Dear John,

We all deserve to live in a healthy, vibrant community. Yet many Americans are at a greater risk from toxic chemicals because of where they live, work, and play. Today, many neighborhoods are located near industrial manufacturing or disposal facilities — subjecting families to harmful chemical releases and emissions that put residents at increased risk.

That’s why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stepped in to get chemical safety back on track, by putting together a plan to evaluate risks facing our communities today to better protect everyone from harmful chemical exposures.

It’s a good first step, but there’s more to be done! We need the EPA to examine all chemical risks threatening the safety of our communities. Only by assessing every source of exposure can we protect everyone from toxic substances. [link removed]

As is, the EPA’s plan doesn’t go far enough to evaluate risks faced by low-income communities and communities of color — who are more likely to be exposed to toxic chemicals on a daily basis. These communities are often located near the fence lines of industrial manufacturing or disposal facilities and subjected to harmful emissions and other releases in the air, soil and groundwater.

That’s why we’re calling on the EPA to take the next step to protect America’s, “fenceline” communities from toxic chemicals. In order to hold polluters accountable and deliver on the administration’s promise for environmental justice, the EPA needs to:

Comprehensively evaluate chemical risks to fenceline communities, including potential exposures from accidental releases, waste, and groundwater;

Consider the combination of chemical exposures faced by communities located near multiple manufacturing or disposal facilities; and

Evaluate the total risks from exposures to similar chemicals that pose the same harm, such as asthma or cancer.

Submit a public comment today and urge the EPA to take an important step to protect America’s fenceline communities from toxic chemicals! [link removed]

Thank you for your leadership,

Wes Rogerson
Manager, Grassroots Advocacy & Activism

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