The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finds itself hauled into court again, but this time by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. The group filed suit in Washington, D.C., accusing the EPA of illegally withholding the specific effects of its pending plan to hike permissible radiation exposure in drinking water.
The EPA has refused to disclose how much higher levels could be exposed to for the majority of radionuclides that would be expected to contaminate water supplies.
The EPA’s plan, called “Protective action guides” is now in its final stage of approval. It would reportedly relax radiation safeguards throughout the “intermediate phase” following a radiation release.
“It is outrageous that EPA put a plan out for public comment while hiding the key parts of its proposal,” charged Jeff Ruch, PEER Executive Director. “EPA should withdraw this irresponsible plan radically hiking allowable radioactivity in our drinking water.”
