In the News

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.

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.

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.

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article about EPA’s decision to update and expand regional screening and removal management levels for five PFAS chemicals to help investigate contamination at Superfund sites.

Dave Coursen, former Attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed discussing the existing tools the Department of Justice has to support the work of its new Office of Environmental Justice and underscoring the need for congressional funding to attain environmental justice goals.

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.

Kevin Minoli, former EPA acting General Counsel, was quoted in this article discussing the possible departure of Gina McCarthy from her role as the White House National Climate Advisor.

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.

Mustafa Santiago Ali, Vice President for Environmental Justice, National Wildlife Federation, former EPA Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization, and EPA Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, and Tim Whitehouse, Executive Director, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and former EPA senior attorney, were quoted in this article about EPA’s struggles as it moves to rebuild in the face of growing environmental challenges.

Mustafa Santiago Ali, Vice President for Environmental Justice, National Wildlife Federation, former EPA Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization, and EPA Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was quoted in this article discussing the appointment of Jalonne White-Newsome as the senior director of environmental justice at the Council on Environmental Quality. Mustafa was quoted in a related article appearing in Inside Climate News.

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing a recent report prepared by Beyond Plastics and Last Beach Cleanup that determined Americans recycle only 5-6% of their plastics. Judith was quoted in several articles about the report that were published in Reuters, Grist, and other news outlets.

Dave Coursen, former Attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed outlining how the EPA’s FY2023 appropriations request would provide a much-needed boost to the agency’s core programs and move environmental protections forward.

John Reeder, Vice President of Environmental Affairs at Environmental Working Group and former EPA Deputy Chief of Staff, wrote this piece suggesting ways the General Service Administration could drive the US government’s $650B purchasing budget towards PFAS-free products to shift the markets to reduce production of these chemicals.

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article supporting a decision by the California Attorney General to investigate the oil and gas industry’s role in the global plastics crisis.

A blog post written by Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator, and Tracey Woodruff, Director, UCSF Program on Environmental Health and the Environment and former EPA senior scientist, urging EPA to use its TSCA authority to require Chemours to perform toxicity assessments on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances was quoted in this article.

Cliff Villa, former attorney, EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, authored this article that traces the development of legal principles for environmental justice through policy and case law over the last 30 years.

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article highlighting the problems with Extended Producer Responsibility bills, aimed at making manufacturers more responsible for the plastic used in their products. Judith was quoted in a similar article appearing in The Energy Mix.

Michael Levin, former Director of Regulatory Reform, EPA Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, co-authored this op-ed discussing the possibility of including legacy greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy producers as part of an emissions trading program to incentivize reducing future GHG emissions.

Stan Meiburg, former Deputy Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, and former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article about the work Earthea Vance must accomplish as Regional Administrator for EPA Region 6, which includes the heart of the nation’s oil industry.

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article discussing the impact President Biden’s waiver allowing the use of E15 ethanol fuel during the summer would have on ozone levels.

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 quoted in this article regarding a need to increase staffing at the Council of Environmental Quality in order to keep pace with Biden administration initiatives.

Linda Birnbaum, former EPA scientist and former Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator, were quoted in this article discussing EPA’s draft Integrated Risk Information System assessment linking formaldehyde inhalation to multiple forms of cancer.

Art Smith, President of Sustainable Futures L3C and former Regional Counsel, EPA Region 5, penned this op-ed recommending changes to water management strategies in Chicago and the great Cook County area in anticipation of future flood events.