Clean Air Issues Take a Top Spot in Biden’s Agency Priorities

January 22, 2021 / by

Jennifer Hijazi /

E&E News

Robert Verchick, EPN member and former EPA Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy, was quoted in a Bloomberg article about President Biden’s climate change- and clean air- focused executive orders during his first day in office.

Pandemic Drastically Cut Emissions From Cars. The Lone Exception? SUVs

January 21, 2020 / by

Camila Domonoske /

Georgia Public Broadcasting

Margo Oge, EPN member and former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article on increasing emissions from SUVs during the pandemic.

DEC’s Plastic Bag Ban was so Confusing That State Must Pay Plaintiffs’ Court Costs, Judge Rules

January 20, 2021 / by

Rick Karlin /

Albany Times Union

Judith Enck, EPN member and former Regional Administrator for EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article regarding New York’s plastic bag ban.

Clean Air Act Gets Boost as Court Dumps Trump Carbon Rule

January 20, 2021 / by

Niina H. Farah /

E&E News

Joe Goffman, EPN member and former Associate Assistant Administrator for Climate and Senior Counsel, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article regarding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejecting the Trump administration’s Affordable Clean Energy Rule.

Now Entering the Biden Era

January 20, 2021 / by

Kelsey Tamborrino /

Politico

Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s interim guidance on the destruction and disposal of PFAS materials.

Biden’s Challenge: Rebuilding Climate Expertise in Government

Jan 20, 2021 / by

Catherine Early /

Global Government Forum

Jeremy Symons, EPN member and former Climate Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article about the steps President Biden must take to advance climate change policy.

White House Memo on Chemical Decisions Sparks Concern, Confusion

January 19, 2021 / by

Pat Rizzuto /

Bloomberg

EPN members Bob Kavlock, former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Research and Development and EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, and Betsy Southerland, former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, were quoted in this article regarding a Trump White House memo that, if finalized, would give polluters more power over the science that helps determine federal and state cleanup standards.

Biden Should Go Big on Infrastructure in the First 100 Days

January 19, 2021 / by

Cheryl Wasserman /

The Hill

Cheryl Wasserman, EPN member and former EPA Associate Director for Policy Analysis, Office of Federal Activities, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, penned this op-ed on why the Biden administration should prioritize infrastructure during its first 100 days.

One Planet: The Future Of Environmental Justice & Ex-Michigan Gov Indicted In Flint Water Crisis

January 18, 2021 / by

Rose Aguilar & Malihe Razazan /

KALW Local Public Radio

Mustafa Santiago Ali, EPN member and former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was interviewed regarding the Flint water crisis and the future of environmental justice.

Biden Taps Clean Power Plan Architect McCabe as EPA Deputy

January 15, 2021 / by

Joeseph Morton /

Roll Call

Janet McCabe, former EPN member and current nominee for EPA Deputy Administrator, was mentioned in several articles including this one, regarding her nomination by President Biden for the position of EPA Deputy Administrator. Other media outlets included Inside EPA, IndyStar, and The Indiana Lawyer.

Michelle Roos, Environmental Protection Network & the EPA

January 15, 2021 / by

Beth Fiteni /

Green Inside and Out

Michelle Roos, EPN Executive Director and former Special Assistant to the EPA Regional Administrator, Region 9, and Special Assistant to the EPA Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, discussed EPN, its roles over the past four years, and what needs to be done to reset the agency in this radio interview.

An EPA Stealth Assault on the Rule of Law

January 14, 2021 / by

David Coursen /

The Hill

David Coursen, EPN member and former attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed concerning EPA’s final “Censored Science” rule.

Hazardous Homes: Thousands of U.S. Public Housing Residents Live in the Country’s Most Polluted Places

January 13, 2021 / by

Angela Caputo and Sharon Lerner /

The Intercept

Jim Woolford, EPN member and former director of EPA’s Superfund Program, was quoted in this article concerning the public health of Americans living in public housing near Superfund sites.

Trump’s EPA Team Overrules Career Scientists on Toxic Chemical

January 13, 2021 / by

Annie Snider /

Politico

 Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, was quoted in this article about changes to the safety assessment for the chemical PFBS, which overruled findings by EPA career officials.

Trump Leaves Murky Superfund Legacy

January 13, 2021 / by

E.A. Crunden /

E&E News

Bill Muno, EPN member and former Superfund Director in Region 5, was quoted in this article regarding how EPA’s Superfund Program was managed during the Trump administration.

How to Fix Chemical Policymaking at EPA

Tracey Woodruff, EPN member and former EPA senior scientist and policy advisor in the Office of Policy, wrote this blog post on fixing chemical policymaking at EPA.

How the Supreme Court could Upend Biden’s Green Agenda

January 12, 2021 / by

Jeremy P. Jacobs and Pamela King /

E&E News

Mustafa Santiago Ali, EPN member and former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was quoted in this article regarding how the Supreme Court can act as a block on President-elect Biden’s climate change agenda.

Local Environmentalists Seek Stronger Regulations With New Administration

January 11, 2021 / by

Louis Finley /

News 10

Judith Enck, EPN member and former Regional Administrator for EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article regarding demands for stronger environmental regulations when the incoming Biden administration comes into office.

Overnight Energy: EPA Preps for Transition with unusual Change to Succession Orders

January 11, 2021 / by

Rebecca Beitsch /

The Hill

Stan Meiburg, EPN member and former EPA Deputy Regional Administrator in Region 4 and Region 6 and Acting EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article on the line of succession at EPA.

Trump EPA Rule Restricts How Science Is Used in Environmental Regulations, Gives Polluters Cause For Legal Challenges

January 8, 2021 / by

Enrique Saenz /

Indiana Environmental Reporter

Janet McCabe, EPN member and former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article regarding the finalization of EPA’s “Censored Science” rule.

New Trump EPA Rule Against “Junk Science” Trashes Real Science

January 7, 2020 / by

Tom Pelton /

WYPR

EPN members Betsy Southerland, former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, and Chris Zarba, former Director, EPA Science Advisory Board, were quoted in this article regarding the finalization of the “Censored Science” rule, which would change how public health studies can be used for future pollution control rules. Betsy was quoted in similar articles by Bloomberg, Politico, and E&E News. 

For First Time in 5 years, US Gas Mileage Down, Emissions Up

January 6, 2021 / by

Tom Krisher /

Associated Press

Jeff Alson, EPN member and former Senior Engineer and Policy Adviser, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article concerning a new government report that found model year 2019 saw a decline in U.S. vehicle gas mileage and an increase in associated carbon emissions.

A Look at Biden’s Pick to Run EPA, Michael Regan, and the Challenges he Faces

January 5, 2021 / by

Environmental Integrity Podcast /

Environmental Integrity Project

EPN members Betsy Southerland, former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, and Eric Shaeffer (EIP Executive Director) were interviewed here about President-elect Biden’s selection of Michael Regan for EPA administrator.

EPA Finalizes Rule to Limit Science Behind Public Health Safeguards

January 5, 2021 / by

Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis /

The Washington Post

EPN members Tom Sinks, former Director, EPA Office of the Science Advisor, and Chris Zarba, former Director, EPA Science Advisory Board, were quoted in this article about the finalization of the “Censored Science” rule, which would change what public health studies EPA can use to create future pollution controls. Tom and Chris were quoted in a similar article by Common Dreams. Tom was also quoted in articles by Axios and Earth Island Journal