Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to propose new safety requirements to prevent or contain chemical spills that can pollute U.S. waters:
“Once again, Administrator Pruitt is putting industry profits ahead of public health and safety. This decision coupled with Pruitt’s other efforts to rollback safety standards for chemical facilities is short-sighted and dangerous. Past experiences illustrate the need for stronger safety protections to prevent chemical spills that put communities at risk. Many of these facilities are located in areas where flood risks have increased due to climate change, and near water bodies that provide drinking water and support other essential economic activities.
“Administrator Pruitt said he wanted to make Superfund a priority, but all he’s doing with this decision is helping make it more likely that we’ll have new toxic messes to clean up in the future."
