# Nebraska joins lawsuit seeking EPA regulation of abortion pill  
**Published:** 2026-06-13T00:10:39.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/12/repub/nebraska-attorney-general-among-14-urging-epa-to-classify-mifepristone-as-water-contaminant/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/nebraska-joins-lawsuit-seeking-epa-regulation-of-abortion-pill

Nebraska is among 14 states where Republican attorneys general are asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to classify the abortion medication mifepristone as a water contaminant, according to [a report from the Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/12/repub/nebraska-attorney-general-among-14-urging-epa-to-classify-mifepristone-as-water-contaminant/).

In a letter sent last Friday, the state officials argued that mifepristone is "a growing threat to the country's waterways." The effort was signed by attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas, along with 19 members of Congress led by Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey.

Mifepristone is the first drug in a two-part medication regimen used to terminate pregnancy. The signatories contend that increased access to medication abortion at home has created opportunities for the drug to enter water supplies through waste, claiming that tons of medication are being flushed into America's waterways.

Environmental and health science experts, however, say there is no evidence that mifepristone in wastewater causes harm to the environment or to humans. The Center for Biological Diversity, which advocates for stronger environmental protections, states there is "no evidence that medication abortion is affecting U.S. water systems, including drinking water and aquatic wildlife."

The push reflects a broader effort by abortion opponents to restrict access to medication abortion through regulatory and legislative channels. In 2025, state lawmakers in seven states introduced nine bills that included claims about medication abortion's effects on water systems and legislation calling for testing of mifepristone in drinking water.

The effort comes as medication abortion continues to expand nationally. Data shows medication abortion accounted for nearly two-thirds of all clinician-provided abortions in states without total bans in 2023.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/12/repub/nebraska-attorney-general-among-14-urging-epa-to-classify-mifepristone-as-water-contaminant/)
- [Stateline/States Newsroom coverage of the Republican attorneys general campaign regarding mifepristone and water contamination](https://stateline.org/2026/06/12/republican-attorneys-general-urge-epa-to-classify-mifepristone-as-water-contaminant/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/12/repub/nebraska-attorney-general-among-14-urging-epa-to-classify-mifepristone-as-water-contaminant/.