TOXIC POLLUTION
Our Commitment
Reducing toxic pollution and chemicals and waste that poison our drinking water, agricultural soils, and wildlife.
THE ISSUE
Our waters can become contaminated through a number of sources. Metals mining, development runoff, and even household items can build up and persist in our bodies, soil, and wildlife. Using existing authority under the Clean Water Act, the Commonwealth should identify and control pathways of toxic pollution and put the responsibility on polluters—not communities—to clean up their waste.
![[PEOPLE OF VA] Summer Shores - Cape Charles - Charlotte Teeling](https://vcnva.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/PEOPLE-OF-VA-Summer-Shores-Cape-Charles-Charlotte-Teeling-150x150.jpg)
How Toxic Sewage Sludge Hurts Virginia Farms
Virginia farmers are discovering PFAS contamination in sewage sludge used as fertilizer, putting their farms and local communities at risk.
New Laws: Reducing Toxic Threats to Our Water and Health
Starting July 1st, most bills from the 2024 General Assembly session became law in Virginia, including bans on high PAHs in pavement sealants and cyanide in gold mining. These laws aim to cut toxic pollution in Virginia's waters and protecting human and ecological health.
Bipartisan Support on Environmental Bills: Regulation of Toxics
Pat Calvert, Director of Clean Water and Land Conservation at Virginia Conservation Network, is quoted supporting a new law regualte toxic PFAS pollution.
Water Policy: 2023 General Assembly Review
Policies to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, reduce plastic pollution, and reduce toxins in our drinking water.
Metals Mining: How to Protect Virginia
Virginia’s communities are at risk. We must protect water resources with an effective regulatory framework for metals mining.
Water Policy: 2022 General Assembly Review
The conservation community successfully passed water policy to increase flood resilience, conserve tree canopies, and reduce polluted runoff.
RESOURCES
PFAS in US Tapwater Interactive Dashboard
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has crafted the PFAS in US Tapwater Interactive Dashboard—an interactive map based from its 2021-2022 PFAS tapwater study.
Podcast: Rising Seas Can Also Mean Failing Septic Tanks
Wetlands Watch's Skip Styles discusses how failing septic tanks are signaling flood resiliency issues in NPR's "All Things Considered" podcast.
Map: Gold-Pyrite Belt Downstream Drinking Water
The Southern Environmental Law Center provides a map of drinking water downstream of the Gold-Pyrite Belt. See it here.
Factsheet: Gold Mines Harm Public Health and the Environment
The Southern Environmental Law Center provides a factsheet on gold mining impacts on public health and the environment.
“Tanks for Nothing” Report
The Center for Progressive Reform released a report examining EPA and state policy failures regarding hazardous chemical spills, emphasizing the lack of information and preventative measures for storage tanks.