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R6LeadCables_StoryMap
EPAR6STARTStoryMap
Asset to the Informational StoryMap. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to closely review and act on the national issue of lead exposure in covered telecommunications cables across the U.S. As part of this work, EPA will sample water, soil, and sediment for lead in southeast Louisiana during the week of September 25, 2023, to determine whether these cables are a source of lead exposure for nearby communities. EPA will review the sampling data and current conditions to determine if these cables present threats to public health and the environment. EPA will coordinate with state and local leaders in the area if exposure to communities is discovered.
There is no safe level of lead exposure. Young children are particularly at risk for health effects from exposure to lead, and EPA will take all actions within its authorities to ensure all individuals are safe and protected from any potential exposure. For more information on lead exposure and steps you can take to protect your family, please visit our webpage.
<div style='text-align: Left; font-size: 12pt;'>
<p style='font-size: 15px;'><span style='font-size: 16px;'>Current and Upcoming Activities</span></p>
<p style='font-size: 15px;'><span style='font-size: 16px;'>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to closely review and act on the issues raised in the Wall Street Journal’s investigation of lead-covered telecommunications cables across the U.S.</span></p>
<p style='font-size: 15px;'><span style='font-size: 16px;'>EPA, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, completed sampling in St. Martin, Iberia, St. Mary, Ascension, Assumption, St. Charles, and Orleans Parishes.</span></p>
<p style='font-size: 15px;'><span style='font-size: 16px;'>EPA established a national technical working group to analyze available data and recommend potential next steps to ensure the public remains safe from lead exposure at these sites. Next steps may include testing in more Louisiana parishes to better understand if cables have released or continue to release lead. EPA will coordinate any future actions with state and local leaders, and the public will remain informed of any actions taken.</span></p>
</div>
R6 US EPA
<p style='margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; font-size: 16px; font-family: " font-size:16px;'><span style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;'>This content item is licensed under the US EPA Data Licensing Agreement for public use.</span></p>
<p style='margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; font-size: 16px; font-family: " font-size:16px;'><strong><span style='border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 11.5pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;'><a style='color: #0563c1; text-decoration-line: none; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;' href='https://edg.epa.gov/EPA_Data_License.html' target='_blank' rel='nofollow ugc noopener noreferrer'><span style='border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: inherit;'>View Summary</span></a> | <a style='color: #0563c1; text-decoration-line: none; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;' href='https://www.epa.gov/web-policies-and-procedures/epa-disclaimers#geospatial' target='_blank' rel='nofollow ugc noopener noreferrer'><span style='border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: inherit;'>Terms of Use</span></a></span></strong></p>
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