{"issues":[{"id":"california","name":"California","slug":"california","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding California. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about. ","page_title":"California Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/california/black_california-1429042049.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/california/grey_california-1429042049.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/california/white_california-1429042049.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"environment","name":"Environment","slug":"environment","description":"Congressional legislation related to research and regulation of the Environment, including: Air and water quality, Pollution, Climate Change, Recycling, Radioactive Waste, Hazardous Wastes and Toxic Substances. ","page_title":"Federal legislation related to environmental protections and regulation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/environment/black_environment-1429042042.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/environment/grey_environment-1429042042.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/environment/white_environment-1429042042.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false},{"id":"climate-change","name":"Climate Change","slug":"climate-change","description":"Vote on the latest federal legislation regarding Climate Change. Make your voice heard about the issues you care about.\r\n","page_title":"Climate Change Legislation - Vote on Bills, Stay informed, Hold Your Reps Accountable","icons":{"black":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/climate-change/black_climate-change-1429641619.svg","grey":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/climate-change/grey_climate-change-1429641619.svg","white":"https://assets.causes.com/issue/icon/climate-change/white_climate-change-1429641619.svg"},"cover_image_url":null,"is_following":false}],"articles":[{"title":"Hill.TV: Erin Brockovich Slams Trump Administration Over Plan to Stop Regulating Toxic Chemicals","id":20813,"slug":"20813-hill-tv-erin-brockovich-slams-trump-administration-plan-stop-regulating-toxic-chemicals","links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/articles/20813-hill-tv-erin-brockovich-slams-trump-administration-plan-stop-regulating-toxic-chemicals","article_comments":"/api/articles/20813-hill-tv-erin-brockovich-slams-trump-administration-plan-stop-regulating-toxic-chemicals/comments","signatures":"/api/v3/articles/20813/signatures?include=user"},"content":"

Check out Erin on Hill.TV! Are you angry about the Trump administration's decision not to regulate two toxic chemicals commonly found in the public water supply? Click above to make your voice heard by contacting your reps today!

Erin Brockovich Slams Trump Administration Over Plan to Stop Regulating Toxic Chemicals

1/31/2019

Environmental activist and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich is slamming the Trump administration over reports that it has decided not to regulate two toxic chemicals commonly found in the public water supply.

“I think it’s absolutely foolish that the administration does not take water quality seriously,” Brockovich told Hill.TV’s Krystal Ball during an interview Thursday that aired on “Rising.”

Politico reported Monday that the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is looking to no longer enforce utility companies to test or remove the chemicals PFOA and PFOS from their water supply under the Clean Water Act.

Brockovich warns that the two chemicals in question are not only dangerous, but also heavily prevalent throughout the water system across the country.

She first rose to prominence for her work on a class-action lawsuit against the California-based Pacific Gas and Electric Co in 1993. Despite a lack of formal education, she exposed the company for leaking toxic chemicals into the groundwater and poisoning residents in the town of Hinkley.

The story was later turned into an Academy Award-winning movie starring Julia Roberts.

Brockovich has since become a leading advocate for public health issues.

“I don’t care if anyone says I’m sounding the alarm, I’m happy to sound the alarm, we have a very serious water issue in this country,” Brockovich told Hill.TV.

PFOA and PFOS have been increasingly regulated in some states due to their potential risks.

The two chemicals are part of a group of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). For decades, these man-made chemicals have been widely used as a key ingredient in hundreds of consumer products, which includes everything from fire-fighting foams to stain repellents and nonstick cookware.

The EPA has acknowledged that PFAS chemicals have been found at low levels in the environment as well as in the bloodstream of Americans across the country. Some studies have even found a link between PFOA and certain types of cancer as well as various immune system deficiencies.

In response to the growing concern surrounding the report, the EPA issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that it has not “finalized or publicly issued” a PFAS management plan, adding that \"any information that speculates what is included in the plan is premature.”

The EPA also emphasized that it remains “committed to following the Safe Drinking Water Act process for evaluating drinking water standards.”

Brockovich said local officials and agencies will nevertheless need to step up their efforts to protect citizens.

“We’re going to have to state by state, agency by agency and people by people continue to push out and fight against this because this is one of the most dangerous chemicals we’ve seen,” she told Hill.TV.

—Tess Bonn

Originally published by The Hill

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by Erin Brockovich | 1.31.19

\nCheck out Erin on Hill.TV! Are you angry about the Trump administration's decision not to regulate two toxic chemicals commonly found in the public water supply? Click above to make your voice heard by contacting your reps today!\n

Erin Brockovich Slams Trump Administration Over Plan to Stop Regulating Toxic Chemicals

1/31/2019

Brockovich warns that the two chemicals in question are not only dangerous, but also heavily prevalent throughout the water system across the country.

The story was later turned into an Academy Award-winning movie starring Julia Roberts.

Brockovich has since become a leading advocate for public health issues.

“I don’t care if anyone says I’m sounding the alarm, I’m happy to sound the alarm, we have a very serious water issue in this country,” Brockovich told Hill.TV.

PFOA and PFOS have been increasingly regulated in some states due to their potential risks.

The EPA also emphasized that it remains “committed to following the Safe Drinking Water Act process for evaluating drinking water standards.”

Brockovich said local officials and agencies will nevertheless need to step up their efforts to protect citizens.

—Tess Bonn

Originally published by The Hill

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by Erin Brockovich | 1.31.19

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Check out Erin on Hill.TV! Are you ready to speak out against the PG&E bankruptcy? Click above to make your voice heard before it's too late.

Erin Brockovich Slams PG&E’s Bankruptcy Filing, Hopes for Reforms Under New Governor

1/31/2019

Environmental activist Erin Brockovich ripped into PG&E Corp after the electric and natural gas utility giant filed for bankruptcy protection following the California wildfires.

“I’ve seen their go-to before, which is file bankruptcy, they don’t like to take responsibility,” Brockovich told Hill.TV’s Krystal Ball Thursday during an interview on “Rising.”

“They don’t follow through on their safety, they’re very antiquated, they don’t reinvest the money they make into better safety practices and new equipment throughout the entire company,” she continued.

PG&E filed for bankruptcy this week, seeking to reorganize its debt as it faces multiple lawsuits over its alleged liability in a series of deadly wildfires during 2017 and 2018.

Brockovich said that the California-based utility giant has repeatedly filed for bankruptcy in order to protect itself.

“They look at judges and the law and whoever is going to come into that bankruptcy to help them figure out how they’re going to get out of their mess,” Brockovich said.

But the activist is hopeful that new leadership within the state will hold the company more accountable.

“We have new leadership with Governor Newsom, new leadership coming into the PUC [California Public Utilities Commission] and really take their responsibility seriously about how we’re going to stop this runaway freight train of company called PG&E,” she said.

In a response to The Hill, PG&E said that it was \"determined\" to work for the \"safe delivery\" of natural gas and electric service, while expressing sympathy to families impacted by the wildfires.

\"The families impacted by the wildfires of 2017 and 2018 are our customers, our neighbors and our friends and our hearts go out to those who have lost so much. We remain focused on supporting them through the recovery and rebuilding process,\" PG&E said.

\"To be clear, we have heard the calls for change and we are determined to take action to build the energy system our customers want and deserve,\" it added.

\"As our Board announced in its Jan. 4 news release, we intend to continue working constructively with the CPUC, policymakers and other key stakeholders to consider a range of alternatives to provide for the safe delivery of natural gas and electric service for the long-term in an environment that continues to be challenged by climate change,\" it added, referring to California Public Utilities Commission.

Brockovich, who is involved with some of the ongoing wildfire lawsuits against PG&E, maintained that those cases will continue to go forward \"even in bankruptcy.\"

She insisted that the victims of the California wildfires deserve some justice, calling their situation “beyond heartbreaking.”

“The first few times I was there, it was difficult to speak with anyone without crying,” Brockovich told Hill.TV.

This isn’t the first time Brockovich has taken on PG&E.

Brockovich took PG&E to task more than 25 years ago in a case that alleged that the company contaminated drinking water in Hinkley, California.

The company later settled for $33 million dollars, and the story was turned into a 2000 movie starring Julia Roberts, who later earned an Academy Award for her role playing Brockovich.

—Tess Bonn

Originally published by The Hill

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by Erin Brockovich | 1.31.19

\nCheck out Erin on Hill.TV! Are you ready to speak out against the PG&E bankruptcy? Click above to make your voice heard before it's too late.\n

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