EPN’s Work on Toxics and Superfund
Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, was quoted in this article discussing the intention behind EPA’s recently announced interim drinking water health advisory levels for four PFAS.
Dave Coursen, former attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, and Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project and former Director, EPA Office of Civil Enforcement, were quoted in this article discussing how the continued lack of funding and insufficient workforce has hampered EPA’s ability to perform its core responsibilities.
Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article discussing the possible ramifications of listing PFAS as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
Donn Viviani, former Director, Climate Policy Assessment Division, EPA Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, was quoted in this article about a petition he and others have filed to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing how Canada’s ban on some single-use plastics will also lead to reductions in demand for fossil fuel.
EPN members penned their own op-eds on the West Virginia vs. EPA decision, electric vehicles, and TSCA policy improvements.
Mustafa Santiago Ali, Vice President at the National Wildlife Administration; former EPA Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization; and former EPA Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, wrote this op-ed urging President Biden and Congress to put together a comprehensive climate bill in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on West Virginia vs. EPA.
Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, penned this op-ed about how significantly strengthening nitrogen oxide and greenhouse gas emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks would have enormous public health benefits and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
May 20, 2022 / by
Elizabeth Southerland, Robert Sussman, Linda Birnbaum, and Penny Fenner-Crisp /
The Hill
Linda Birnbaum (former Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), Penny Fenner-Crisp (former Senior Science Advisor, EPA Office of Pesticides Program), Betsy Southerland (former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water), and Bob Sussman (former EPA Senior Policy Advisor and former EPA Deputy Administrator) penned this op-ed rebutting American Chemistry Council claims that policy improvements made by EPA to strengthen TSCA implementation are inconsistent with regulatory needs to protect human health and welfare.
In addition to the articles above, EPN members contributed to a range of articles on topics such as lead in drinking water, Pride Month, Pebble Mine, asbestos, toxins in fetal development, and environmental justice.
Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, and Elin Betanzo, former National Tribal Drinking Water Coordinator, EPA Office of Water, were quoted in this article about the elevated levels of lead in drinking water in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and the need for faster federal intervention when state and local water utilities are ineffective at lowering lead levels.
Kevin Minoli, former EPA Acting General Counsel, was quoted in this article regarding the raising of the Pride flag at EPA headquarters in honor of the start of Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community.
Dennis McLerran, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 10, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s proposal to deny a Clean Water Act permit that would have allowed copper and gold mining in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed.
Bob Sussman, counsel for Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) and former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article about EPA’s proposed asbestos reporting mandate, a landmark proposal for the agency’s Chemical Data Reporting proposal.
Tracey Woodruff, Director, University of California, San Francisco’s Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment; former EPA senior scientist; and former Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Policy, was quoted in this article discussing the results of her research group’s study, which found widespread exposure of pregnant women, particularly Latinas, to understudied chemicals and toxins that could be harmful to fetal development. Tracey was quoted in similar articles appearing in E&E News, Yahoo News, and other media outlets.
Mustafa Santiago Ali, Vice President for Environmental Justice, National Wildlife Federation, former EPA Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization, and former EPA Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was quoted in this article regarding the announcement of an Office of Environmental Justice within the Department of Justice.
