The EPA has been running these sampling surveys since 1983, building what’s now the longest-running and most comprehensive data set on Great Lakes health.
For now, most Butte residents can safely use their tap water again—but the situation remains under close watch as environmental authorities continue to test and assess water quality.
“These investments will make drinking water systems more resilient to future storms, helping to ensure that communities have uninterrupted access to healthy water,” said NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson.
Despite the controversy, the DOE has opened the report for public comment, inviting feedback from stakeholders across academia, industry, and government.
The initiative is part of OSHA’s broader Alliance Program, which fosters partnerships with unions, trade organizations, educational institutions, and community groups to promote workplace health and safety.
Others have voiced concern that the administration’s emphasis on permitting reform and energy expansion could ultimately prioritize industry growth over ecosystem health.