KBJR

By Hayley Raatsi

DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - Minnesota’s two U.S. Senators are pushing to keep the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lab in Duluth open.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Tina Smith, both democrats, sent a letter to the EPA administrator Lee Zeldin on reports of a possible reduction in staff at the EPA Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division Lab.

 The lab helps keep the Great Lakes water clean and safe, contributing $15 million to Minnesota’s economy each year.

The senators are calling for the “critical” lab to stay open and for career scientists to keep their jobs.

In March, hundreds of people showed up outside the EPA Lab to protest the threat of its closure.

Protesters said they worry for the nearly 150 employees who stand to lose their jobs and for the loss of the work they do.

A New York Times article about planned cuts to the EPA’s Research and Development Office first sparked worry about the Duluth lab. However, it has not been confirmed if the Duluth lab will close officially.