Regulators Back CERCLA PFAS Rule But Note Implementation Concerns

November 7, 2022 / by

Suzanne Yohannan /

Inside EPA

This article referenced EPN’s comments to EPA in support of the designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA.

Asbestos Bill Gains Co-Sponsors as Supporters Weigh Lame Duck Push

November 8, 2022 / by

Diana DiGangi /

Inside EPA

EPN was mentioned in this article about the possibility of asbestos-ban legislation appearing in the current lame-duck session of Congress.

Trump’s Second Term as President Would Plunge EPA into ‘Alternate Universe’

November 7, 2022 / by

Robyn White /

Newsweek

Dan Costa, former National Program Director, Air, Climate, and Energy Research Program, EPA Office of Research and Development, was quoted in this article regarding the negative impacts a second Trump presidential term would have on US climate policy.

Inside EPA’s Climate Strategy for Power Plants

October 24, 2022 / by

Sean Reilly and Kevin Bogardus /

E&E News

Bob Perciasepe, former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article discussing the Biden administration’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas and hazardous air pollutant emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Advanced Recycling: Plastic Crisis Solution or Distraction?

/ by

October 21, 2022 /

The Washington Post

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing why the plastics recycling industry will likely shift to burning plastics as waste or for fuel.

Lobbying Over WOTUS Rewrite Ramps Up

October 19, 2022 / by

Hannah Northey and Kevin Bogardus /

E&E News

Mark Ryan, former Assistant Regional Council, EPA Region 10, was quoted and Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, and EPN were mentioned in this article about EPA’s proposed revised definition of waters of the U.S., currently in the final rulemaking stage at the Office of Management and Budget.

Truck Makers Tout an Electric Future. Privately, They’re Stalling It.

October 18, 2022 / by

Anna Phillips /

The Washington Post

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article discussing how the pushback from truck companies and their lobbyists against stricter air emission standards is at odds with the companies’ public assurances to transition to zero-emissions vehicles.

Clean Water Act at 50: Environmental Gains, Challenges Unmet

October 17, 2022 / by

John Flesher /

Associated Press

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, and Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project and former Director, EPA Office of Civil Enforcement, were quoted in this article describing the remaining shortcomings of the Clean Water Act, now in its 50th year.

Saving the EPA from Itself

October 16, 2022 / by

Peter Carter and Paul Beckwith /

Climate Emergency Forum

Donn Viviani, President of Climate Protection and Restoration Initiative (CPRI) and former Director, Climate Policy Division, EPA Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, was interviewed about EPA’s denial of CPRI’s petition to phase out greenhouse gas emissions using TSCA Section 6.

California Passed a Landmark Law About Plastic Pollution. Why Are Some Environmentalists Still Concerned?

October 12, 2022 / by

James Bruggers /

Inside Climate News

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article regarding a new California environmental law to curb plastic production and possible loopholes that would allow chemical recycling of plastics to continue and permit product exemptions.

New York Banned Plastic Bags Two Years Ago. Why Are They Still Everywhere?

October 12, 2022 / by

Colin Kinniburgh /

New York Focus

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing the poorly-enforced plastic bag ban in New York State.

‘Forever Chemicals’ Contamination Deemed Likely at 57K+ Sites

October 12, 2022 / by

E.A. Crunden /

E&E News

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in this article regarding a recent study she co-authored that found 57,412 presumptive PFAS-contaminated sites, which included industrial facilities, wastewater treatment plants, and current and former military sites in the U.S.

The Fight for Safety of BPA in Food Packaging

October 10, 2022 / by

Staff Author /

Los Angeles Business Journal

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in this article discussing a study by the European Food Safety Authority that found that BPA, a commonly-found component of food packaging, triggers children’s immune systems.

Report Pinpoints Composting, Recycling to Cut Emissions

October 10, 2022 / by

Marissa Heffernan /

Resource Recycling

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article about a report from the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives that explored zero-waste solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Can Anti-Coal Tactics Work Against Plastics?

October 6, 2022 / by

E.A. Crunden /

E&E News

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing a campaign launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies to target petrochemical and plastics facilities.

The Supreme Court Strikes Down Common Sense

October 5, 2022 / by

Michael H. Levin /

The National Law Journal

Michael Levin, former Director of Regulatory Reform, EPA Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, wrote this commentary outlining the unprecedented steps the Supreme Court took using the “major questions” doctrine in its majority opinion on West Virginia vs EPA and the impact that doctrine could have on federal agencies’ regulatory ability.

Environmentalists Fear Draft WHO Guide Could Undercut EPA PFAS Efforts

October 4, 2022 / by

Suzanne Yohannan /

Inside EPA

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article describing severe shortcomings of the World Health Organization’s draft drinking water guidelines for PFOA and PFOS.

Supreme Court Appears to Back EPA in WOTUS War

October 3, 2022 / by

Pamela King and Hannah Northey /

E&E News

Kevin Minoli, former EPA Acting General Counsel, and Mark Ryan, former Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10 and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney at the Department of Justice, were quoted in this article discussing oral arguments in the Sackett vs. EPA case and the skepticism some of the conservative Supreme Court justices felt towards the plaintiffs preferred definition of waters of the United States.

Congress Needs to Break the Continuing Pattern of Inadequate EPA Funding

October 2, 2022 / by

David Coursen /

The Hill

Dave Coursen, former Attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed discussing how a robust budget appropriation, not a continuing resolution, is needed for EPA to fulfill its existing responsibilities and confront new challenges.

Communities of Color Most at Risk From Climate Change

October 1, 2022 / by

Tiffany Cross /

MSNBC

Mustafa Santiago Ali, Senior 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 interviewed on this news segment discussing how already-vulnerable, low-wealth communities need to be prepared for natural disasters intensified by climate change.

Supreme Court Takes Up Water Wars — Again

September 30, 2022 / by

Annie Snider /

Politico

Kevin Minoli, former EPA Acting General Counsel, was quoted in this article discussing the possible intent behind the Supreme Court hearing the Sackett vs. EPA case, which questions what bodies of water are federally protected.

Manchin’s Permit Reform Imploded — Now What?

September 30, 2022 / by

Jeremy Symons /

The Hill

Jeremy Symons, EPN consultant and former Climate Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, wrote this op-ed describing a unified Democratic permitting agenda that would help expedite renewable energy infrastructure projects forward and move us past Senator Joe Manchin’s failed permitting reform plan.

Supreme Court to Hear High-Stakes Challenge to Clean Water Act

September 30, 2022 / by

Maxine Joselow /

The Washington Post

Mark Ryan, former Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10 and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney at the Department of Justice, was quoted in this article discussing the likely outcome of the Sackett vs EPA case, now before the Supreme Court, and the implications it will have on the Clean Water Act and the federal government’s ability to protect waterways nationwide.

Former EPA Official Doubts ‘Major Questions’ Will Drive Ruling in Sackett

September 29, 2022 / by

Lara Beaven /

Inside EPA

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in this article about the likelihood that the Supreme Court will use the “major questions” doctrine in its Sackett vs. EPA decision and the impact the doctrine will have on future rulemakings and legislation.