Eventually, Paris Withdrawal Will Overshadow Impeachment

November 26, 2019 / by

Joel Mintz /

Orlando Sentinel

EPN member Joel Mintz, former EPA Enforcement and Supervisory Attorney, wrote this op-ed about the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and the negative consequences that could result without US participation.

‘Highly Unusual’ Move Puts Region 9 Chief’s Office In LA

November 26, 2019 / by

Kevin Bogardus /

Greenwire

Stan Meiburg, EPN adviser and former EPA Deputy Regional Administrator in Region 4 and Region 6 and Acting Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article about the EPA Region 9 Administrator’s office moving to Los Angeles from San Francisco.

EPA Urged To Expand Methylene Chloride Limits As Narrow Ban Adopted

November 26, 2019 / by

Maria Hegstad /

Inside EPA

The Environmental Protection Network (EPN) was mentioned in this article about its letter to EPA urging it to exercise its authority to immediately implement restrictions if there is a pressing health concern, specifically to create emergency limits on methylene chloride, commonly used in paint strippers.

Protecting People From Chemical Hazards — Another EPA Failure In The Making

November 25, 2019 / by

Penny Fenner-Crisp /

The Hill

EPN member Penny Fenner-Crisp, former Senior Science Advisor to the Director, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, wrote this op-ed about the flawed peer review and research process used by EPA to issue permanent regulations for toxic chemicals in consumer products.

How EPA Director Andrew Wheeler is Using Scientific Transparency as a Weapon

November 25, 2019 / by

Bernard Goldstein and David Michaels /

Salon

Bernard Goldstein, EPN member and former chair, EPA Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, wrote this op-ed about EPA Administrator Wheeler using scientific transparency to exclude numerous environmental studies from consideration in federal policy-making.

EPA Weighs Greater Reporting of ‘Forever Chemicals’

November 25, 2019 / by

Rebecca Beitsch /

The Hill

EPN member Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article about EPA considering options to increase monitoring of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Health Researchers Receive $1.2 Million to Improve Air Quality Measurements

November 20, 2019 / by

OHS /

Occupational Health & Safety

Trish Koman, EPN member and former Senior Environmental Scientist, Program Manager and Supervisor in EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article about researchers at the Milken Institute School of Public Health receiving a grant to study the effects of particulate matter on human health.

NGOs: Verdict on TSCA Risk Evaluation Rule a ‘Victory’

November 19, 2019 / by

Lisa Martine Jenkins /

Chemical Watch

Bob Sussman, EPN member and former EPA Deputy Administrator and Senior Policy Counsel to the EPA Administrator, was quoted in this article about a federal court ruling that EPA must consider legacy uses in the scope of its chemical risk evaluations under Toxic Substances Control Act.

Wheeler Devised Attacks On Calif. Years Ago With Inhofe

November 18, 2019 / by

Jean Chemnick /

Climatewire

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 about EPA’s battle with California over fuel efficiency standards and other environmental regulations.

Best Ways To Make A Dent In Local Climate Change? Turn Lights Off And Drive Less

November 18, 2019 / by

Bob Zaltsberg /

Indiana Public Media

EPN advisor Janet McCabe, and former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article about the best ways that individuals can reduce their own carbon footprint and help fight local climate change.

EPA Delays Advisers’ Review Of ‘Secret Science’ Rules

November 18, 2019 / by

Miranda Green and Rebecca Beitsch /

The Hill

Chris Zarba, EPN member and former Director, EPA Science Advisory Board, was quoted in this article about EPA repeatedly rescheduling and delaying a meeting of an advisory board slated to review a controversial proposal that would block the agency from considering studies that don’t make their underlying data public.

Coal Ash Comeback

November 17, 2019 / by

Austyn Gaffney /

Sierra

EPN member Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article about EPA rolling back regulations on waste storage for coal ash and coal power plants.

How Bad Is The Air Quality On The Nipomo Mesa? Spikes In Pollution Are ‘Off The Map’

November 14, 2019 / by

Monica Vaughan /

The Tribune

EPN member Trish Koman, former Senior Environmental Scientist, Program Manager and Supervisor in EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article about particulate matter and air quality in the Nipomo Mesa.

CASAC’s Majority Formally Rejects EPA Staff Call For Stricter PM2.5 NAAQS

November 14, 2019 / by

Stuart Parker /

Inside EPA

EPN member John Bachmann, former Associate Director for Science/Policy and New Programs, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, was quoted in this article about the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee’s opinion that particulate matter standards should be maintained at current levels.

Bad Air Forces People Inside In This Coastal California Town. Is It A Crisis Or Exaggeration?

November 13, 2019 / by

Monica Vaughan, Cassandra Garibay, and Ashley Ladin /

The Tribune

Trish Koman, EPN member and former Senior Environmental Scientist, Program Manager and Supervisor in EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article about air pollution spikes in California, forcing residents indoors when dust from Oceano Dunes blows into the county.

The U.S. EPA Amends Its ‘Transparency’ Proposal To Somehow Be Even More Terrible

November 13, 2019 / by

Yessenia Funes /

Gizmodo

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 about the science and transparency rule update after EPA released a statement calling a New York Times article about the rule inaccurate and misleading.

Trump Admin Advances High-Impact ‘Secret Science’ Rule

November 12, 2019 / by

Kelsey Brugger, Sean Reilly, and Ariel Wittenberg /

E&E News

Ronnie Levin, EPN member and former EPA Senior Scientist in Region 1, was quoted in this article about EPA’s revisions to the science and transparency rule proposal, which critics argue would limit the use of science in a wide range of EPA regulations.

Industry to EPA: Make permitting rollback retroactive

November 12, 2019 / by

Sean Reilly /

Greenwire

Janet McCabe, EPN advisor and former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article about industry pushing EPA to apply its rollback of permitting requirements retroactively, allowing companies to skirt grouping some operations as major pollution sources in need of permits.

EPA Calls Reporting on Proposed Rulemaking Update ‘Completely Misleading’

November 12, 2019 / by

Courtney Bublé /

Government Executive

EPN member Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article about EPA’s proposed updates to the science and transparency rule, which would require scientists to disclose all data, including medical records, before EPA could consider the study’s findings.

The EPA drafted a safety recommendation for cleaning firefighting chemicals from water. The military isn’t using it.

November 12, 2019 / by

Kyle Bagenstose /

Burlington County Times

EPN member Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article about PFAS chemicals and an internal military memo that indicates an unwillingness to adhere to EPA’s recommended limits for contamination.

New IU Website Allows Users To Weigh Local Climate Change Risk

November 12, 2019 / by

Meredith Colias-Pete /

Chicago Tribune

Janet McCabe, EPN advisor and former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article about Indiana University’s interactive website that measures climate vulnerability versus public readiness in each town and county in Indiana.

Uncertainty Reigns Over Major EPA Regulations, Enforcement Agreements

November 8, 2019 / by

Inside EPA /

Inside EPA

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article about legal challenges to major environmental regulations, creating uncertainty as the Trump Administration withdraws from the Paris climate agreement and rewrites the rules of the Clean Water Act.

People Living Near Coal Plants Could Be Drinking ‘Toxic’ Contaminated Water Until 2028, Thanks to New EPA Ruling

November 8, 2019 / by

Rosie McCall /

Newsweek

EPN members Mustafa Santiago Ali, former EPA Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization, and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice; and Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, were quoted in this article about EPA’s changes to regulations for coal ash and toxic wastewater and their disproportionate impacts on low-income and minority communities.

How The FDA And EPA’s Failure To Communicate Could Put Patients In Danger

November 7, 2019 / by

Sarah Karlin-Smith, Annie Snider, and Sarah Owermohle /

POLITICO

Janet McCabe, EPN member and former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article about FDA and EPA’s inability to agree on how to regulate ethylene oxide, a toxic chemical used to sterilize medical devices.