Media Center

Contempt Motion Filed against City of Flint and Mayor for Failing to Meet Court Deadlines in Lead Pipe Replacement Settlement

May 26, 2023 Press ReleaseDetroit

The City of Flint and Mayor Sheldon Neeley should be held in contempt for violating a February 2023 federal court order requiring Flint to reach certain milestones in its lead pipe replacement program, according to a motion filed today in…

Supreme Court Dramatically Narrows Scope of Clean Water Act

May 25, 2023 Press ReleaseUnited States

The Supreme Court today stripped out key protections from the Clean Water Act, weakening the law, and narrowing its ability to defend the quality of the nation’s waterways.

NRDC Analysis: Peer-Reviewed Study Finds EPA Misses PFAS Chemicals Already Present in Drinking Water 

April 12, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

Nearly half of the PFAS “forever chemicals” present in drinking water samples are not monitored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to a peer-reviewed analysis conducted by NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and community members in 16 states.

NRDC: Biden Stood up for Clean Water

April 6, 2023 Press Release

WASHINGTON — President Biden vetoed a Congressional Review Act resolution that would have weakened protections under the Clean Water Act and tied the hands of future presidents trying to rectify the damage.

EPA Announces Change to Funding For Lead Pipe Replacement: New Distribution Will Be Based on Need

April 4, 2023 Press ReleaseWashington, D.C.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced changes that are intended to direct the remaining funds from the $15 billion infrastructure dollars for replacing lead water pipes to states with the greatest need.

Bill to Help Those Facing Water Shut-Offs Heads to Governor Murphy’s Desk

March 30, 2023 Press ReleaseNew Jersey

The New Jersey legislature just passed a bill that requires all water and sewer utilities to participate in the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) and promote the program to their customers, or else are prohibited from shutting off…

Historic PFAS Drinking Water Regulations Proposed by EPA

March 14, 2023 Press ReleaseUnited States

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to set limits on the amounts of six toxic “forever” chemicals found in drinking water.

Federal Judge Finds Flint Violated Settlement, Orders City to Finish Lead Pipe Replacements and Restore Residents’ Damaged Property

February 27, 2023 Press ReleaseFlint

A federal court has found that the City of Flint missed a court-ordered deadline to finish removing Flint’s lead pipes and failed to track where it fixed damage to residents’ properties. As a result of the late Friday ruling, the…

Whitmer Budget Address Focuses on Key Water Issues

February 8, 2023 Press ReleaseMichigan

Governor Whitmer outlined her budget proposal for the State of Michigan today. Her address outlined a number of important water-related investments.

EPA Offers Remedy for Inequitable System That Has Left Low-Income Residents Nationwide with Polluted Water and Unaffordable Water Bills

February 1, 2023 Press ReleaseUnited States

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released new guidelines on how to protect low-income communities from sewage pollution without making utility bills unaffordable for low-income residents.

NRDC Argues EPA Failure to Regulate Perchlorate is Unlawful

January 27, 2023 Press ReleaseUnited States

In arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, today lawyers for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) told a three-judge panel that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision against regulating the toxic chemical perchlorate…

EPA Will No Longer Defend Weak Trump Administration Drinking Water Rule in Court, Expected to Strengthen Lead in Tap Water Health Protections

December 9, 2022 Press ReleaseUnited States

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today informed a federal court the agency will no longer defend the drinking water lead regulation set by the Trump Administration, and instead will propose a new rule by September 2023.

Poll: Access to Safe Drinking Water Is a Top Priority Across America

November 15, 2022 Press ReleaseUnited States

Safe drinking water is a top concern nationwide, according to a new poll released today by NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), with most respondents indicating that lead pipes in drinking water systems are either a crisis or a major problem.

One Year Later: Benton Harbor’s Lead Water Pipes Nearly 100% Removed, Setting a New Standard for Michigan and the Nation

October 19, 2022 Press ReleaseBenton Harbor

Nearly every lead drinking water line in Benton Harbor has been replaced, just one year after community activists, alarmed by three consecutive years of high lead levels found in Benton Harbor’s tap water, petitioned federal and state officials to fix…

EPA, USDA Roll Out Key Commitments to Critical Rural Water Infrastructure in Underserved Communities

August 2, 2022 Press ReleaseUnited States

LOWNDES COUNTY, AL – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, United States Department of Agriculture Secretary (USDA) Tom Vilsack, and White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu launched the Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative today–a commitment to improve…

Buffalo Community Groups Join Map Project To Find and Replace Lead Water Pipes

July 20, 2022 Press ReleaseBuffalo

Community advocates, the water utility, and mapping experts collaborate to document where Buffalo’s lead pipes are located, as records are incomplete or inaccurate

Over One Hundred Environmental and Community Groups Urge U.S. Supreme Court to Uphold Federal Clean Water Protections

June 17, 2022 Press ReleaseUnited States

Friend of the court brief filed in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency

EPA Adopts Sharply-Reduced Health Advisories for Key PFAS Chemicals in Drinking Water

June 15, 2022 Press ReleaseUnited States

A top EPA official announced new, more stringent health advisories for four PFAS chemicals – greatly increasing protections from PFOA, PFOS, and GenX – during a conference of grassroots leaders from communities across the nation where drinking water is contaminated…

Chicago, City With the Most Lead Drinking Water Pipes in America, to Host Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s Water Infrastructure Hearing

April 21, 2022 Press ReleaseChicago

CHICAGO – Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth will hear testimony today from City of Chicago and State of Illinois officials responsible for removing lead service lines that deliver water to homes across the state. Illinois will receive more than $100 million…

Flint Sets New Deadline to Replace Lead Water Pipes by September 2022

April 13, 2022 Press ReleaseFlint

Court Must Approve Agreement Between Flint and Water Lawsuit Parties