>> senator, the epa, the ohio epa have very high standards. i trust our testing. >> would you live there given what you've seen? >> yes, sir. i believe that the air is safe. i believe that the water safe. there are hundreds of tests. there are millions of data points. they all point to the same thing. i genuinely enjoyed my conversations with the folks in these palestine. >> i'm sure they are traumatized. every time someone shows up is really good. miss sure, do you agree that it is a safe place to live? >> senator graham, science is epa's north star. we follow the science. on i drink the water there. i drink it every time i go to town because the scientific data shows that it is safe, as does the air. >> ms. vogel, you're from ohio, have you been there? >> i have been east palestine since february 3rd, with the exception of five days. >> real dedicated effort here. do you think you've been enriched by these visits? either how do you? >> yes, senator. >> do you think you've learned more about the problem having talked to the people? >> unquest

epa is overseeg norfolk southern cleanup worto ensure it's done to e the epa's specifications. work plansutline all necessary to clean up the eironment of damage caused by the derailment and most importantly if the company fails to complete any of the epa ordered action the agency will immediately ste in and conduct the necessary work and force norfolk southern to pay triple the cost. epa's order holds norfolk southern accountable and facilitates in the transmission of the emergency response based the longer-term cleanup days. throughout my 11 day on the ground in et dallas time ever and it's proud and resilient community. those that live there and in the surrounding communities have roots that go back generations. we owe it to these people to restore these beautif communities and the special places we know they hold dear. that's exactly what epa is working to accomplish all while continuing to work hand-in-hand with our partners at the local state and federal level. again thank you's for inviting m here today. i look forwa to the dialogue and to answering yr questions. >> made

that is our focus at epa. so in addition to all of the work to get these resources out to states and local communities we have been standing up the most significant technical assistance program because we think that is will change the odds are communities who haven't been able to get their fair share we are actively working in communities across the country from mcdowell county west virginia, alabama to really committees all across thehe country. we have 29 environmental finance centers who are providing free technical assistance to communities that want it. we're closing the wastewater access gap initiative. we have ar lead service line accelerator. all of these technical assistance programs are helping build the local cumin to capacity to make sure we're unlocking these resources for every community so every community has clean and safe water. let me end where i began, which is to say thank you. thank you so much for the opportunity to steward these resources. it's because of congress and president biden tha

this is new for epa. we are stepping out on a limb we are doing more partnerships with industry, with technological firms to think how do you codify rules that set the playing field at aan level where everyone has equal instruction and a guard rail for long term investment but out any new technology. there are ways to look at how we aggregate and use data. her proof systems are building into new technologies come online how they can compete within the scope of the rules. it's a little bit of an experiment. but we are excited about it. what is exciting about is the excitement that industry has two save that product and control those omissions and what was sent from countries all around the world. >> it is unusual, obviously epa has been doing regulation for a long time. but when you have this amount of ooinnovation going on, to make e rules not half of the innovations is a challenge. some other countries have a greater problem. [laughter] >> the first thing i tell my teens is this is the way we have always

implementation by epa. one such program is epa's midsize and large drinking water system infrastructure was lance and sustainability program which will help drinking water systems prepare to withstand the effects of natural disasters and cyber security threats and will champion creation of the program alongside senator benny cardin and we are pleased to see it receive an initial $5 million of apopriation in the final fiscal year 2023 spending legislation. the national need is much greater than $5 million. the water systems across the country are still waiting for epa to stand up the program. urging epa to move with diligence to make the program operational. let me conclude with a few areas where i think the funding and programs provided can be made even more effective. we greatly appreciate the law authorized a new low income wastewater pilot program and epa. water affordability is a national need and should be part of the federal safety net. urging fda to complete its national water affordability needs aes

that is our focus atth epa. so, in addition to all the work to get these resources to states and local communities, we have been standing up the most significant technical assistance program. we think that is what will change the odds for communities that have not been able to get their fair share. we are actively working communities acrossve the country from west virginia to alabama, to communities all across the country. we have 29 environmentalav finae centers who are providing free technical assistance to communities that won it. closing that wastewater axis cap initiative with lead service line accelerator. all of these technical assistance programs are helping build the local communitypa capacity to make sure we are unlocking these resources for every community so that every community has clean and safe water. so, let me just end where i began wishes to say thank you. thank you so much for the opportunity to steward these resources. it is because of congress andbe president biden that you have created a tr

implementation by epa. one such program is epa's midsize and large drinking water system infrastructure was lance and sustainability program which will help drinking water systems prepare to withstand the effects of natural disasters and cyber security threats and will champion creation of the program alongside senator benny cardin and we are pleased to see it receive an initial $5 million of appropriation in the final fiscal year 2023 spending legislation. the national need is much greater than $5 million. the water systems across the country are still waiting for epa to stand up the program. urging epa to move with diligence to make the program operational. let me conclude with a few areas where i think the funding and programs provided can be made even more effective. we greatly appreciate the law authorized a new low income wastewater pilot program and epa. water affordability is a national need and should be part of the federal safety net. urging fda to complete its national water affordability needs a

implementation by epa. one such program is e's midsize and large drinking water system infrastructure was lance and sustainability program which will help drinking water systems prepare to withstand the effects of natural disasters and cyber security threats and will champion creation of the program alongside senator benny cardin and we are pleased to see it receive an initial $5 million of appropriation in the final fiscal year 2023 spending legislation. the natial need is much greater than $5 million. the water systems acss the country are still waiting for epa to stand up the program. urging epa to move with diligence to make the program operational. let me conclude with a few areas where i think the funding and programs provided can be made even more effective. we greatly appreciate the law authorized a new low income wastewater pilot program and epa. water affordability is a national need and should be part of the federal safety net. urging fda to complete its national water affordability needs assessm

that is our focus at epa. in addition to all the work to get these resources out to states and local communities, we have been standing up the most significant technical assistance program because we think that is what will change the odds for communities who haven't been able to get their fair share or actively working in communities across the country from west virginia to alabama to communities all across the country. we have 29 environmental finance centers providing free technical assistance to communities that want it. we are closing the wastewater axis cap initiative. all of these technical assistance programs are helping build the local community capacity to make sure we are unlocking these resources for every community so every community has clean and safe water. let me and where i began which is to say thank you for the opportunity to steward these resources. it is because of congress and president biden that you have created a transformational moment right now, a transformational opportunity for the

epa regan was there today. >> let me be clear, epa is testing for all toxic chemicals. there are no gaps in the testing. >> reporter: environmental advocate erin brockovich says this community will likely need to keep testing. >> this begins a huge water issue. we've seen it play itself out over and over again. >> reporter: the whistle-blower remains skeptical about authorities' transparency and accountability. >> they can sound the all-clear and tell you the water's safe. but that's for that moment. that isn't how these environmental situations usually pan out. >> reporter: ashley mccollum and her family are now living under a cloud of uncertainty. they have been staying with her mother four miles away in pennsylvania, too scared to return. >> just want to go home. it's kind of sad that we have to stay here. but i don't feel safe going home. >> reporter: 6-year-old zane won't even go home to tend to his pet iguana. his mom slips into town to feed it. >> i know whenever i go into town, i'm going to have some kind of symptom. whether it be a headache, dry mouth, or just

this is new for epa. we are stepping out on a limb and we are doing more partnerships with the industry. how do you codify rules that set the playing field at a level where everyone has equal instructions and the guardrails for investments, but not block out any technology. there are ways to look at how we aggregate and use data. there are proof systems that we are building in so there are new technologies that come online. it's a little bit of an experiment, but we are excited about it and what's exciting about it is the industry has to save that product and control those emissions. >> i guess it is unusual. the epa has been doing regulation for a long time, but when you have this amount of innovation going on to make the roles not have that innovation is really a challenge. some other countries. >> the first thing i tell some of my team who says this is the way we've always done it and i say well, that's exactly why we are not going to do it. we cannot do things the way we always done it. this entrepren

you are the epa regional director in this area. what should the government be doing and what did norfolk southern do wrong? >> the government needs to do so much more starting with why are we producing so much vinyl chloride? it is used for one purpose and that is to manufacture pvc plastic. part of that is risk associated where the manufacturing takes place, mostly in black and brown community's in louisiana and texas. you put the vinyl chloride on thtrain tracks, we know there are unfortunately any derailments -- many jerome's per year. this accident happened and i question whether it was smart to drain the known carcinogen into local ditches and set it on fire without evacuating -- the evacuation zone was only one mile by two miles. and just days later, lifting the evacuation order, telling people it was safe for them to return with very limited testing. dioxin testing did not happen until a month later after pressure from the public and new cycles calling out the epa. the epa asked the polluter here, the rail company, to do the

. >>> nbc news investigates, why is this school still open near a plant the epa says emits a toxic chemical families demanding answers >>> the first big upset in march madness. the tiny school pulling off a stunner in its first tournament appearance in 40 years >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt >>> good evening, and welcome, everyone the u.s. tonight offering compelling evidence that russian fighter jets were the aggressors in a confrontation with an american air force drone over the black sea this week. newly declassified pentagon video from the drone's camera captured a russian warplane spraying jet fuel directly in the path of the pilotless drone. one of several close passes by russian fighters according to the pentagon, one of which resulted in a collision. part of the american aircraft's propeller sheared off, forcing the drone to crash. while american officials allow the russian pilot may have accidentally bumped the drone, they say there's no question where the orders to harass the u.s. plane came from courtney kube has more for us now from the pentagon. >> re

once federal epa issued the order, and assumed authority for the cleanup work from ohio epa, and we did pause to conduct that necessary due diligence, and compliance review, because then all the facilities fell under the circla regulations. norfolk southern engages facilities wherever they may be to accept solid and liquid waste. it is epa's responsibility to ensure the safeguards are in place for that waste and the loading transport and unloading, to make sure that they're compliant with regulations, and to make sure that they have the capacity to take the waste. i can share some good news with you that the results from the dioxin testing, that indiana requested, came in yesterday, and there are very low levels. we expect waste to be moving perhaps as soon as today to other facilities. no option is off the table. >> okay, so i would like to see a list of the facilities and i also would like to ask quickly if i could have just another minute, why did you wait a month before you started to order the dioxin testing when the community was asking for this? was that a decision that you made

the epa sent us an email. they decided to file a lawsuit in federal court to require denka to significantly reduce positive chloroprene emissions from its manufacturing facility. >> yes, we won. that's what we're fighting for. oh, my god. >> reporter: but robert taylor is not so sure this will change anything. an emergency order you're afraid isn't going to do anything? >> no, not while they're still operating. >> you're saying shut them down. >> shut them -- this should have been done years ago. >> reporter: shut them down for george and all the other people here who just want to breathe clean air. >> so, cynthia, let me ask you this, anything changed in the two weeks since you were there and the epa announced the lawsuit? >> well, so far the epa has not shut the plant down, though they tell us the community is a top priority for them and that they will soon take additional actions. now, denka tells us they're breaking no laws and deny emissions are putting folks at any increased risk of cancer, and the kids,

yet epa allowed imidacloprid on the u.s. market a year later. after decades of exposure, the conquences epscientists once warned about are now confirmed by the task force on systemic pesticides. >> and unfortunately, these chemicals are often, and i would say most of thtime, released before there is adequate information to show whether they arharmful the environment. i think neonicotinoids are a prime example of that. >> epa assesses risk posed by pesticides prior to their release on the market. safety studies are typically conducted and paid for by pesticide manufacturers on their own product. epa says its decisions are informed by the best science available. in addition to studies by manufacturers, epa scientists review pesticide studies from peer-reviewed scientific journals and data from a wide variety of sources when they are available. but studies on pesticide safety that come out after a pesticide is on the market may not be evaluated by epa until a pesticide cos up for review, a process that can te as lo as 15 yrs. farmers like drew stab

could you share your work at cal epa and how you are addressing these issues? >> first and foremost i want to say when it comes to the california environmental quality act, this is a landmark, unique law that we have in california that has acted as a necessary tool to protect the environment and communities over several decades and is really important in that regard, it provides for required mitigation that can really protect people and save lives so i want to make clear that it's a very important in that respect and i think what we see now in terms of building the future that we want to see is that we have to say, yes, to some things and a tool like this act is designed to pause or insure procedural and substantive protections for the environment for species and people but it's not designed necessarily to facilitate easy development. i think now what we are seeing not only in housing but also with zero emission vehicle infrastructure, charging infrastructure, what we are seeing with wind energy production and solar energy production is that we have to get to a

could you share your work at cal epa and how you are addressing these issues? >> first and foremost i want to say when it comes to the california environmental quality act, this is a landmark, unique law that we have in california that has acted as a necessary tool to protect the environment and communities over several decades and is really important in that regard, it provides for quired mitigation that can really protect people and save lives so i want to make clear that it's a very important in that respect and i think what we see now in terms of building the future that we want to see is that we have to say, yes, to some things and a tool like this act is designed to pause or insure procedural and substantive protections for the environment for species and people but it's not designed necessarily to facilitate easy development. i think now what we are seeing not only in housing but also with zero emission vehicle infrastructure, charging infrastructure, what we are seeing with wind energy production and solar energy production is that we have to get to a p

the epa agrees. it's a great deal of being urgency for getting this got tickets as more people, u.s. regulations are on the way in washington. raquel martin. >> we're taking a live look outside right now here at our camera on top of mount tam. and it's nice to see some blue skies. our meteorologist kyla grogan here now with our hello, son. we stay. i know i know that the police day. well, we are going to see some clouds kind of move in over the next few days and even a chance of rain. but today. >> hey, we're looking good. half moon bay got the people out there taking a walk, enjoying it. i see couple. >> looks like a stroller. maybe someone had rolling along pretty good temperatures out there. pretty nice as well. we are cool, though. certainly were below average, but notice north bay starting to pick up now at 62 degrees east bay. >> antioch and 62 also, but just 53 here in san francisco. so we are rolling cooler than we have them for the most of the day today. now starting to warm up in the north

. >> lawrence: the epa says the air in east palestine is safe. independent scientists say their findings show that is not the case. >> ainsley: elevated levels of toxic chemicals surrounding the danger zone. >> brian: live in youngstown with the latest. >> people here for days have been told the air is okay to breathe. we just heard yesterday from the head of the epa telling people that the water and air had been tested numerous times and it was okay. this new, independent study paints a different story that could create long-term health concerns. this is video of on the ground in east palestine, ohio. independent analysis found at least nine air pollute notas at levels that could raise long-term health concerns in the community and some chemicals are known to cause cancer. researchers at texas a&m did the study and found chemicals that trigger lung and eye irritation and that matches with what people are telling with headaches and migraines and issue ra rashes they have been seeing for weeks. it could take months or years before people have issu

epa's proposed regulation would limit six p-fas. two of these chemicals that are the most well understood and actually no longer in production would be limited to detectable levels. the epa has said levels even 1000 times lower than what could be detected are still dangerous to human health, can still cause negative health impacts. practically speaking, all that they can require is for utilities to monitor for these chemicals. and if they find them, treat them so thoroughly that they are below the detectable limits. the other thing the epa did was include limits for four other p-fas chemicals. some of these are still in commercial use. two of them are what the chemicals industry turns to when they phased out the two older chemicals. the epa is taking an innovative approach which acknowledges these chemicals might have more severe health effects in combination than they do individually. amna: we know some states have already moved to regulate these compounds to some degree but this is a proposed federal standard. how would it be for

the other thing that epa did is include limits for four other types of chemicals. some are chemicals that are still in commercial use. two of them are the ones that the chemicals industry turn to when they faced out those two older chemicals and for those epa is taking an innovative approach which acknowledges the chemicals may have more severe health effects in combinations than individually. >> some states have proved to regulate these compounds to some degree. but this is a proposed federal standard. how easy would it be for water utilities to meet new standards? what would it take? >> technologically speaking there are absolutely -- technologies that water utilities can install that could treat for these chemicals that are well proven. we have granular activated carbon and the technologies are there, but they are not cheap. they are very expensive to install the first place and they also have ongoing operational costs. the way that our law is set up those costs uld be borne by customers and they would be showing up on people's regular monthly water bills. they

but the epa has not fully accepted norfolk southern's remediation plan. miguel, what are you hearing? >> reporter: people are very upset. they want answers, they want certainty and because of the complexity of this disaster, they're not going to get it very quickly. one big piece of this cleanup is about to take place and that's the removal of the tracks and the soil, the contaminated soil underneath the tracks. the way this will work says the epa and norfolk southern is that the southern track, two tracks that run through that area, the southern tracks will be removed. the soil under it removed. it will be replaced with fresh soil, the tracks will be put back in place and then the tracks on the north side, that same process will occur there. one other thing the epa has instructed norfolk southern to do is text for dioxides in town. and that can be harmful to human health. the epa has a regime that they're going to put in place to test for those. and there are elevated levels of chemicals in east palestine but they're still within epa standards within hum

epa which is the executive branch has limits. you can't just dole out $400 billion to get votes, which is basically what this is all about, and randi weingarten has no say in this. it is an inmed bl -- incredible moral hazard, i think, to forgive people's loans. we're seeing a ramping up of credit card debt. six months from now are we going to say, wait a minute, we should be forgetting credit card debt? some activist was calling economic enslavement. this was debt that people knowingly went into. a penn-wharton model, study showed that i think 72% of the debt, student debt held is people in the top 60% of our income -- it's wealthier americans. it's absurd to have this woman ranting and raving like a banshee about this. stuart: but it's an opportunity for republicans to point at randi weingarten, point at the failure of the public schools and make exa major issue. -- education a major issue. >> i totally agree. and we've seen it work. glenn youngkin, obviously, rode that horse very successfully to become governor of virginia. i

earlier this month, the epa proposed the first-ever regulatory standard to limit the quantity allowed in drinking water. ali rogin looks at the growing health conceabout these chemicals. ali: pfas, sometimes called forever chemicals, repel fire, water, oil and stains and have been used since the 1940s in a wide variety of everyday products. you can find them in nonstick cookware, fast food wrappers, clothes, and cosmetics. but these man made chemicals don't break down easily, and a number of them have been linked to serious health problems. for more on their impact, we turn to erin bell. she's an environmental epidemiologist at the state university of new york at albany who studies human exposure to these toxins. erin, thank you so much for joining us. just how widespread are these chemicals? erin: these chemicals have been detected in the drinking water and soil in every state of the united states, and it is also being detected in many countries across the world. a number of health concerns are related to exposure to these chemicals. they include impact on the immune system. folks wi

the epa involved, in 2017. >> the highest cancer risk i the country? >> in the country >> what wa your reaction to that? >> i was floored >> but you di not do it? >> no i didn't >> why >> i did not - i was one member of 11, it takes a majority at the school board. >> but did you stand up and sa this is, wrong we have to fi it >> no i didn't >> why not >> there is not a reason as to why not, that i ca definitively give you, that stand up and be able to say -- >> do you wish you had >> looking back, yes >> but a glimmer of hope jus as we are packing up to leave. the epa sent us an email, they decided to file a lawsuit in federal court to require the plant to significantly reduce, emissions from its manufacturing facility >> yes, we won, that is what w are fighting for oh my god. >> but robert taylor is not so sure this will change anything >> an emergency order, authorities are not going to d anything >> no, not while they are stil operating. >> you are saying shut the down >> shut them they should have been done years ago. >> shut them down, for george,

the us epa has worked closely with the ohio epa. we were there are matter of hours after this derailment. a very difficult situation. what is going on now, one track has been taken out, that has been going on right there. the other thing i should mention. i talked to our attorney general, dave yost, about this. what really needs to happen, there needs to be a fund set up where the railroad will put up a significant amount of money and that fund, to take care of people's needs and problems as we go forward. i talked to people in east palestine, for most of them their number one concern is i don't know how this will impact the family, i want to make sure there is some money to take care of medical needs and other things that might arise, the uncertainty that is bothering people. i am optimistic that we can get something going. involved with alan shah and others at the railroad. i am optimistic. that is what we have to tell the people of east palestine, take care of your problems not just today, but well into the future. no matter how

no >> do you wish you had >> yes >> but a glimmer of hope epa sent us an e-mail. they decided to file a lawsuit in federal court to reduce hazardous emissions from the neoprene manufacturing facility. >> yes, we won, we thankful. >> but robert taylor is not so sure this will change anything. emergency order isn't going to do anything. >> no. not while they're still operating. >> you're saying shut them down. >> this should have been done years ago. >> shut them down. for george and all the other people here who just want to breathe clean air. in the two weeks since we've been back from louisiana, the epa has not shut the plant down. though they tell us the community is a priority for them and that they will soon take additional actions danca, the plant, says they are breaking no lies and deny their emissions put their residents at an increased risk of cancer. as for the children, they're still going to the fifth ward elementary school. back to you. >> thanks to cynthia mcfadden. ahead in our next hour, an interview with the president of planned parenthood as we aw

the epa involved, in 2017. >> the highest cancer risk i the country? >> in the country >> what wa your reaction to that? >> i was floored >> though the said they removed -- air monitors near the school often register it at levels fa exceeding the recommended 0. level as we saw when we visite with environmental scientist -- >> what is the result? >> higher than 0.2 >> how much higher i know it varies depending o when, how much the manufacturing, but what is the extreme? >> i have calculated it, her ten times, 20 times, 50 times. >> the acceptable level? >> the acceptable level. >> nonetheless, the non th state of louisiana, where th epa has forced the plants to comply with the 0. recommendation, or ordered the children removed nor have local members of th local school board patrick slanders the recentl retired head of the school board who is a local mortician grew up right next to th plant. many of its neighbors have die of cancer. including his father, an sister he is fighting cancer for th second time. >> there are going to be a lot of people sitting

>> no, i think the response from the epa both ohio and national epa has been great. there is probably 100epa people in the city. the cdc is here in force. there are a lot of smart people looking at this. do i believe they still have testing to do? absolutely. i went to the town hall last night and they talked about a lot of the new testing. liz: but that's a month later. the epa was criticized for not immediately testing for things lie -- like dioxins. >> don't lie -- [people shouting] >> this touched my family, this touched my friends, this touched my farm, this touched my animals, this touched my finances, this touched my home, and it will touch people at a cellular level if i get diagnosed with a cancer, als or whatever will come down if i stay in this contaminated toxic town and you all know it. >> my family is dying slowly in prinin front of my eyes. >> i couldn't breathe and i couldn't go back to my job. liz: r liz -- liz: we are hearing chemical bronchitis and nosebleeds. the fda has delayed testing for dioxins and they are now telling norfolk southern to do i

joining us is a former epa regional administrator. judith, good to see you. it's been more than a month since the derailment in east palestine. i also recall while there was an effort to move contaminants, there were also people who were upset that didn't want it coming to their states. what is to happen? otherwise this stuff just sits there. >> it doesn't just sit there. volatile organic compounds o off gas and make local air quality even worse. some of this material, ironically, was slated to go to a nearby hazardous waste incinerator called heritage in the very same county where east palestine is located. so the residents basically gate double hit of toxic exposures, because that incinerator has a long record of environmental law violations. there's no easy solutions to what to do with all of this contaminated soil and materials, which is why we really need to move upstream. this is just going to get worse, because unless we pass new laws, plastic production is slated to double in the next 20 years, which means more chemicals on the rails including vinyl c

that's why you see the epa acting first to address these drinking water concerns. these chemicals have been used in so many different types of household products, nonstick pans, it's almost impossible to avoid that x poe sure. and because these chemicals were unregulated for decades. you won't see them on ingredient labels or warning labels so it's hard to know which products have had these in the past. because of the growing public awareness now that the film "dark waters" and the book "exposure" all that information is out there and people are becoming aware, folks are starting to ask companies to take steps to take these chemicals out of these products. so we are seeing some big companies, some clothing companies, fast-food companies and others that are coming forward and saying, we're going to take these chemicals out of our products, so we do see that happening even before these regulations start to kick in that's a good thing. at least people are going start having a choice. because up until now none of us really knew we were being exposed to these chemicals

train derailment why the epa's plan to transport contaminated water to texas is back on after local leaders objected >>> the new drone strikes deep inside russia, and our rare look inside crimea will it become the new flash point in the conflict >>> the white house giving a deadline to remove tiktok from all government devices could the popular app be banned altogether in the u.s.? >>> and the american skier who just made history on the world stage. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt >> good evening and welcome, everyone. in a pair of cases that will impact tens of millions of student loan borrowers, the supreme court heard arguments today on whether the biden administration had the authority to forgive some of those loans. the president's loan debt relief plan calls for erasing up to $20,000 in student loans for certain borrowers at an estimated cost of $400 billion. but it was put on hold last fall by an appeals court. today the plan appeared to face new headwinds before the supreme court as conservative justices question whether the president was acting wit

i want to read one quick line from a statement the epa gave. they said it's possible people from the area may smell odor as the soil from the derailment site is moved, odors from the chemicals can be strong at levels much lower than what is considered harmful to health, but officials did say last night it is possible there could be vapors put into the air from the aftermath of this as well. we're trying to get some clarity on what the potential added consequences and health risks are to this community with the cleanup effort now going on. chris. >> jesse kirsch, thank you for that. >>> a major political predicament for president biden, the move that's left some house democrats feeling totally blind sided. >>> and inside the murdaugh deliberation room, what are those discussions really like? i'll ask someone who served on the jury in a very high profile case ahead. plates. plates. plates. there's somehow no better way to travel this place, than on a plate. and when you add price drop protection, expedia pays you back if your flight becomes cheap

we need more funding to clean up toxic waste sites and for the epa. it has been created by decade after decade of starving these agencies. my question is why the obsession with pete buttigieg on this specific issue? >> harris: because he is the transportation secretary and federal rail agency is underneath his purview. >> ntsb isn't even. >> harris: they know it's their job. i hear what you are saying about the regulations. i don't know if you caught the "washington post" article yesterday that said nothing that the trump administration did in terms of its cuts. nobody is denying anything you say that those regulations were loosened. none of that had anything to do with what is playing out in east palestine, ohio, none of it. >> we had 52 toxic waste sites. >> harris: we are talking about people who can't drink the water and the epa told them not to. >> it's across the country. >> harris: start with flint. you could go there. go ahead. >> right after september 11th, 2001, the epa was putting out statements being okay to breathe in the world trade cent

the epa and states are not aggressive on clean air and water. in new york, we have more aggressive standards. people push back on these standards all day long because they don't want businesses to have to pay more to ensure clear and and water. the truth is, until it comes to your family, you don't realize how important these standards are. so i hope that post this horrific accident, not only will the people who are culpable pay but we have better rail system requirements, better safety standards, better notices to communities when horrible toxic ch chemicals are coming through on a truck, train or barge so communities have more safety and there's more oversight. we didn't have a requirement that you have to have two people on a train to see if something is going on. that's outrageous. we have a strong bipartisan bill to begin to fix the standards but i hope the viewers understand clean air and clean water are necessary for life. when these toxic spills happen, the first people to push back are the businesses that have to have higher standards.

will look, it's a new day, and now, like ke huy quan, the epa is back and bigger than ever! >> the epa today proposed the first ever limits on so called forever chemicals in drinking water. the toxic chemicals, also known as pfas, have been used in manufacturing for decades. >> these chemicals are used in the manufacturing of products that we use like nonstick pans, waterproof clothing, and furniture. >> they don't break down in the environment, and experts say they can cause a host of health issues. the epa says the proposed limits would save thousands of lives. >> this proposed rule will now go through an approval process for several months including soliciting expert and public input. >> kal: look, i'm very glad they are doing this, elections matter and all of that, but do we really need months of public input on this? like, who are the local weirdos who want to keep toxic water chemicals in the water? "this is big government overreach. all right? if they give everybody clean water, that means they are going to give trans people clean water." is this on? i have to say, if

people of east palestine, ohio are getting concerning guidance from epa after being told the water is safe. >> as a father, do not play in the creeks or stream. the drinks water has been tested. if the green light has been given, we feel confident of that. >> todd: two of the residentses have been run in circles, two of them join us next to respond. by treating my skin and joints. along with significantly clearer skin, skyrizi helps me move with less joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. and skyrizi is just 4 doses a year after two starter doses. skyrizi attaches to and reduces a source of excess inflammation that can lead to skin and joint symptoms. with skyrizi, 90% clearer skin and less joint pain is possible. serious allergic reactions and an increased risk of infections or a lower ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine, or plan to. with skyrizi, there's nothing like the feeling of improving my skin and joints... ...and that means everything. now's the time to talk to your doctor about how skyrizi can help trea

the plan commits to patrol agents, it ines kroos epa by 24,000. republicans say none of this adds up. >> the problem is he's spending more, it is not revenue, it is spending. what does this budget do? more taxes, biggest government in the history of the united states. >> proposal comes as kevin mccarthy and the president trying to negotiate raising the debt limit. >> president biden: the speaker of the house, is very conservative and has a more conservative group with him, we met early on and he said, what are we going to do about the budget? let's make a deal. >> this is like an opening bid there, budget proposal will double as re-election campaign statement. senator ted cruz says socialists are in charge. >> they have a simple approach to everything, spend money they don't have, raise taxes on you, they have unleashed record inflation. this budget that biden put out would create a $50 trillion national debt and their view, they can keep printing money and unleashing inflation. >> republicans are expected to have their own budget proposal ready i

the head of the epa took another look at that cleanup. he toured the site of the crash itself, which is still covered it. dangerous debris. it's his 3rd visit to ohio. last time he was in town e drink the tap water to try and show residents it was safe. >> i can promise that as this community continues to look for it, we're going to be here every step of the way. as it takes. we are going anywhere. >> federal officials are sending the contaminated soil to epa approved dump sites in and around ohio. congress is now planning hearings related to the spill and the ceo of norfolk southern will be asked to testify. meanwhile, ohio senators are planning to propose legislation that would actually subject railroads in the state to the new federal safety regulations and financial consequences. it's in response to regulatory concerns raised by that derailment. the legislation would subject all trains carrying hazardous materials. 2 additional safety rules, state notification requirements while also increasing penalties for violations. well, the atto

see event matches with the epa. as much as the president has been disappointed and an embarrassment, michael regan is the opposite. he goes into people's houses. he's talking every day. he says i'm going to set up a camper you're pretty welcome center. come see me and tell me your problems. you've got to salute you guys are show up. >> ainsley: he makes it personal. he said i wouldn't let my child, a 9-year-old son. it's also interesting. they are sending this hazardous material to other states. so i read because he said i found out third hand that i was getting -- our state was going to get this hazardous material. why the lack of communication? >> griff: michael regan was impressive. president biden said the epa was there on day 1. the president needs to show up. it is symbolism at this point. >> ainsley: another story we have been watching. the latest on the murdaugh double murder trial. the defense is going to set to present their closing arguments. >> brian: one day after jurors toured the crime scene. alex wif