public relations nightmare.”  The Trump Administration apparently was concerned with the report’s findings that minimal exposure to these relatively common chemicals would alarm the public.

Emails related to this decision were publicly revealed on May 14.  Now, the public is indeed concerned about the report and its findings, with some senators calling for an immediate investigation. Concerns about the safety of the drinking water, of course, cause many to recall the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan. So far, the White House and administration have not made any moves to release the report.

What do you think? Should the US release its report on toxic chemicals in drinking water?

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3 Replies to Question of the Week — Should the US release its report on toxic chemicals in drinking water?

  • John Young says:

    They should release the report and jail those responsible for withholding the report, charging them with attempted negligent homicide.

  • Diana Soehl says:

    Release this report. Our children could be affected no less other humans. Do we not care for OUR CHILDREN!?!?!?

  • Arnold Leriche says:

    EPA, OMB and WH have no “legal” rights to hold up the release of the ATSDR report!! From my perspective, the WH and OMB have no legal authority to withhold this type of factual report from the public. ATSDR is merely performing their “legal” duty as established by “law” and Congressional mandate under the CERCLA “Superfund” law of the early 1980’s. ATSDR/CDC was established “by law” to be the federal expert who is responsible for health risk assessments and to conduct studies and establish toxicity levels/concentrations for contaminants in our envirnment.

    EPA and the OMB does have the authority to not implement superfund cleanups or remediation based on those ATSDR risk assessments. But all of these steps are required to be done in full public disclosure processes.

    The DoD is using the EPA Health HA as their “floor” for remedial actions and investigations throughout the USA. And only for 2 contaminants (PFOA/PFOS) rather than a suite of probably health risk based telemetry of PFAS. How “dare” any elected official or Presidential office intentionally delay remediation actions which might protect our health and environment? KISS your second term GOODBYE!!!!! Or sooner!!”

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