To: Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator

Protect New Mexico from chemical disasters

Dear Administrator McCarthy,

Our communities deserve to be safe from dangerous chemical plants, which cause explosions and toxic chemical leaks near schools, homes, and businesses all over America.

In New Mexico alone, there are 89 chemical facilities that pose grave risks to our communities. They use or store 9,688,167 pounds of toxic chemicals every day.

Please make a strong rule requiring chemical plants and refineries to use the safest cost-effective chemicals and technology available to prevent future chemical disasters in our communities.

Why is this important?

More than 100 million Americans live in vulnerability zones that surround dangerous chemical facilities, putting them at risk of explosions, fires, and release of toxic chemicals caused by these facilities.

In New Mexico, 106,302 children are at risk of these disasters because they attend school close to an unsafe plant – this is unacceptable.

We can make our communities safer by ensuring that these facilities switch to safer chemicals and technologies that are both available and affordable.