Petition Seeks Emergency Action from EPA to Address Ongoing, Imminent, and Substantial Endangerment to Health of Benton Harbor Residents Subjected to Lead Contaminated Water for at Least Three Years

The Great Lakes Environmental Law Center joined a coalition of petitioners seeking emergency action from the EPA to stop ongoing lead contamination impacting the 90% black community of Benton Harbor, MI.

For at least the past three years, Benton Harbor’s residents have been subjected to levels of lead contamination from their public water system that presents an imminent and substantial endangerment to their health. Levels of lead contamination have significantly exceeded the lead action level set by the EPA’s lead and copper rule continually since at least the fall of 2018.

Joining GLELC in the request for emergency action under the Safe Drinking Water Act are  Benton Harbor Community Water Council, NRDC, Flint Rising, People’s Water Board Coalition, Michigan Welfare Rights Coalition, Water You Fighting For, Safe Water Engineering, LLC, Highland Park Human Rights Coalition, Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Clean Water Action, Ecology Center, Freshwater Future, East Michigan Environmental Action Council, Detroit People’s Platform, Campaign for Lead Free Water, For Love of Water, and Environmental Transformation Movement of Flint.

The entire petition can be reviewed below.