Disasters expose hidden chemical threats while laws keep communities in the dark

Hurricanes like Helene reveal toxic secrets as outdated laws and industry lobbying leave communities vulnerable to chemical dangers.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• Laws like the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act are outdated, and high reporting thresholds prevent residents from accessing full information on hazardous materials in nearby industrial facilities.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.