US EPA Must Protect Communities from Hydrogen Cyanide Exposure

Hydrogen cyanide, or HCN, is a toxic air pollutant emitted by petroleum refineries. HCN is a colorless gas that may smell like bitter almonds, old sneakers, or nothing at all. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency knows that hydrogen cyanide pollution from refineries is poisoning communities nationwide. Yet the EPA has failed to make these refineries clean up their act. U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (D-Denver) has introduced legislation to fix this.

Fenceline communities are environmental justice communities that are next to polluting industries, such as petroleum refineries. Earthjustice has worked with impacted fenceline communities fighting for hydrogen cyanide protection from specific facilities.

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