Hair-Straightening Products Contain Chemicals That Boost Risks of Cancer, Kidney Injuries and Breathing Issues
Tracey Woodruff, former EPA Senior Scientist and Policy Advisor in the Office of Policy, was quoted in Live Science about the FDA’s expected ban of formaldehyde in hair products and notes that other dangerous chemicals in many products are not tested for safety.
In a First, EPA Sets Limit for ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water
Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in this article about the importance of the federal drinking water standards for certain PFAS compounds.
Breast Milk Can Expose Babies to Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’
Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in this article about the very real concern of passing PFAS from mother to child through breastfeeding.
EPA Puts Limits on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water
Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in NPR discussing the positive impacts of the agency’s recently finalized drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals.
Evidence of PFAS Found in Popular Bandage Brands Including Band-Aid
Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in Environmental Health News about bandaid brands containing organic fluorine, a strong indicator that PFAS are present.
EPA Nears Finish Line on Expansion of Air Toxics Reporting
A Politico article mentioned a set of public comments written by EPN on air emissions reporting requirements. EPA is expected to issue a final rule in the coming months.
Lead In The Drinking Water Is Still a Problem In The U.S. — Especially in Chicago
Elin Betanzo, former Environmental Engineer, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Standards and Risk Management Division, and Betsy Southerland, former Director of the Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water, were quoted in NPR about Chicago’s 400,000 lead service lines and how the city has lacked enforcement of EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule.
EPA’s Truck Pollution Standard Means Clean Trucks, Clean Air, Clean Lungs
Margo Oge, former Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, penned an op-ed in Forbes about EPA’s final heavy-duty vehicle emissions rule and writes about how it advances economic, climate, and public health goals.
Biden’s Climate Playbook: Propose Strong Rules, Then Soften Them
Stan Meiburg, former DRA in Region 4 and Acting Deputy Administrator, and Jeremy Symons, EPN Senior Advisor, were quoted in E&E News about Biden’s delicate climate agenda ahead of the 2024 election.
Federal Grant for Exxon Plant Faces Blowback
Judith Enck, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in Politico about an Exxon Mobil plant–one of 33 projects announced–that is up for millions of dollars of federal funding to decarbonize. Many argue that this funding goes against Biden’s climate commitments.
Plastic Chemicals Are Inescapable — And They’re Messing With Our Hormones
Tracey Woodruff, former EPA senior scientist and policy advisor in the Office of Policy, was quoted in Grist about endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in many plastics that humans are exposed to on a daily basis. These EDCs are also released and found in the air, water, soil, and food.
5th Circuit Curbs EPA Authority Under Chemical Safety Law
Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator and Senior Policy Counsel to the EPA Administrator, was quoted in Politico Pro about the 5th Circuit Court’s decision to strike down EPA’s interpretation of the ‘Significant New Use Rule’ and adopt Inhance Technology’s interpretation.
Biden Emissions Rules Face Lawsuit Barrage Over EV Transition
Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in Bloomberg Law about the legal strength of the Biden Administration’s new light-and medium- duty vehicle emissions rule.
EPA’s New Clean Car Rules Will Make People, The Planet, And Auto Manufactures Healthier
Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, penned an op-ed in Forbes about how the new car standards will make Americans healthier, reduce climate pollution, and allow US car companies to compete around the world.
Cascade of Climate Rules Starts Today With Clean Cars
Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in Politico about the Biden Administration’s newest transportation rule that will push for EV’s and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, citing it as the “single most important climate regulation in the history of the country.”
Report Reviews How Smart Donating Can Help Solve the Climate Crisis — and Highlights Some of the Top Charities Deemed Worthy of Donations
EPN was mentioned in a Yahoo News article as a donation-worthy organization working to fight the climate crisis.
Program to Replace Lead Pipes in Boston Off to Slow Start
Ronnie Levin, former EPA Senior Scientist, Region 1, was quoted in CBS News about her cost-benefit analysis work on lead contamination and the slow rollout of Boston’s free lead pipe replacement program.
Does Your Colorado Town Have PFAS In Its Water? There’s Help For That.
Betsy Southerland, former Director of the Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water, was quoted in the Colorado Sun about the $86 million in emerging contaminant funding available to Colorado to detect and monitor PFAS in water.
Boston Struggles to Persuade Property Owners to Replace Their Lead Pipes
Ronnie Levin, former EPA Senior Scientist, Region 1, was quoted in the Boston Globe about Boston College’s failure to replace lead pipes in student dorms after learning about the contaminated pipes in 2009. The pipes were replaced earlier this year.
Nearly 130,000 Children Exposed to Lead-Tainted Drinking Water in Chicago
Elin Betanzo, former Environmental Engineer, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Standards and Risk Management Division, was quoted in The Guardian about Chicago’s need to replace its 400,000 lead service lines to protect children and the greater population.
IDEM Says It Can’t Make Air Pollution Permits Stricter. Experts Say That’s Only Partially True
Mike Koerber, former Deputy Director, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, and Eric Schaeffer, former director of EPA’s Office of Civil Enforcement, were quoted in NPR affiliate WBOI about possible ways the Indiana Department of Environmental Management can tighten industrial facilities’ air permits.
‘Explosive Growth’ in Petrochemical Production Poses Risks to Human Health
Tracey Woodruff, former EPA senior scientist and policy advisor in the Office of Policy, was quoted in The Guardian about the links of petrochemical production to diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, neurodevelopmental issues, and certain cancers, and suggests more chemical testing, exposure tracking, and single-chemical and single-use plastics bans.
Baring Teeth: The Long Battle Over Fluoride Comes to a Head
Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP), was quoted in Undark about the association of fluoridation with potential neuro deficits and the hurdles of publishing this data to the public.
This Will Be a Big Year in Shaping the Future of Chemical Recycling
Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Administrator, Region 2, was quoted in Environmental Health News about chemical recycling plants proposed across the country and how state laws allow these facilities to evade environmental oversight and be recognized as manufacturing plants.