Balancing the Books on Climate Change

June 3, 2020 / by

Judith Lewis Mernit /

Capital & Main

Stan Meiburg, EPN member and former EPA Deputy Regional Administrator in Region 4 and Region 6 and Acting Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article on the costs associated with inaction on climate change.

Responding to Protests, Green Groups Reckon with a Racist Past

June 2, 2020 / by

Shannon Osaka /

Grist

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 concerning the history of racism in green groups that make up the environmental movement.

Feds Limit Challenges to Pipelines by States and Tribes

June 2, 2020 / by

Brandi Buchman /

Courthouse News Service

EPN members Mark Ryan, former EPA Regional Counsel, Region 10, and Betsy Southerland, former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, were quoted in this article regarding the finalization of EPA’s rule tweaking section 401 of the CWA, which allowed states’ to oppose the construction of pipelines and other energy projects.

EPA Likely to Approve Mine that Threatens Alaska’s Largest Salmon Hatchery

June 1, 2020 / by

Jordan Davidson /

EcoWatch

Mark Ryan, EPN member and former EPA Regional Counsel, Region 10, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s approval of the Pebble Mine, which may threaten Alaska’s largest salmon hatchery.

EPA Mounts A New Strike on States’ Rights, This Time to Boost Pipeline Companies

June 1, 2020 / by

Alexander C. Kaufman /

Huffington Post

EPN members Mark Ryan, former EPA Regional Counsel, Region 10, and Stan Meiburg, former EPA Deputy Regional Administrator in Region 4 and Region 6 and Acting Deputy Administrator, were quoted in an article by The Huffington Post on EPA’s finalization of its rule adjusting its interpretation of section 401 from the Clean Water (Act), which allowed states’ to oppose the construction of pipelines and other energy projects. 

States Lose Some Clean Water Act Authority Under New EPA Rule

June 1, 2020 / by

Elvina Nawaguna /

CQ Roll Call

Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, was quoted, and EPN was mentioned in this article on EPA’s final rule concerning section 401 of the CWA, which would curtail the ability of the states’ to reject pipelines and other energy projects. This story was reprinted by CNET. Betsy was also quoted in an article by S&P Global

E.P.A. Limits States’ Power to Oppose Pipelines and Other Energy Projects

June 1, 2020 / by

Lisa Friedman /

The New York Times

Mark Ryan, EPN member and former EPA Regional Counsel, Region 10, was quoted in this article on EPA’s final rule concerning section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), which would limit states’ power to reject pipelines and other energy projects. Mark was quoted in similar articles by E&E News, The Hill, EcoWatch, and Electrek. Mark was also quoted, and EPN was mentioned in an article by Common Dreams.

EPA Opts Not to Delay Controversial Alaska Mine for Now

May 29, 2020 / by

Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis /

Washington Post

Mark Ryan, EPN member and former EPA Regional Counsel, Region 10, was quoted in this article concerning EPA’s decision to allow the Pebble Mine in Alaska to move forward despite acknowledging the environmental threats posed by the mine.

How a Contrarian Scientist Helped Trump’s EPA Defy Mainstream Science

May 28, 2020 / by

Marianne Lavelle /

InsideClimate News

Bernard Goldstein, M.D., EPN member and former chair, EPA Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and EPA Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s combative relationship with mainstream science.

Asbestos Advocates and Experts Speak out Against EPA’s Flawed Draft Asbestos Risk Evaluation

May 28, 2020 / by

Tracy Russo and Courtney Hightower /

Business Wire

Bob Sussman, also was quoted in this article regarding a press conference hosted by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) on EPA’s draft risk evaluation for asbestos under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Upcoming Air Rule Fails to Quell SACC’s Concerns Over Perc Evaluation

May 28, 2020 / by

Maria Hegstad /

Inside EPA

 Gary Timm, EPN member and former EPA Chief, Chemical Testing Branch, EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics,  was quoted, and EPN was mentioned in this article on EPA’s draft risk evaluation for perchloroethylene under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPN also was mentioned in a similar article by Bloomberg.

Activists Press NYSDEC Over Plastic Bag Ban Enforcement

May 28, 2020 / by

Dave Lucas /

WAMC NorthEast Public Radio

Judith Enck, EPN member and former EPA Regional Administrator for Region 2, was quoted in this article on activists pushing for the state of New York to place a ban on plastic bags. Judith also was quoted in a Vice News article on New York can redemption centers and a WAMC article on toxic emissions that emanated from a Norlite Plant in Cohoes, NY. 

Listen to Experts and Tackle the Toxic Chemical Crisis Contributing to Chronic Disease

May 28, 2020 / by

Laurie Valeriano and Sarah Doll /

The Hill

Linda Birnbaum, EPN member and former federal scientist at EPA, was quoted in this article regarding the toxic chemical crisis and its impact on public health. 

Alaska’s Controversial Pebble Mine Was Dead. Not Anymore.

May 27, 2020 / by

Aaron Ernst /

PBS Frontline

Dennis McLerran, EPN member and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 10, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s approval of The Pebble Mine, which poses a direct threat to the Bristol Bay, Alaska Watershed.

Santa Comes Early for Polluters

May 27, 2020 / by

Dave Coursen /

The Hill

David Coursen, EPN member and former EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed concerning an executive order that would continue to relax restrictions on polluters by easing the enforcement of the rules during the pandemic. 

Critics: EPA Ignores Dry Cleaning Solvent Risks

May 27, 2020 / by

Ariana Figueroa /

E&E News

EPN members Penny Fenner-Crisp, former Senior Science Advisor to the Director, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, and Gary Timm, former EPA Chief, Chemical Testing Branch, EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, were quoted in this article on the draft risk evaluation for perchloroethylene under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

California, 22 Other States Sue Trump Administration Over Fuel Economy Rules

May 27, 2020 / by

Sean Szymkowski /

CNET

EPN was mentioned in this article regarding a lawsuit filed by California and 22 other states against the Trump administration’s Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule.

Corporations Don’t Have to Pay Pollution Fines During COVID-19

May 26, 2020 / by

Jordan Davidson /

EcoWatch

EPN members Joel Mintz, former EPA Enforcement and Supervisory Attorney, and Frank Lyons, were quoted in this article about the suspension of EPA rules and the benefits to corporate polluters.

States lead court fight against Trump. They’re winning

May 26, 2020 / by

Pamela King and Jeremy Jacobs /

E&E News

Mark Ryan, EPN member and former EPA Regional Counsel, Region 10, was quoted in this article regarding the role of the states in blocking the Trump deregulation agenda through the courts. 

EPA Advisers Focus on Consumer Exposures to Cleaning Solvent

May 26, 2020 / by

Pat Rizzuto /

Bloomberg

Bob Sussman, EPN member and former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article on EPA’s draft risk evaluation for perchloroethylene under the Toxic Substance Control Act.

Communities of Color Called Most at Risk from EPA’s Air Stance

May 26, 2020 / by

Nadia Ramlagan /

Public News Service

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 about how communities of color will be most affected by EPA’s decision to retain its current particulate matter standards.

One Planet: Harvard Study Links Air Pollution to Higher Covid-19 Death Rates

May 25, 2020 / by

Rose Aguilar & Malihe Razazan /

KALW

Mustafa Santiago Ali, EPN member and former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice, was interviewed on this radio show discussing the long-term impacts of air pollution on exposed populations.

Red Cross: Be Thinking Ahead and Take Action Now

May 22, 2020 / by

Janet McCabe and Chad Priest /

Dubois County Herald

Janet McCabe, EPN member and former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, penned this op-ed regarding Indiana’s preparedness for the extreme weather that is associated with the region.

Environmentalists, Industry Spar Over EPA Proposal to Retain PM NAAQS

May 22, 2020 / by

Stuart Parker /

Inside EPA

John Bachmann, EPN member and former Associate Director for Science/Policy and New Programs, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, was quoted in this article on EPA’s decision to not tighten Particulate Matter standards. John also was quoted in a similar article by Public News Service.