3 weeks ago
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Hurricanes like Helene reveal toxic secrets as outdated laws and industry lobbying leave communities vulnerable to chemical dangers.
Helen Santoro reports for The Lever.
In short:
- Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville, North Carolina, leaving residents exposed to potentially toxic sludge with limited knowledge of its source due to federal disclosure loopholes.
- Laws like the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act are outdated, and high reporting thresholds prevent residents from accessing full information on hazardous materials in nearby industrial facilities.
- Lobbying by chemical industry groups has stymied EPA efforts to increase transparency, with corporations actively pushing back on proposed reforms aimed at protecting public health.
Key quote:
“If we were serious about protecting communities from toxic chemicals, we would really update these statutes. We would make them actually reflect what we know about the hazards that these chemicals pose.”
— Eve Gartner, toxics expert, Earthjustice
Why this matters:
Industry-backed lobbying has stymied the EPA’s attempts at reform, leaving Asheville residents—and communities nationwide—on uncertain ground. For families and healthcare providers on the frontlines of post-storm health fallout, the hidden threat of toxics in their backyard adds a troubling twist to an already challenging recovery. Read more: Hurricane season spurs hog waste worries in North Carolina.
