DHS Must Investigate Contaminated Well Use in Puerto Rico
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke regarding news reports that people in Puerto Rico, desperate for water, have been forced to resort to pump water from contaminated drinking wells located at a Superfund site, despite warnings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“Reports of Puerto Ricans waiting hours to receive potentially contaminated water that could have long-term health consequences is beyond disturbing. That it happened only days after EPA warned the people of Puerto Rico to refrain from breaking into Superfund sites to access water suggests a troubling breakdown in coordination among the Federal entities playing a role in Federal disaster response activities.”
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Media contact: Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978
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