Do You Know What’s in Your Blood? New EPA Docs Show Widespread Risk From Common Chemicals

December 16, 2021 / by

Kyle Bagenstose /

USA Today

Tracey Woodruff, Director of Reproductive Health and Environment Program, University of California, San Francisco, and former Senior Scientist and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Policy, was quoted in this article discussing EPA’s findings indicating that PFOA, a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, is a likely carcinogen.

White House Lead-Eradication Plan Draws Praise and Questions

December 16, 2021 / by

Hannah Northey /

E&E News

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article discussing the Biden administration’s recently announced Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.

EPA Launches Civil Rights Revamp

December 14, 2021 / by

Kelsey Brugger and Hannah Northey /

E&E News

Mustafa Santiago Ali, Vice President for Environmental Justice, National Wildlife Federation; former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization; and former Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was quoted in this article about changes to EPA’s Office of Civil Rights that have been outlined in the agency’s strategic agenda.

A ‘Polluter Pays’ Tax in Infrastructure Plan Could Jump-Start Languishing Cleanups at Superfund Sites

December 9, 2021 / by

David Hasemyer /

Inside Climate News

Bill Muno, former Superfund Director, EPA Region 5, was quoted in this article discussing how the polluters pay tax incorporated into the infrastructure law will allow work to resume at many languishing Superfund sites.

Here’s How Toyota Can Regain Its Lost Green Brand Image

December 9, 2021 / by

Margo Oge /

Forbes

Margo Oge, former Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, wrote this op-ed outlining what Toyota can do to regain its footing in the clean transportation market.

Biden Wants to Remove Lead Pipes for Cleaner Drinking Water. But Does New Law Spend Enough?

December 3, 2021 / by

Bryan Lowry /

McClatchy DC

Ronnie Levin, Instructor at Harvard’s Chan School of Public Health and former Senior Scientist, EPA Region 1, was quoted in this article about how the $15 billion allocated for lead service line replacement in the new infrastructure law will not be enough to replace every lead service line in the US.

US Lags in Electric Vehicle Sales Despite Biden Administration’s Push

December 3, 2021 / by

Oliver Milman /

The Guardian

Margo Oge, former Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article regarding the legislative and regulatory push the Biden administration will need to exert on US automakers in order for the country to reach the administration’s 2030 electric vehicle sales target.

Pulling Back the Curtain on Pollution

December 2, 2021 / by

Joseph Winters /

Grist

Mustafa Santiago Ali, former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s recent ruling that requires all natural gas processing facilities to report their hazardous pollutant emissions to the Toxics Release Inventory.

New PFAS Findings Open Door to ‘No Safe Level’ Regulatory Approach

December 2, 2021 / 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 discussing the possible regulatory outcome of EPA’s Science Advisory Board review of draft toxicity analyses performed on two key per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

A Commonsense Proposal to Deal With Plastics Pollution: Stop Making So Much Plastic

December 1, 2021 / by

James Bruggers /

Inside Climate News

Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article about a National Academies of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering report that recommends the US develop a comprehensive strategy to curtail plastic waste and its negative environmental impacts.

Interview With Dr. Linda Birnbaum

November 30, 2021 / by

Daniel Rosenberg /

The Toxic Avengers

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and former EPA scientist, was interviewed on this podcast discussing her career as a scientist and program director studying dioxins, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and other important and prevalent toxic chemicals.

They Knew Industrial Pollution Was Ruining the Neighborhood’s Air. If Only Regulators Had Listened.

November 29, 2021 / by

Lisa Song /

ProPublica

Judith Enck, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, and George Czerniak, former Director, Air and Radiation Division, EPA Region 5, were quoted in this article discussing the lack of air monitoring and enforcement of air pollution violations at many industrial sites.

Trump-Era Water Rule’s Replacement Seen as More Legally Airtight

November 24, 2021 / by

Bobby Magill /

Bloomberg Law

Kevin Minoli, partner at Alston & Bird, LLC, and former EPA Principal Deputy General Counsel, was quoted in this article regarding the legal and scientific support EPA has added to wetlands protections in its proposed waters of the United States rule.

Ending Uncertainty Over Clean Water Rules Will Put Biden Officials to the Test

November 22, 2021 / by

Andy McGlashen /

Audobon Magazine

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article discussing potential revisions the Biden administration could make to the definition of waters of the United States.

EPA Eyes Tighter Saftey Rules for PFOA and PFOS

November 16, 2021 / by

Annie Snider /

Politico

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article about steps EPA is taking to revise drinking water health advisories for PFOA and PFOS, the two best-studied PFAS that are found in drinking water supplies across the country.

EPA Finalizes Its First National Recycling Strategy

November 15, 2021 / by

Tik Root /

The Washington Post

Judith Enck, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s release of the US’s first national recycling plan. Judith was quoted in a related article appearing in E&E News.

EPA’s Long-Sought PFAS Plan Falls Short With Critics

November 11, 2021 / by

E.A. Crunden /

E&E News

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article discussing EPA’s proposed testing strategy for addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

6 Automakers and 30 Countries Say They’ll Phase Out Gasoline Car Sales

November 9, 2021 / by

Brad Plumer and Hiroko Tabuchi /

The New York Times

Margo Oge, former Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article discussing a pledge made by several major automakers and 30 national governments to phase out worldwide sales of new gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles by 2040.

FDA Finds No Asbestos in 50 Talc Products as EPA Weighs New Evaluation

November 9, 2021 / by

David LaRoss /

Inside EPA

Bob Sussman, counsel for Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, former Senior Advisor for the EPA Administrator, and former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article about the Food and Drug Administration’s recent finding that asbestos was not detected in 50 talc-based products that it tested.

A Clean Energy Economy Is Crucial for Frontline Communities

November 6, 2021 / by

Mustafa Santiago Ali /

The Hill

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, wrote this op-ed discussing the importance of investing in an equitable clean energy economy.

Climate Change Imperils Critical Infrastructure

November 6, 2021 / by

David Coursen /

The Hill

Dave Coursen, former attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed discussing the importance of ensuring that our nation’s infrastructure is resilient to climate change impacts.

Top Dem Seeks Probe of Trump EPA’s Handling of Yazoo Pumps

November 4, 2021 / by

Kevin Bogardus /

E&E News

EPN’s letter to EPA regarding the Trump-era reversal of the agency’s 404(c) determination of the  Mississippi Delta’s Yazoo Pump project was quoted in this article.

EPA Says Budget Gap Halted Releases of TSCA ‘Substantial Risk’ Reports

November 4, 2021 / by

Diana DiGangi /

Inside EPA

Bob Sussman, counsel for the Center for Environmental Health, former Senior Advisor for the EPA Administrator, and former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article concerning gaps in EPA’s reporting of industry-submitted data showing that their chemicals pose “substantial risk” to human health or the environment.

What is PFAS, and How’d It End Up in Our Water?

November 4, 2021 / by

Jonathan Linden /

91.9-KVCR

Linda Birnbaum, former EPA scientist and former Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, was interviewed in this radio segment discussing the ubiquitous presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and the dangers they present to human health and the environment.