Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allowed the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection to weaken a critical water-quality standard for selenium — a decision that could deeply compromise the safety of communities across the entire Appalachian region.

The significance of the EPA’s decision cannot be overstated. Already, other states in Appalachia, including Virginia and West Virginia, are considering similar changes to their water quality standards. This action by the EPA sends these states a signal that is okay to gut protections for clean water and make it easier for the coal industry to do more mountaintop removal coal mining.

Take Action Now! Tell the EPA we need them to do their job and to protect the rights of citizens to clean and safe water.