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EPA Unveils Plan to Help Identify 'Brockovich' Chemical in Drinking Water

WASHINGTON

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promised to help local
water utilities address public concerns over the possible presence
hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) in drinking water, and today it
delivered.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson released comprehensive guidance to
make it easier for public water systems to monitor and sample their
water specifically for chromium-6.

"Protecting public health is EPA's top priority. As we continue to
learn more about the potential risks of exposure to chromium-6, we will
work closely with states and local officials to ensure the safety of
America's drinking water supply," said Administrator Jackson in a statement released today.

Read EPA's recommendations for enhanced monitoring for chromium-6 here:
https://water.epa.gov/drink/info/chromium/guidance.cfm

"Local water utilities will now be able to better determine if their
water carries potentially troubling levels of this carcinogen and get
that information out to the public quickly," said Environmental Working
Group senior vice president for research Jane Houlihan. "This
comprehensive plan and the speed with which it was produced is proof the
federal government can act decisively to address public health issues
people are concerned about."

Today's announcement by EPA comes less than a month after EWG
released a study reporting chromium-6 contamination in the drinking
water of 31 of 35 U.S. cities where it collected samples.

The Environmental Working Group is a community 30 million strong, working to protect our environmental health by changing industry standards.

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