Environmental Working Group by Aharleygyrl

EWG is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or already authorized to work in the U.S.

Recent Accomplishments

Stuck Teflon Trouble to DuPont. By uncovering alarming evidence of the health risks of PFCs (chemicals found in Teflon) and receiving international media attention, EWG prodded an EPA scientific advisory panel to classify one family of PFCs as a likely cause of human cancer.

Kept Public Land Public. In the Fall of 2005, when EWG learned that two Representatives slipped into a sprawling budget bill a stealth rider that would have put up for sale 350 million acres of public land, we tapped into our mining claims database and put the debate on the nation’s front pages. Public outrage prevented the bill from passing the Senate.

Ensured King Cotton Lost its Crown. The problems with the farm subsidy system in the US, which has become wasteful and unfair, are epitomized by the cotton industry. Based on data from EWG’s Farm Subsidy Database, the World Trade Organization declared billions of dollars in U.S. cotton subsidies illegal.

Kept Rocket Fuel Out of Drinking Water. EWG reports that show the widespread presence of the rocket fuel ingredient perchlorate in food and milk due to water contamination prompted both the FDA to speed up their national food testing program and California and Massachusetts to lower acceptable levels for the rocket fuel ingredient in drinking water,

Protected Women and Babies from Mercury. EWG's research provided evidence of the risks mercury poses to developing infants and children, prompting the FDA to place canned tuna on their "limit consumption" list to warn pregnant women about mercury in the fish.

Past Accomplishments

In 2005, The Hill named EWG one of Washington's ten most effective watchdog organizations. We were the only environmental group on the list.

Agriculture

Congress voted to increase conservation payments to farmers by 80%, providing $13 billion over six years for programs to reduce water contamination and soil erosion, as well as to protect wildlife. EWG's searchable Farm Subsidy Database, which tracks recipients of 90 million government agriculture program checks, has shaken up the debate over continuing wasteful subsidies to big agribusinesses.

The World Trade Organization declared billions of dollars in U.S. cotton subsidies illegal. The decision was based on data and analyses EWG provided for Brazil, who filed the landmark case, citing the distortion of global prices and unfairly restricting developing nations' access to the world market.

President Bush proposed drastic cuts to wasteful farm aid in his 2006 budget. Data compiled online since 2001 by EWG — and the media attention generated through our advocacy — put public pressure on the Administration, resulting in a proposal to cut farm subsidy payments by 5% and close loopholes that allow farmers to pocket $1 million or more each year.

Toxics In Our Environment

The FDA issued a letter to the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association stating plans to enforce regulations on safety labeling of untested products. EWG's citizens' petition on unregulated toxic ingredients in cosmetics was cited as the reason for placing cosmetic safety in their top five Program Priorities for 2005.

In April 2005, the California Air Resources Board adopted the nation's strictest smog standards. EWG's Smoggy Schools report brought attention to the special risks faced by children and asthmatics due to high levels of ozone around California schools, as well as the $521 million spent by Californians on healthcare and missed school days because of poor air quality.

EPA banned deadly arsenic in decks and play-sets. EWG has sold over 7,000 home test kits to assess the presence of arsenic in soil and wood in homes across the country. We used this primary research to advocate for the ban and compiled a list of steps to reduce arsenic exposures from arsenic-treated wood.

Five dangerous pesticides were taken off the market, and hundreds of uses have been restricted. EWG was instrumental in winning passage of America's first federal law protecting children from toxic pesticides.

EWG's recommendations on a Teflon chemical were adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency. In February 2005, EWG presented a scientific risk-assessment of the Teflon chemical PFOA to an EPA panel. EWG made the ONLY science presentation from the public health/environment community amidst a sea of 3M and DuPont consultants.

Toxics In Our Bodies

The EPA called off the controversial CHEERS study. EWG loudly voiced opposition to this unethical "research", which was partially funded by the American Chemical Council. The study would have paid parents to expose their children to pesticides.

The Center for Disease Control added Teflon chemicals to their national biomonitoring program. EWG's Body Burden study — which tested human blood for a number of contaminants not tested for by the CDC — was largely responsible for bringing the prevalence of these cancer-causing chemicals to the attention of the public and the government.

Toxics In Our Food and Water

California and Massachusetts lowered acceptable levels for the rocket fuel ingredient, perchlorate, in drinking water. EWG reports showed the widespread presence of this toxin in food and milk due to water contamination, and prompted the FDA to speed up their national food testing program.

Several U.S. Representatives changed their votes on an MTBE provision in the Energy Bill. A series of reports by EWG on drinking water contamination by the gasoline additive MTBE were repeatedly cited in Congressional debates over the House Energy Bill. Our efforts ultimately changed votes on this provision, which benefits big oil companies at the expense of taxpayers.

The FDA placed canned tuna on their "limit consumption" list to warn pregnant women about mercury in the fish. EWG's primary research provided evidence of the risks mercury poses to developing infants and children.

California passed legislation to make drinking water safe for bottle-fed infants. EWG conceived, drafted, and helped rally support for legislation that was passed in California, which requires health officials to base drinking water standards on infants' weights and consumption patterns, rather than those of an adult male.

Public Lands

When EWG found out about an energy "junket" in Arizona, where Interior Secretary Gale Norton, the Bush Administration, and members of Congress met with extractive industry leaders, we wasted no time in notifying the media. EWG President Ken Cook was interviewed for a feature story on ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, highlighting that fact that mining, oil, and gas industries already have unfettered access to our public lands.

Corporate/Institutional Accountability

EWG has drawn federal scrutiny to the plight of African American farmers. Our research prompted a Congressional reconsideration of the landmark $20 million black farmers' settlement by exposing USDA's discriminatory withholdings of funds from 9 percent of 100,000 eligible farmers.

EPA filed a complaint against DuPont for withholding information about the health concerns associated with Teflon chemicals. EWG's petition to the Agency notified them of the company's unlawful behavior on three separate counts for hiding critical study results in company file cabinets for up to 20 years.

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