Indiana has the most toxic ash pits in the country. Companies dump coal ash into landfills and this ash is high in heavy metals like arsenic. After decades of allowing toxins from coal dust to leach into the water supply for the residence of Indiana, the EPA has said that they must clean it up. One company, the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. or NIPSCO is in the process of cleaning up the contaminated soil in the Town of Pines. Arsenic and other heavy metals can cause a wide range of health issues including neurological disorders and various forms of cancer. Only time and testing with tell how this poor business practice has impacted the long-term health of Indiana’s residence.
In the News: Pentagon Shutdown Leaking Fuel Tank Facility
An old fuel storage facility that served the military in the mid and early 90s is being shutdown by the Pentagon after contaminating the tap water of nearly 6,000 people, mostly military families living near Pearl Harbor. About 4,000 people have been relocated to hotels while the matter is managed. The water caused many to sicken, developing dermatitis and gastrointestinal issues. Removing and draining the tanks without doing further damage to the environment and surrounding water supply is going to be a challenge!
The EPA also inspected this facility prior to its closure and that article is here.
In the News: Corruption in the EPA
In this featured article by The Intercept, Sharon Lerner takes a look at how several EPA officials who have routinely pushed through approvals for dangerous chemicals, have not been held accountable or even disciplined for their actions. They still hold the same level of authority and EPA administrative assistant Michal Freedhoff declined to comment of whether they would be held accountable in the future.
In the News: EPA's role in climate change challenged
A case before the Supreme Court makes an effort to curtail the activity of the EPA to draft future rules controlling environmental protections, dipping into the theoretical to prevent actions by the EPA that might occur. This is an overreach of the understood role of the Supreme Court and there is significant push back.
