Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to step in and completely stop the use of toxic dispersants in BP’s Gulf Coast cleanup.

Nadler released the following statement:

“Last week, after I questioned BP about the use of the chemical dispersant Corexit on the Gulf oil spill, EPA directed BP to switch to a less toxic alternative. BP claims that no viable alternative exists. EPA has now directed BP to scale back the use of Corexit, but, if there are concerns about its use, the only prudent course of action is for EPA to stop the use of any dispersants. There is clear scientific evidence that the volume of dispersants being used will substantially increase the toxic loading in the Gulf, and will simply shift the toxicity to another part of the ecosystem, harming marine life, contaminating the water column, and threatening the food chain. And there is no scientific evidence that dispersants can be effective in an oil spill of this magnitude.

“Therefore, it is very possible that the use of dispersants will do more harm than good. BP’s oil spill is already doing enormous damage to the environment and economy of the Gulf region. We should not add to the damage by contaminating the Gulf with more toxic materials, or use the Gulf as a testing ground or laboratory. EPA is right to take action, but it is not enough. EPA must stop the use of toxic chemical dispersants and force BP to the most responsible resolution to this environmental and economic disaster.”