Groups Want Decision on EPA Standards for Healthy Fish Consumption
Eric Tegethoff, Producer
Thursday, March 3, 2016
SEATTLE - A lawsuit filed by a number of environmental groups in the state of Washington against the Environmental Protection Agency might have you rethinking the fish proportions you eat.
Waterway watchdog groups and commercial fishing organizations are asking the U.S. District Court to decide on a case against EPA for not finalizing rules in Washington that would more accurately reflect average fish consumption rate, and thus regulate the waterways they come from better.
Attorney for Earthjustice Janette Brimmer says she was asked to delay the lawsuit.
"And wait for the state to take their 999th try at this," says Brimmer. "And we just said, 'no,' that people are being affected by this and it's not OK. So we just moved ahead and haven't heard anything else from them."
Environmental groups are concerned the standards for healthy consumption are too low, and people could be consuming too much fish from polluted waterways with high levels of toxins.
According to environmental groups, because EPA assumes people eat less fish than they might actually be eating, a higher level of toxins such as mercury and PCBs is allowed in the waters where fish are caught.
EPA proposed a rule change back in September to reflect more current data but has yet to finalize it.
Katelyn Kinn, staff attorney of the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, says the EPA action is long overdue.
"At this point it's crystal clear that they've made the determination our state agency is not setting a protective standard and it is time for EPA to step in and set one that does protect us," she says.
The current rate is 6.5 grams per day, which amounts to about two cans of tuna per month.
Brimmer says this low standard doesn't take into account cultural differences for eating fish and disproportionately affects certain groups in Washington.
"There are surveys of the Lower Elwha tribe that are over 500 grams per day," says Brimmer. "So plainly, people eating what in their culture is a normal amount of fish are getting so much more in terms of toxins with the standards set the way they are."
Brimmer adds Asian Pacific communities and fishermen also are concerned about the low standards because of their high consumption rate.
get more stories like this via email
Health and Wellness
A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …
Social Issues
Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …
Social Issues
Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…
Social Issues
A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …
Social Issues
Colorado is working to boost the state's agricultural communities by getting more fresh, nutritious foods into school cafeterias - and a new online …
Social Issues
Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…