DoomsdaysCW<p>Just like with <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PFAS" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PFAS</span></a>-laden <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FirefightingFoam" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FirefightingFoam</span></a>, less <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Toxic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Toxic</span></a> alternatives are out there, but expense is often cited as a roadblock. TBH, things that benefit the environment and society shouldn't cost more than the toxic originals -- and toxic chemicals should be replaced! Period! Make <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BigChemical" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BigChemical</span></a> pay! (Since they probably knew about the hazards but hid them from the public. As usual with Big anything these days...!)</p><p>A <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PinkPowder" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PinkPowder</span></a> is being used to fight <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CaliforniaFires" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CaliforniaFires</span></a>. It's getting everywhere</p><p>by Nadine Yousif, January 13, 2025</p><p>"Its use has been controversial in the past over its potential effects on the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/environment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>environment</span></a>.</p><p>"A lawsuit filed in 2022 by the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ForestServiceEmployees" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ForestServiceEmployees</span></a> for <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalEthics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalEthics</span></a>, an organisation made up of current and former employees of the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/USForestService" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>USForestService</span></a>, accused the federal agency of violating the country's clean water laws by dumping <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/chemical" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>chemical</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FireRetardant" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FireRetardant</span></a> from planes onto forests.</p><p>"It argued that the chemical kills fish and is not effective.</p><p>"The following year, a US District judge agreed with the employees, but in her ruling allowed the Forest Service to continue using the retardant as it seeks a permit to do so from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).</p><p>"The case drew the attention of communities devastated by <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/wildfires" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>wildfires</span></a> in the past, including the town of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ParadiseCalifornia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ParadiseCalifornia</span></a>, which was destroyed by fire in 2018.</p><p>"Its then-mayor, Greg Bolin, hailed the judge's ruling, saying it ensures communities 'have a fighting chance' in the face of fires.</p><p>"The Forest Service told NPR that this year, it phased out the use of one type of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PhosChek" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PhosChek</span></a> formula - <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PhosChekLC95" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PhosChekLC95</span></a> - in favour of another - <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/MVPFx" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MVPFx</span></a> - saying that the latter is less toxic to <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/wildlife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>wildlife</span></a>.</p><p>"The Forest Service also has a mandatory ban in place on dropping fire retardant in sensitive environmental areas, like waterways and habitats of endangered species. There are exceptions to the ban, however, in cases 'when human life or public safety are threatened.'"</p><p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93lqng957jo?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">bbc.com/news/articles/c93lqng9</span><span class="invisible">57jo?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FireRetardant" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FireRetardant</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FishKills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FishKills</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Wildfires" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Wildfires</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Firefighting" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Firefighting</span></a></p>