September 14, 2022EPA will restore an Obama-era chemical disaster safety rule, but advocates say it doesn’t go far enough
The EPA is planning to reinstate a rule meant to prevent fires, leaks, spills, explosions, and other disasters at more than 12,000 facilities nationwide, including many oil and gas and petrochemical plants. But many safety advocates say it’s still missing crucial protection for people living nearby. Maya Nye, federal policy director with environmental health and justice group Coming Clean, said that nearby air monitors are often disabled or turned off before and during emergencies. “We think they need to have fenceline monitors and ensure that they have backup power and are never turned off,” Nye said.