California Law Begins to Phase Out Single-Use Plastics

August 1, 2022 / by

Madeleine Muzdakis /

My Modern Met

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing the benefits of reducing plastic production in light of a new California law that would significantly reduce single-use plastic production.

Democrats’ Climate Hopes Hinge on Sinema

August 1, 2022 / by

Robin Bravender /

E&E News

Jeremy Symons, EPN consultant and former Climate Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article discussing the pivotal role Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) could play in passing the Inflation Reduction Act.

“No Safe Level”: A Lot of Colorado Drinking Water Could Contain Potentially Hazardous Levels of “Forever Chemicals” Under New EPA Standard

August 1, 2022 / by

Conrad Swanson /

The Denver Post

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, was quoted in this article regarding PFAS concentrations in water sources nationwide, suggesting that many will exceed EPA’s new health advisory levels. The article was reprinted in OutThere Colorado and The Fort Morgan Times.

Bring Out the China, Hold the Plastic, Activists Advise Restaurants

July 28, 2022 / by

Rick Karlin /

Times Union

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing Beyond Plastics’ guide to help restaurants reduce plastic use.

Attorney Sees Chemours’ GenX Suit as Signal of New TSCA ‘Pushback’

July 25, 2022 / by

Diana DiGangi /

Inside EPA

Bob Sussman, counsel for Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article about a possible uptick in industry litigation against TSCA rulemakings and policies, including asbestos regulation, in the wake of the West Virginia vs. EPA decision.

Weaver Fire Site Environmental Probe Approved by State

July 21, 2022 / by

John Deem /

Winston-Salem Journal

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in this article discussing approved testing plans for site contamination following a fire that destroyed the Weaver fertilizer plant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

How Exposure to Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products Can Impact Reproductive Health

July 19, 2022 / by

Jessica Kutz /

The 19th

Tracey Woodruff, Director of the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment at the University of California, San Francisco, and former Senior Scientist and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Policy, was interviewed in this article about how toxic chemicals, like PFAS and BPA, are found in everyday items and pose wide-ranging health risks.

EPA Urged to Quickly Withdraw Trump-Era Plan Easing Pyrolysis Air Rules

July 19, 2022 / by

Stuart Parker /

Inside EPA

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article about Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups pushing EPA to strengthen air regulation of pyrolysis and gasification, two processes used in the chemical recycling of plastic.

As Alarm Over Plastic Grows, Saudis Ramp Up Production in the US

July 14, 2022 / by

Mark Schapiro /

Grist

Judith Enck, Founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article regarding the shift of fossil fuel companies to plastic production and the harmful effects these facilities have on surrounding US communities.

How Might SCOTUS Ruling on EPA Impact Louisiana? Activists Say It’s Detrimental to Future Policy

July 14, 2022 / by

Halle Parker /

WWNO

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article discussing how the Supreme Court’s use of the major questions doctrine in EPA decisions affects the legislative and rulemaking process.

More Than 8 million Illinoisans Get Drinking Water from a Utility Where Forever Chemicals Have Been Detected

July 12, 2022 / by

Michael Hawthorne /

Chicago Tribune

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program and former EPA scientist, and Elsie Sunderland, Professor of Environmental Chemistry, Harvard University, and former Environmental Scientist, EPA Office of Policy, were quoted in this article regarding the toxic health effects of PFOA and PFOS, the two most prevalent PFAS found in drinking water in Illinois, even at very low levels.

Beyond Plastics: The Myths and Truths About Recycling, and Potential Solutions

July 12, 2022 / by

Christopher Marquis /

Forbes

Judith Enck, Founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing how companies should be held responsible for the environmental harm their products create as a means to curb plastic production.

Environmentalists Urge EPA To Group Chemicals For TSCA Review

July 11, 2022 / by

Maria Hegstad /

Inside EPA

Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article suggesting that EPA combine TSCA risk evaluations for different substances in the same chemical category to reduce program costs.

SEC: Step Up on Climate Change

July 10, 2022 / by

Daniel Reich /

The Hill

Dan Reich, former Assistant Regional Counsel, EPA Region 9, penned this op-ed discussing actions the Securities and Exchange Commission can take now to enforce climate-related regulations.

No Detour to Net-Zero: NC Climate Efforts Unaffected by Court’s EPA Ruling

July 9, 2022 / by

John Deem /

Winston-Salem Journal

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in this article discussing how North Carolina’s legislation to take necessary steps to reduce carbon emissions will leave the state unaffected by the recent West Virginia vs. EPA decision.

PFAS “Forever Chemicals” on Our Shelves and in Our Bodies

July 7, 2022 / by

EHN Staff /

Environmental Health News

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program and former EPA scientist, discussed in this interview how ubiquitous PFAS are, the challenges in testing for PFAS, and the negative impacts these chemicals have on our health and the environment.

EPA Seen as Prepared for Big Challenges Ahead of Carbon Rules

July 7, 2022 / by

Stephen Lee and Jennifer Hijazi /

Bloomberg Law

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in this article about how ready EPA was when the Supreme Court’s decision on power plant emissions was released and the impact the decision would have on forthcoming carbon rules from the agency. Stan was quoted in related articles published in WFAE 90.7 and E&E News.

This is the Wrong Time to Cut Environmental Protection

July 5, 2022 / by

Dave Coursen /

The Hill

Dave Coursen, former attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed pushing Congress to adequately fund EPA in the FY 2023 Appropriations bill.

A Hidden Regulatory Tax on Large Refiners and Fuel Consumers Goes Away

July 5, 2022 / by

Michael H. Levin /

Bloomberg Tax

Michael Levin, former Director of Regulatory Reform, EPA Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, wrote this commentary explaining EPA’s rationale in its recent denials of over 100 small refiner exemption requests.

Former EPA Official Discusses Impact of Climate Change on Communities of Color

July 4, 2022 / by

/

ABC News

In this interview, 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, discussed how the Supreme Court decision will hamper progress in addressing climate change and how it will hurt communities of color the most. Mustafa reiterated the need for legislative action on climate change in a PBS NewsHour interview.

‘Big problems’: The Supreme Court Handcuffed EPA on Climate Change. What Comes Next?

July 4, 2022 / by

Kyle Bagenstose /

USA Today

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator, and Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of Environmental Integrity Project and former Director, EPA Office of Civil Enforcement, were quoted in this article regarding the possible effects the West Virginia vs. EPA decision would have on EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Plastic Reduction, Responsibility Bill Passed in California

June 30, 2022 / by

Nyah Phengsitthy /

Bloomberg Law

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article regarding a California bill aimed at reducing single-use plastics. Judith was quoted in similar articles appearing in KCRA-TV and The Galaxy Reporter.

I Grew Up Near a Coal Power Plant. This EPA Decision Will Worsen Public Health Injustices.

June 30, 2022 / by

Mustafa Santiago Ali /

USA Today

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.

Freedhoff Eyes TSCA-Specific PFAS Definition, Drawing Fear of Confusion

June 27, 2022 / by

Diana DiGangi /

Inside EPA

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article about a possible TSCA-specific definition of PFAS.