In the News

Ronnie Levin, former Senior Scientist, EPA Region 2, was quoted in The Washington Post about chemicals like fluoride in drinking water and whether residents should be concerned.

Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, former Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, EPA ORD; Betsy Southerland, former Director of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water; and Jeremy Symons, EPN Senior Advisor, were quoted in Federal News Network about the possibility of resurrecting Schedule F, an executive order Trump signed during his first term that reclassified thousands of government works as exempt from civil service protections.

Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in The Washington Post about a common substitute for lead pipes: polyvinyl chloride, which has similar toxicity and leaching concerns as lead.

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, former Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, EPA ORD and Michelle Roos were quoted in E&E News about how Trump’s plans to roll back EPA regulations are reliant on a knowledgeable and functional workforce, and how his plans for EPA are rejected by both parties based on EPN’s recent polling.

Michelle Roos was quoted in the New Mexico Political Report about a post-election poll commissioned by EPN to better understand voters’ views on the EPA. The poll found overwhelming public support for the agency across all demographics, including Trump voters.

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP), Tom Burke, former Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD), Dan Costa, Former National Program Director, EPA Air, Climate, and Energy Research Program, ORD, Chitra Kumar, former Director, EPA OEJECR, Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, former Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, EPA ORD, and Matt Tejada, former Deputy Assistant Administrator for Environmental Justice, OEJECR, were quoted in Science about how budget cuts and industry priorities will affect EPA.

Betsy Southerland, former Director of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in a Politico Pro article about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s plan to end water fluoridation, describing that EPA regulates fluoride levels and makes recommendations to utilities if they choose to fluoridate. RFK Jr. can encourage the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to make new fluoridation recommendations, but it is ultimately EPA’s responsibility to regulate.

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in Politico Pro about what Lee Zeldin might expect when leading a workforce of over 15,000 civil servants across the country.

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in ABC News regarding Trump’s aggressive plans for oil drilling on federal land, but his plans may be thwarted by existing conservation laws that are difficult to overturn.

Ronnie Levin, former Senior Scientist, EPA Region 2, was quoted in CNN Underscored about considering drinking water’s historical and geological context. Location can determine the contaminants in water and thus determine what water filter works best for your water.

Judith Enck, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, shared Lee Zeldin’s poor environmental record as a New York State senator and a member of the House of Representatives in an interview on Democracy Now!. Judith was quoted in a related Spectrum News 1 article about Trump’s pick to lead EPA.

Betsy Southerland, former Director of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article discussing how the Trump administration could undo EPA’s recent progress on PFAS regulation by rolling back or failing to defend new rules in court.

Bob Sussman, former Senior Advisor to the EPA Administrator and former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article regarding the possible curtailing of TSCA’s scope by deferring occupational safety assessments to other offices or agencies, a proposal outlined in Project 2025.

Jeremy Symons, EPN Senior Advisor and former Climate Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article about Donald Trump’s choice of Lee Zeldin for EPA Administrator, Zeldin’s poor environmental record, and Trump’s directive to roll back clean water and air protections. Jeremy was quoted in similar articles appearing in The Verge and Equities.com.

Jeremy Symons, EPN Senior Advisor and former Climate Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article discussing the Trump transition team’s proposal to relocate EPA headquarters outside of Washington, DC, and the devastating impacts it would have on the agency.

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, and Betsy Southerland, former Director of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, were quoted in this article discussing the harmful impacts a second Trump administration will have on EPA’s work.

Michelle Roos, EPN Executive Director, was quoted in this article about how prepared environmental groups are for a second Trump administration.

Ellen Gilinsky, former Associate Deputy Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article discussing how many wetland permitting responsibilities may be pushed to the states, which may not have enough funding to support expanded environmental programs.

Betsy Southerland, former Director of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article describing the important role state regulations will play in protecting against PFAS in the event of EPA PFAS policy rollbacks under a Trump administration.

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in this article about EPA staffing levels, the need for the agency to hire more to achieve its mission, and how staff reductions could impact any Trump administration policies.

Ronnie Levin, former Senior Scientist, EPA Region 2, was quoted in FOX Chattanooga about a letter alerting over 40,000 Tennessee residents with a perceived risk of lead-contaminated water. Ronnie advises the residents to ask the utility company to test their water using EPA standards and protocols.

Stan Meiburg, former Acting Deputy Administrator, was quoted in The Hill about what to expect with a second Trump EPA, including the inability to carry out basic duties such as cleaning up Superfund sites and responding to disasters.

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in E&E News about the possibility of Trump appointing Robert F. Kennedy to lead Health and Human Services (HHS), and how HHS policies can influence EPA regulations.

Michelle Roos, EPN Executive Director, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article discussing President-elect Trump’s plans to undo the environmental progress made under President Biden.