EPA Could Restore States’ Authority to Regulate Tailpipe Emissions

February 21, 2022 / by

Nadia Ramlagan /

Public News Service

Jeff Alson, former Senior Engineer and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article about EPA’s expected reinstatement of a waiver that would allow states to set stricter vehicle emissions standards than those set by the federal government.

‘Completely Stupid’ Burning of Toxins

February 20, 2022 / by

Geoff Kelly and Phil Gambini /

Investigative Post

Judith Enck, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing the burning of 13 tons of aqueous film-forming foam, whose key ingredients include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, at a waste incineration plant located in Niagara Falls, New York.

Will EPA Get an Environmental Justice Boss?

February 17, 2022 / by

Kevin Bogardus and Kelsey Brugger /

E&E News

Mustafa Santiago Ali, vice president at the National Wildlife Foundation, 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 importance of the omnibus bill, which provides appropriations for the entire federal government, in establishing an EPA assistant administrator and program office for environmental justice.

The Biden Administration is Updating Truck Pollution Standards

February 17, 2022 / by

Julia Kane /

Grist

Wayne Nastri, EPN Board Member, executive officer of South Coast Air Quality Monitoring District, and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9, was quoted in this article discussing EPA’s upcoming proposed standards on nitrogen oxide emissions from heavy-duty vehicles.

Scientific Integrity as Recruitment Tool

Winter 2022 / by

Betsy Southerland /

Issues in Science and Technology

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, wrote this article discussing how a federal scientific integrity policy would help prevent the politicization of science in the future.

Former EPA Officials Urge Congress to Pass Essential Funding

February 10, 2022 / by

William K. Reilly and Betsy Southerland /

Bloomberg Law

Bill Reilly, former EPA Administrator, and Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, wrote this op-ed urging Congress to pass a budget that gives EPA the ability to implement the bipartisan infrastructure bill and carry out its essential work.

Cohoes Mayor Wants to Tear Down Public Housing Complex Near Embattled Norlite Plant

February 8, 2022 / by

Dave Lucas /

WAMC

Judith Enck, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article about efforts by the city of Cohoes, NY, to purchase public housing near the Norlite hazardous waste incineration facility.

Environmental Justice Lawyer to Lead EPA Equity Efforts

February 8, 2022 / by

Jean Chemnick /

E&E News

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, was quoted in this article regarding the appointment of Robin Morris Collin as EPA’s senior advisor for environmental justice. Mustafa was also quoted in a related article appearing in Inside EPA.

Biden’s ‘Cancer Moonshot’ Turns Toward Pollution

February 3, 2022 / by

Ariel Wittenberg and Nico Portuondo /

E&E News

Linda Birnbaum, former EPA Senior Toxicologist, EPA National Center for Environmental Assessment and former Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, was quoted in this article about the Cancer Moonshot initiative and the need to acknowledge the role chemical exposure plays in causing cancer and affecting cancer patient outcomes.

‘Skiing Is Not Going to Exist’ – Global Warming Threatens Future of Winter Sports, Warns Former Olympian Vonn

February 3, 2022 / by

Brent Sanchez /

Yahoo Finance

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, was quoted in this article discussing the impacts of climate change and what steps the Biden administration is taking to minimize those impacts.

EPA Clashes With Fla. Over Use of Trump WOTUS Rule

February 2, 2022 / by

Hannah Northey /

E&E News

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article regarding Florida’s decision to continue to implement the Navigable Waters Protection Rules, despite the rule’s district court vacatur.

Cross-Cutting Teams Will Speed EPA Work, New York-Area Boss Says

February 2, 2022 / by

Stephen Lee /

Bloomberg Law

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Deputy Administrator and Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in this article discussing the Trump-era reorganization of EPA’s regional offices.

Biden Begins Crackdown on Power Plant Pollution

January 31, 2022 / by

Dino Grandoni /

The Washington Post

Jeremy Symons, EPN consultant and former Climate Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article about the steps the Biden administration is taking to tighten pollution from power plants and move the country towards clean energy.

A Continuing Resolution Would Sabotage EPA

January 28, 2022 / by

David Coursen /

The Hill

Dave Coursen, former Attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, wrote this op-ed about how a continuing resolution, rather than an annual appropriation from Congress, would jeopardize implementation of priorities laid out by EPA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Fight Heats Up Over EPA Response to N.C. ‘Forever Chemicals’

January 27, 2022 / by

E.A. Crunden /

E&E News

Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator and counsel for a North Carolina coalition of environmental groups petitioning EPA, was quoted in this article discussing the coalition’s decision to challenge EPA’s assertion that it granted the coalition’s petition against Chemours to pay for testing of 54 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Bob was quoted in a similar article appearing in Inside EPA.

Biden’s Focus on Environmental Justice Led to a Year of Progress — and Burnout

January 27, 2022 / by

Darryl Fears /

The Washington Post

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, was quoted in this article discussing the amount of dedicated career staff needed at federal agencies to support and carry out environmental justice efforts.

Reviving Mississippi

January 26, 2022 / by

De'Keither Jones /

WMPR 90.1

Scott Gordon, former Branch Chief and Deputy Director, EPA Region 4, discussed infrastructure and sewers with Mississippi State Representative De’Keither Stamps in this radio interview.

New EPA Rules to Target Power Plant Pollution

January 25, 2022 / by

Timothy Puko /

The Wall Street Journal

Jonathan Skinner-Thompson, Associate Clinical Professor at Colorado Law and former Senior Assistant Regional Counsel, EPA Region 8, was quoted in this article about EPA Administrator Regan’s announcement that EPA will be using a more coordinated approach to regulate power plant emissions.

Supreme Court Tees Up Wetlands Fight That Could Cuff EPA

January 24, 2022 / by

Hannah Northey and Pamela King /

E&E News

Mark Ryan, former Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10, was quoted in this article discussing the Supreme Court’s decision to consider Sackett vs. EPA, a challenge to a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that took a broader view of Clean Water Act jurisdiction.

Wheeler is the Wrong Choice to Protect Virginia’s Resources


January 22, 2022 / by

Ruth Greenspan Bell and Chris Zarba /

Virginia Pilot

Ruth Greenspan Bell, EPN Emeritus Board Member and former Office of Regional Counsel, and Chris Zarba, former Director, EPA Science Advisory Board, penned this op-ed regarding former EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s nomination to serve as Virginia’s secretary of Natural and Historic Resources.

Has Biden Followed the Science? What Researchers Say

January 20, 2022 / by

Jeff Tollefson, Max Kozlov, Amy Maxmen, & Alexandra Witze /

Nature

Chris Zarba, former Director, EPA Science Advisory Board, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article examining how well President Biden has upheld his pledge to “listen to the science.”

1 Year In, Biden’s Climate Record is a Mix of Progress and Inconsistency

January 20, 2022 / by

Lucien Bruggeman /

ABC News

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article discussing the Biden administration’s progress on its climate agenda, one year into its term.

Environmental Justice Requires a Healthy Democracy

January 20, 2022 / by

Mustafa Santiago Ali /

Bloomberg Law

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, penned this op-ed describing how voting rights directly impact environmental justice and how environmental justice is in turn linked to wildlife conservation.

Former EPA Exec Margo Oge Explains the New Federal Emissions Rules

January 18, 2022 / by

Charles Morris /

Charged EVs

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was interviewed in this article discussing the new vehicle emissions standards and the important roles the Bipartisan Infrastructure legislation and Build Back Better bill play in the shift to electric vehicles.