In the News

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in The New York Times about elevated levels of PFAS found in sewage sludge used as fertilizer across the nation.

EPN’s post-election poll was cited in a U.S. News article about the dangers of Lee Zeldin.

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in the Port City Daily about an alternative way to enforce state permit plans on Lear Corporation, a company that was found to have been dumping large amounts of PFAS into Cape Fear River.

EPN’s post-election poll and Breathing Easy Report were referenced in an article by Public News Service highlighting that most voters are concerned about Trump’s pick to run EPA and that Maryland has received $130 million in EPA grant funding to invest in green infrastructure.

Judith Enck, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was also quoted in The Guardian about EPA’s formal review of five chemicals, including vinyl chloride, the chemical released in the East Palestine, OH, train derailment in 2023.

Eric Schaeffer, former director, EPA Office of Civil Enforcement; Matt Tejada, former Deputy Assistant Administrator for Environmental Justice, EPA OEJECR; and Tim Whitehouse, former Attorney-Adviser, EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance, were quoted in Politico about issues of retaining staff, politicizing science, and pollution enforcement in anticipation of Trump’s incoming administration.

Tracey Woodruff, former senior scientist and policy advisor, EPA Office of Policy, was quoted in The Detroit News about a UCSF study that found suspected links between microplastics and colon and lung cancer.

EPN’s post-election poll was mentioned in Public News Service, highlighting that the majority of voters support environmental regulations that keep our air and water clean.

Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, former Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, EPA ORD, was quoted in Politico about Trump’s transition team refusing to involve federal agencies in the transition process, which has resulted in delays and begins a tone of mistrust amongst federal employees.

Dan Costa, former National Program Director, Air, Climate and Energy Research Program, EPA Office of Research and Development, was quoted in Salon about his challenging experience at EPA during the first Trump administration and what can be expected during the second term.

Elin Betanzo, former Environmental Engineer, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Standards and Risk Management Division, was quoted in The American Society of Civil Engineers about lessons learned from the Flint water crisis, including ways to maintain community trust, for example, involving communities in utility decision-making and covering costs of private lead-line replacement.

Tracey Woodruff, former EPA Senior Scientist and Policy Advisor, was quoted in ProPublica about the industry interference that has prevented EPA regulation of formaldehyde.

Jeff Alson, former Senior Engineer and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in Reuters about how the incoming Trump administration will affect automakers’ electric vehicle tax subsidies.

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in Stateline about how state attorneys general are strengthening state regulations, preparing lawsuits, and building up state environmental office workforces in anticipation of a second Trump administration.

Tracey Woodruff, former EPA Senior Scientist and Policy Advisor, was quoted in Best Life about common everyday products and actions that may be contaminating food with microplastics.

EPN’s recent poll was mentioned in a Louisiana Illuminator article about the first-ever UN International Plastics Treaty and how plastic production will change under the Trump administration.

Karl Brooks, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 7, and Assistant Administrator, Office of Administration and Resources Management, penned an op-ed in the Miami Herald about Musk and Ramaswamy’s plans for a new governmental office: the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Jeremy Symons, Senior Adviser to EPN, was featured on political radio show Chews Views, discussing the importance and popularity of EPA and advised listeners to stay tuned into the Trump administration’s agenda.

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 workers 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 Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (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.