Advocates Pursue Flint SDWA Suit As EPA, Michigan Clash On Oversight

摘要

Environmentalists are pursuing a Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) suit against city and state officials over the drinking water crisis in Flint, MI, that seeks stricter drinking water monitoring and treatment, while the agency and Michigan clash over EPA's power to issue a SDWA order to force some of the actions sought by the suit. Although the lawsuit filed Jan. 27 by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), other advocacy groups and Flint residents focuses on using SDWA to force improvements to the city's tainted water, environmentalist say the crisis also has environmental justice (EJ) implications. Advocates are leaving the door open to filing a civil rights suit, saying the situation has disproportionately hurt poor and minority residents.