As a result of a new lawsuit, Missouri is now able to see what efficacy means for masking chemical use.
Last week, Fordham University’s Environmental Law Clinic filed a lawsuit against the State of Missouri on behalf of seven individuals who allege that the effects of use of a type of mask on the state’s waterways were never measured. To address the health concerns of these individuals and their communities, Fordham intends to obtain information on the quantity of Methylene Ammonium Phosphate (MAp) that was used and processed in Missouri between 2007 and 2012. With this information, legal counsel will be better able to craft a remedy to protect the health of the plaintiffs and the citizens of Missouri. As a result of this lawsuit, Missouri is now able to see what efficacy means for masking chemical use. Below is the lawsuit’s court filing.
This new decision comes as a result of the clinic’s plan to not challenge a 2014 federal court decision that refused to order the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHS) to release enforcement data pertaining to the effects of Mp. Use of Mp in 2006 and 2007. After this federal court decision, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Agriculture (DAR) acknowledged that they had been monitoring use of Mp in the state, but denied the clinic’s requests that they make available this evidence.
“When individuals living along rivers and streams face the threat of harm, the state of Missouri must adhere to its duty to protect their health and we hope we will soon see evidence of that,” said Fordham’s Environmental Law Clinic’s lead attorney, Arden Lee. “To help states better protect residents at risk, we will continue the fight to gain access to quality data that will help identify abuses and promote cleaner water practices.”