The EPA’s 2009 endangerment finding is the scientific determination that greenhouse gas pollution harms public health and welfare. If allowed to stand, the repeal would abandon climate action at the federal level.

The case was brought by:

• Food & Water Watch, representing itself.
• Hoosier Environmental Council, Illinois Environmental Council, Iowa Environmental Council, Minnesota Environmental Partnership, and Ohio Environmental Council, represented by Environmental Law & Policy Center
• Alaska Institute for Justice, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Chinik Eskimo Community, Native Village of Kwinhagak, Native Village of Nunapitchuk, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, WE ACT, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, and Wyoming Outdoor Council, represented by Earthjustice

The 2009 endangerment finding came from the landmark 2007 Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, which confirmed that the Clean Air Act authorizes EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions that endanger public health and welfare. Based on scientific analysis and rigorous review, EPA then determined in 2009 that emissions from sources like motor vehicles contribute to air pollution that harms public health and welfare. EPA set federal standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, which account for the largest source of climate emissions in the country.
 
“The notion that EPA shouldn’t act against climate-harming greenhouse gas emissions is akin to a fire department refusing to fight fires. It is patently absurd,” said Erin Doran, Senior Staff Attorney at Food & Water Watch. “The entire reason EPA exists is to protect human health and the environment. The Trump administration’s attempt to ignore this fundamental truth and disavow its authority to protect people and the planet is simply wrong, which is why we are challenging this grossly unlawful action in court.”

“The endangerment finding that EPA has repealed rests on nearly two decades of conclusive scientific evidence and long-settled law,” said Brian Lynk, Senior Attorney at the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “The transportation sector is the nation’s leading source of carbon emissions that drive climate change and damage public health and welfare. Repealing sensible regulations on pollution from vehicles puts the Midwest, and the nation, at a higher risk of serious harm to the public. EPA cannot be permitted to recklessly abandon its duty to protect American public health and well-being.”

“Rescinding the endangerment finding ignores decades of clear scientific evidence and puts communities in Illinois and across the country at greater risk,” said Jen Walling, Chief Executive Officer at the Illinois Environmental Council. “Illinois communities are already living with the realities of climate change through extreme heat, more intense storms, and rising respiratory illnesses. Weakening these protections leaves families exposed to even greater risks, especially in neighborhoods already burdened by pollution. IEC supports ELPC’s petition because the federal government has a legal and moral responsibility to limit dangerous greenhouse gas pollution. Ignoring that responsibility puts public health at risk.”

“Iowans face growing threats from climate change, from severe storms to extreme heat,” said Cody Smith, Director of Climate Initiatives at the Iowa Environmental Council. “EPA’s refusal to recognize the risks will not make them disappear. We need rapid, unified action to mitigate greenhouse gases and protect the health, lives, and livelihoods of people across the state.”

“Between wildfire smoke choking our air, floods and droughts hammering our farms, and insurance costs rising from worsening storms, Minnesota is on the front lines of the climate crisis,” said Steve Morse, Executive Director at the Minnesota Environmental Partnership. “We joined this lawsuit to stop the illegal and unscientific repeal of the endangerment finding because the health and well-being of Minnesotans and our natural resources must come first.”

“The US EPA will not get away with eviscerating the endangerment finding, and the Ohio Environmental Council is proud to join the national fight to oppose this pro-polluter decision,” said Chris Tavenor, General Counsel at the Ohio Environmental Council. “The federal government should be making its regulations based on the science, not on the interests of corporations that benefit from the deregulation of dirty, expensive fuels like coal, oil, and gas. Ohioans deserve better for their environment, as do all Americans.”

“EPA is choosing to abandon its core mandate to protect human health and the environment at the expense of communities,” said Hana Vizcarra, Deputy Managing Attorney at Earthjustice. “EPA cannot rewrite the law in order to ignore the very real harms impacting communities across the country. Earthjustice and our partners will continue to defend the rule of law and demand that EPA focus on protecting our health and environment, not boosting industry profits.”

“Climate change is an existential threat to Alaska’s rural communities and Tribes,” said Sheryl Musgrove, Director of the Alaska Climate Justice program at Alaska Institute for Justice. “Catastrophic permafrost thaw, massive erosion events, and more frequent and life-threatening storms are harming the lives and safety of the people who live throughout our state. The federal government must address these threats by regulating greenhouse gases and reinstating the endangerment finding.”

“Climate change is already harming people and the Chesapeake Bay, regardless of the Trump Administration’s ridiculous claims. This latest rollback is a threat to us all. Flooding and sea level rise are walloping communities up and down the Bay. Heat waves send people to hospitals from Baltimore to Richmond. Warmer waters are driving away striped bass, brook trout, and other wildlife. And increasingly intense storms are washing more pollution into rivers and the Chesapeake Bay,” said Alison Hooper Prost, Senior Vice President for Programs at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “We’re proud to join our partners in fighting this rollback that endangers everyone’s future.” 

“My wife and I chose to farm knowing that we would face challenges, but the increasingly unstable climate is making farming riskier,” said Wes Gillingham, board member of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York.“Despite the critical role we play in the American food and fiber supply economy, farmers are completely at the mercy of droughts, floods, and other extreme weather. This policy repeal ignores the realities of climate change and will lead to the economic demise of many good farmers.”

“Earlier this year, President Trump’s EPA chose to abandon the agency’s endangerment finding – a science-based, legal determination which EPA made after conducting scientific studies and analysis. The Trump EPA’s decision to rescind the endangerment finding was made without any peer-reviewed scientific study or other evidence-based reason,” said Anhthu Hoang, PhD, Esq., General Counsel & Deputy Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “That is why WE ACT has joined as a plaintiff, suing the EPA to ensure that it adheres to and executes its legal mandate to implement and enforce the environmental laws. Decades of scientific studies show that communities of color and low-income are disproportionately harmed by emissions of greenhouse gasses, and – before it was abandoned – the EPA’s endangerment finding provided some degree of protection for these communities. Rather than shirking its responsibilities, EPA must fulfill its mission to protect human health and the environment.”

“In repealing the endangerment finding, the EPA is ignoring decades of scientific evidence and turning its back on its legal obligation to protect human health and welfare,” said Olivia Miller, interim executive director of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. “That is especially troubling in West Virginia, where Attorney General JB McCuskey helped lead the effort from Republican states to support this rollback, even as our communities face repeated flooding, strained water systems, and an already vulnerable power grid under growing stress from climate impacts. By weakening these protections, this decision puts West Virginians’ health and safety at even greater risk. It has no basis in law, science, or reality, and that is why we are challenging it in court.”

“The law and science regarding the endangerment finding are settled,” said Matt Gaffney, Legal and Government Relations Director at the Wyoming Outdoor Council. “Wyoming communities are already experiencing the negative impacts and costs of climate change on our health, water, agricultural heritage, and recreation economy. Instead of abandoning EPA’s legal authority and moral responsibility to regulate greenhouse gases, the federal government should maintain a clear and stable regulatory framework to mitigate the worst aspects of climate change and encourage innovation and technological advancement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

ELPC and partners previously filed a challenge in D.C. Circuit Court representing health, environmental justice, and scientific experts.

The post Food & Water Watch and Allies Sue EPA for Illegal Repeal of Climate Protections appeared first on Food & Water Watch.

The call comes nearly two months after Senator Katie Muth announced intent to file a 3-year comprehensive statewide data center moratorium. Developers have submitted proposals for at least 23 hyper-scale data centers in Pennsylvania, to robust public opposition.

In response, Food & Water Watch Senior Pennsylvania Organizer Ginny Marcille-Kerslake, issued the following statement: 

“Communities are overwhelmed by Big Tech’s AI data center push. They need real support from the state, not this half-baked optional pause. Pennsylvania needs a statewide data center moratorium — Senator Katie Muth’s three-year pause will get us there.

“No one knows the full impact this hyperscale data center push will bring, but early warning signs spell trouble. The legislature must proactively protect Pennsylvanians and the environment by pausing development now so local government and state agencies can evaluate the impacts and update their regulations — something that should have been done before this data center rush began.”

Last month, Food & Water Watch released a first-of-its-kind report detailing the harms of the AI and data center boom infiltrating communities around the country. In October, Food & Water Watch became the first national group to call for a data center moratorium. Over 250 organizations have since joined the call — including 17 from Pennsylvania.

The post PA Reps Float Weak Data Center Bill appeared first on Food & Water Watch.

Yesterday’s meeting was a precursor to the larger Title V hearing occurring this summer, where DEP will determine whether to officially reissue the air quality permit Shell requires to operate. The updated permit under review would include greater allowances for emissions releases and increases in flaring of methane gas.

“Any approval of Shell’s air quality permit is an approval for Shell to keep polluting Beaver County, rubber-stamped by Shapiro’s DEP. Residents are breathing hazardous chemicals on a daily basis as Shell violates environmental regulations time and time again without serious repercussions — we’ve had enough,” said Food & Water Watch Western Pennsylvania Organizer David Pfister. “The governor and his regulators must prioritize our communities’ health above the petrochemical industry by denying air quality permits for Shell’s cracker plant.”

“My doctor called me a canary in a coal mine,” said Beaver County resident Brooke Hamberger who has experienced health-related symptoms correlated to Shell’s flaring events. “The proposed permit would raise the allowable limits of dangerous gases and particulate matter. Why would we accept even more toxic emissions? We need greater transparency on the health impacts of what Shell is already putting into our air.”

“The DEP is encouraged to measure the history of Shell’s violations against the integrity of the petrochemical industry,” said Beaver County resident EJ Pavlinich. “There is no guarantee they will operate within these newly expanded limitations that guarantee even greater pollution — and thus greater health risks. Stop protecting polluters and start protecting Pennsylvanians.” 

“Shell Polymers Monaca already has a history of exceeding its pollution limits, which represent increased health risks for nearby communities. Its previous violations include excess emissions of known human carcinogens, including benzene,” said Environmental Health Project Executive Director, Alison L. Steele. “If this Title V permit is issued, we can expect more emissions—and more health risks—as a result of higher pollution limits.” 

“Why should the DEP accommodate a company that has not demonstrated the ability—or willingness—to comply with existing law?” said Debra Smit, director of communications for Breathe Project. “Shell is effectively moving the goalposts on air quality permits, seeking to increase allowable emissions after failing to meet existing limits. The DEP has the authority—and the obligation—to require the cessation of unlawful operations and demand enforceable, transparent limits.”

DEP officials previously stated that Shell’s increased emissions would not exceed federal air quality rules — rules that have been incapacitated under President Trump’s second term. Southwest Pennsylvania has some of the nation’s worst air quality, which has been repeatedly linked to premature deaths in the region.

The post Residents to Shapiro’s DEP: Don’t Rubber-Stamp Shell’s Air Pollution appeared first on Food & Water Watch.

Food & Water Watch Los Angeles Organizing Manager Andrea Vega released the following statement:

“This is a monumental moment for the community members who made it perfectly clear that Californians don’t need or want these hyperscale, water intensive data center projects that will only raise our electricity bills and threaten our climate goals,” said Andrea Vega, Los Angeles Organizing Manager. “We are proud of and inspired by our fellow Angelenos who made this happen and we urge our leaders to listen to the growing calls across the country to halt the buildout of these hyperscale data centers.”

Food & Water Watch led a sign-on letter from California based organizations calling on the Monterey Park City Council to reject the data center last month. 

The post In Massive Victory, Community Stops Monterey Park Data Center appeared first on Food & Water Watch.

OPC challenged the rate case approval in February, claiming it was not passed in the public’s best interest, citing, among other things, FPL’s 10.95 percent return on equity — the largest in the contiguous United States.

“It’s not shocking that DeSantis’ utility regulators refused to reconsider Florida Power & Light’s rate case, considering their history of rubber-stamping corporate utility rate hikes time and time again,” said Food & Water Watch Southern Regional Director Jorge Aguilar. “The only way Floridians will receive the energy they need at prices they can afford is if lawmakers stand up, speak out, and pass legislation to rein in these rate hikes.”

“The Florida Public Service Commission’s refusal to reconsider a nearly $7 billion rate hike ignores the very people it is meant to protect, ” says Mary Gutierrez, Environmental Scientist and Director of Earth Ethics. “With Florida Power & Light earning one of the highest profit margins in the nation and customer bills rising dramatically, the Office of Public Counsel is right to argue that this decision is not in the public interest—it is a burden placed squarely on the shoulders of everyday Floridians.”

“While certainly disappointing, we look forward to presenting our case to the Florida Supreme Court as to why this decision approving this rate increase should be overturned,” said Bradley Marshall, Senior Attorney with Earthjustice, representing Florida Rising, the League of United Latin American Citizens of Florida, and the Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida in the rate case at the Public Service Commission and in the appeal at the Florida Supreme Court.

Kim Ross, Co-Executive Director of Rethink Energy Florida, said, “The decision by the Florida Public Service Commission shows the gulf between regulators in Tallahassee and everyday Floridians. Energy affordability is a crisis in this state, and yet the Commission allows FPL the largest rate hike in history, allowing it to have the highest profits nationwide. When will energy affordability be something our leaders act on?”

Yoca Arditi-Rocha, CEO of The CLEO Institute said, “For too many Floridians, rising energy bills mean real tradeoffs at home. Groceries, rent, healthcare. Something has to give. CLEO’s Connecting the Dots report which tracks utility contributions highlights how these outcomes are shaped, and who ultimately pays the price. Energy should support people’s lives, not strain them. This is not the path toward a stronger, more resilient future for our state.”

A report released last month studying 79 investor-owned utilities in the United States found that FPL has the largest profit margin out of all surveyed utilities at 27 percent — that’s 27 cents in profit per dollar collected from ratepayers. According to Food & Water Watch analysis, FPL bills have increased 45% — or $511 — between December 2020 and January 2026, after FPL’s latest rate hike went into effect.

The post PSC Denies Reconsideration of FPL Rate Case; Case Heads to FL Supreme Court appeared first on Food & Water Watch.

Food & Water Watch Southern Regional Director Jorge Aguilar issued the following statement in response: 
“Moore’s Utility RELIEF Act is nothing more than a shameless giveaway to Big Tech and energy companies that want to build AI data centers in Maryland. It is a phony bill that will do very little to help Marylanders struggling with high energy bills. The bottom line is there is nothing clean or affordable about expanding gas and nuclear plants to power AI data centers. 

“State lawmakers need to dump this sham concept they’ve termed BYONCE that insinuates data centers will bring in new ‘clean energy.’ No community in Maryland should have a new nuclear reactor in their neighborhood. It’s time for a data center moratorium — now.”  

The post MD Senate Passes Pro-Data Center Provisions in Utility Relief Bill appeared first on Food & Water Watch.

In response, Food & Water Watch’s Managing Director of Policy and Litigation Mitch Jones issued the following statement:

“These sorts of vague and unenforceable policy recommendations from massive, profit-hungry corporate players like OpenAI should be taken as nothing more than insincere platitudes from a Big Tech industry that is driving completely out of control towards a precipice of energy, environmental and societal crises of its own making. 

“The sudden explosive growth of the AI industry – in particular the massive hyperscale data centers wreaking havoc on communities and utility grids across the country – must be reigned in immediately. The only way to effectively achieve this is to place a full halt on the construction of new AI data centers nationwide, until comprehensive rules are enacted by local, state and federal authorities to manage this aggressive industry in a just and sustainable way.”

Last month Food & Water Watch released a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind report that makes a compelling, urgent case for a nationwide moratorium on the construction of new AI-driven data centers. The deeply researched report lays out the wide range of harms and hazards associated with the sudden explosion of the data center industry in America, including:

• Enormous and unsustainable consumption of power and water resources, already resulting in skyrocketing utility bills for families and small businesses.
• Dangerous new demand for fossil fuels, posing heightened risks of air and water pollution for impacted communities and a grave threat to our global climate.
• A host of other societal threats, from national economic catastrophe, to loss of critical farmland, to unrelenting noise pollution, to threats to children and democracy.

Later in March, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act, legislation that would impose a moratorium on the construction of all new AI data centers until strong national safeguards are in place to protect workers, consumers and communities, defend privacy and civil rights and ensure these technologies do not harm our environment.

Last October, Food & Water Watch became the first national organization in the country to call for a full nationwide moratorium on the approval and construction of new data centers. In a letter to Congress in December, more than 230 national, state and local organizations from across the country echoed this call. Meanwhile, Food & Water Watch has been active in fighting numerous proposals in many states, including California, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The post OpenAI Releases Policy Guide to “Keep People First” – Nothing More than Insincere Platitudes appeared first on Food & Water Watch.

Food & Water Watch is looking for an intern to join our Pennsylvania organizing team and support our grassroots campaigns to protect our food, water, and climate. The intern will work closely with the volunteers, community partners, and other staff at Food & Water Watch. This position must be based in Lehigh or Northampton County, Pennsylvania. 

About Food & Water Watch:

Food & Water Watch is working to create a healthy future for all people and generations to come—a world where everyone has food they can trust, clean drinking water and a livable climate. Making this happen requires involving people in the pressing issues of our time at the local, state, and federal level, building on one win after another, as we develop a larger movement that has the political power to make our democratic process work. 

About the position:

The Lehigh Valley intern will report to the Northern Region Director and will work with other staff on the organizing and communications teams to support Food & Water Watch’s work. The intern will support our volunteer development work throughout the Lehigh Valley with a focus on recruiting new volunteers. The intern will primarily work on campaigns to stop the buildout of fracking and fossil fuel infrastructure, with a particular focus on stopping the rapid expansion of data centers in the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania more broadly fueled by the AI boom. The intern may also help educate or register voters on behalf of Food & Water Action. This is a 9 week, up to 29-hr per week internship, working from June 8th to August 7th.

Salary: $19 / hour

Location: Lehigh or Northampton County, Pennsylvania  

Responsibilities

1. Recruit volunteers and allies. Build a strong base of volunteers and organizations in support of our local, state, and national campaigns.
2. Develop campaign plans. Work with other staff to establish long and short term goals, strategies, and tactics to win our campaigns. 
3. Organize campaign tactics. Plan and execute strategic tactics to meet the needs of our campaigns, including educational events, base-building drives, and actions directed at elected officials. 
4. Build capacity. Develop the leadership of volunteers and grassroots organizations by offering training and organizing support.
5. Represent Food & Water Watch. Attend and speak at public events on behalf of Food & Water Watch. 
6. Build Food & Water Watch for the long haul. Participate in member recruitment and fundraising activities for Food & Water Watch.
7. Regularly report on work to your supervisor.
8. Carry out other projects as assigned. 

Qualifications: 

• Organizing or advocacy experience, either paid or volunteer. This could include campus organizing, volunteering with a political campaign, or an organizing or advocacy non-profit,  
• Familiarity with Pennsylvania and/or Lehigh Valley politics and communities.
• Commitment to Food & Water Watch’s core values of justice, human dignity, fair treatment, and equity.
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse racial, ethnic, class, age, gender, and sexual orientation backgrounds.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills. 
• Excellent time management & organizational skills and ability to balance multiple projects.
• Ability to work remotely using basic online programs, including email, Slack, and Google docs.

Desired but not required skills and experience: 

• Experience recruiting or training volunteers in voter contact and outreach 
• Fluency or proficiency in Spanish 

Compensation: $19 / hour

This is a temporary, part-time internship and is not eligible for other benefits. If necessary, mileage, meals, and supplies will be reimbursed.

Click here to apply. Please include a resume and one page cover letter to be considered. Position open until filled. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

We will review your application and if we feel that your knowledge, skills and abilities are potentially a good match for our organization, we will be in contact with you. 

Food and Water Watch is an equal opportunity employer who encourages applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and other members of underrepresented groups. 

Food & Water Watch (FWW) is committed to the health and safety of its staff members. Moreover, FWW, as an organization, promotes science-based policy. Science clearly shows that unvaccinated populations drive the spread of the coronavirus and the emergence of new variants, and that unvaccinated people are more likely to contract COVID and experience severe symptoms. Effective immediately, prospective new staff members are required to provide proof of vaccination or request a waiver as a condition of their offer of internship.

The post Lehigh Valley Summer Intern appeared first on Food & Water Watch.

Food & Water Watch is looking for a legal intern to join our legal team, Food & Water Justice (FWJ), and help advance our legal work to protect our food, water, and climate. The legal intern will work closely with the FWJ team, external partners, and other staff at Food & Water Watch. This position is primarily remote.

About Food & Water Watch:

Food & Water Watch mobilizes regular people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water, and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people’s health, communities, and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests.

About the position:

The Legal Intern will report to the Legal Director and will work with other staff on the legal team to support Food & Water Watch’s work. The Legal Intern will participate in all aspects of Food & Water Justice’s work, including legal and policy research, litigation, and administrative advocacy.

This position is remote and unpaid with flexible hours during the Fall 2026 academic semester.

Salary: Unpaid 

Location: The position is fully remote; work can be performed from any U.S. time zone.

Responsibilities:

1. Advance high-impact legal work. Work with FWJ attorneys and outside co-counsel to represent FWW and allies on a varied docket of cases at different points in the litigation process.
2. Conduct quality research. Support our legal matters and grassroots organizing through strong caselaw research, fact-finding, and policy analysis.
3. Write for a legal audience. Use legal writing skills to effectively communicate complex and technical legal issues to team attorneys and allies in memos and other written work product.
4. Represent FWW. Maintain familiarity with Food & Water Watch’s priority issue campaigns and policy positions, and be comfortable professionally advocating for FWW.
5. Carry out other projects as assigned. Legal interns are often asked to carry out and be proficient in other aspects of legal work, for instance, FOIA document review, record review, and discovery.

Required Qualifications:

• Applicants must have at least 1 year’s worth of credits completed from an accredited law school before fall 2026.
• Applicants should be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and committed to the social and environmental justice mission of Food & Water Watch.
• Coursework or clinical experience with administrative, environmental, energy, animal, and/or food law is strongly preferred.
• Applicants must demonstrate strong legal writing skills.
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse racial, ethnic, class, age, gender, and sexual orientation backgrounds.
• Excellent time management & organizational skills, and ability to balance multiple projects.
• Ability to work remotely using basic online programs, including email, Slack, and Google Docs.

Compensation: Unpaid internship

To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, unofficial transcript, three references, and a short (5-10 pages) legal writing sample as a single PDF to Alex Davis at adavis@fwwatch.org.  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Position open until filled. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

We will review your application, and if we feel that your knowledge, skills, and abilities are potentially a good match for our organization, we will be in contact with you. 

Food & Water Watch is an equal opportunity employer who encourages applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and other members of underrepresented groups. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

Food & Water Watch (FWW) is committed to the health and safety of its staff members. Moreover, FWW, as an organization, promotes science-based policy. Science clearly shows that unvaccinated populations drive the spread of the coronavirus and the emergence of new variants, and that unvaccinated people are more likely to contract COVID and experience severe symptoms. Effective immediately, it is strongly recommended that prospective new staff members provide proof of vaccination.

The post Legal Intern – Fall 2026 appeared first on Food & Water Watch.

Food & Water Watch Senior Staff Attorney Erin Doran released the following statement: 

“Microplastics are a serious – and growing – threat to our health and our environment. Without monitoring of our drinking water, we can’t know the full scale of this crisis. Today’s announcement of including microplastics on CCL 6, while a step in the right direction, ultimately falls short on its own. It does not reflect the urgent need for a comprehensive nationwide monitoring program for microplastics in drinking water now. It is not too late to act. The EPA must also monitor for microplastics in our drinking water through UCMR 6.”

Background: 

In Nov. 2024, Food & Water Watch submitted a petition to the EPA advocating for microplastics monitoring under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The monitoring occurs under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR), which EPA is required to issue every five years for up to 30 unregulated contaminants. 

Additionally, the SDWA requires the EPA to include a contaminant in the UCMR if seven governors petition for its inclusion and it would not prevent the monitoring of a contaminant of more pressing public health concern. Food & Water Watch led a successful campaign to compel seven state governors to collectively petition EPA for microplastics monitoring. In late 2025, these seven governors submitted their petition to the EPA. 

Every day, people across the United States and the world are ingesting microplastics in drinking water. 

• It’s estimated that each year the average person consumes 4000 or more microplastic particles from drinking water. 
• Microplastics are linked to health harms including cancer, and have been proven to have an adverse effect on the immune system. 

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The post EPA Must Do More to Address Microplastics Crisis appeared first on Food & Water Watch.