America Is Wrapped in Miles of Toxic Lead Cables

July 9, 2023 / by

Susan Pulliam, Shalini Ramachandran, John West, Coulter Jones, and Thomas Gryta /

Wall Street Journal

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in this article regarding an investigation that found soil contamination from lead-covered cables abandoned by phone companies. She was quoted in a related article in Yahoo! News.

Plastic’s Health Impacts are Becoming Impossible to Ignore

July 6, 2023 / by

Judith Enck /

Newsweek

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, wrote this op-ed discussing how plastic and the chemicals associated with plastic threaten our health, the environment, and climate.

EPA’s ‘Forever Chemicals’ Approval Plan Draws Mixed Reaction

June 30, 2023 / by

Ellie Borst /

E&E News

Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article about the shortcomings of EPA’s new framework for reviewing new PFAS and significant new uses of existing PFAS.

‘Profit Over the Public’s Health’: Study Details Efforts by Makers of Forever Chemicals to Hide Their Harms

June 27, 2023 / by

Victoria St. Martin /

Inside Climate News

Tracey Woodruff, Director, UCSF Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment and former Senior Scientist and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Policy, was quoted in this article discussing a study she co-authored that analyzed documents from Dupont and 3M that outlined the companies’ efforts to hide the dangers of PFAS chemicals.

How Do You Know If Drinking Water Is Safe From Forever Chemicals?

June 24, 2023 / by

Teddy Amenabar /

The Washington Post

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in this article discussing acceptable levels of PFAS in water systems and the greater risk of PFAS contamination for water supplies located near PFAS-manufacturing and military facilities.

Stakeholders Split on Determining Compliance with Draft PFAS Water Rule

June 22, 2023 / by

Suzanne Yohannan /

Inside EPA

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article about differing opinions on how best to calculate whether drinking water systems are in compliance with EPA’s proposed PFAS drinking water standards.

TSCA Office Appears to Drop ‘Working’ PFAS Definition in SNUR Proposal

June 16, 2023 / by

Lara Beaven /

Inside EPA

Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article discussing the limitations EPA faces in its ability to regulate PFAS compounds as a class.

What the Debt Ceiling Deal Means for Agencies

June 9, 2023 / by

Kevin Bogardus /

E&E News

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in this article about the potential impacts of a flatline budget appropriation for EPA in FY2024.

Expert Insights: Why Gas Stoves Are Under Fire

June 9, 2023 / by

Bernard Goldstein /

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bernie Goldstein, former EPA Assistant Administrator for Research and Development and former chair, EPA Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, penned this op-ed discussing why the phasing out of household gas appliances will be beneficial to human health and the environment.

Plastic Containers Still Distributed Across the US Are a Potential Health Disaster

June 1, 2023 / by

Tom Perkins /

The Guardian

Bob Susmann, counsel to PEER and Center for Environmental Health and former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article about his clients’ formal request to EPA asking the agency to stop Inhance, a leading manufacturer of plastic containers, from continuing to manufacture PFAS-contaminated containers.

Like Tobacco and Big Oil, Secret Docs Show Chemical Companies Knew PFAS Dangers

June 1, 2023 / by

Brett Wilkins /

Common Dreams

Tracey Woodruff, Director, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, San Francisco, and former Senior Scientist and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Policy, was quoted in this article discussing the research paper she co-authored that revealed chemical companies knew about the dangers of PFAS for years but failed to alert regulators and the public.

Calls To Toughen Water Quality Rules After Sackett Face Many Doubts

May 26, 2023 / by

Sam Hess /

Inside EPA

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article discussing the many uncertainties in state-level water protections that have been created as a result of the Sackett vs. EPA decision.

‘Devastating’ Supreme Court Decision Leaves Wetlands Unprotected

May 26, 2023 / by

Andy McGlashen /

Audubon

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article about the impact of the Sackett decision on ephemeral and intermittent waters and streams and the need for congressional action to strengthen Clean Water Act protections.

Supreme Court Narrows Scope of EPA Water Protections

May 25, 2023 / by

Rachel Frazin /

The Hill

Mark Ryan, former Assistant Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10, and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney at the Department of Justice, was quoted in this article discussing the significant narrowing of the definition of waters of the United States following the Supreme Court decision on Sackett vs. EPA.

Will EPA’s PFAS Rule Spur Other Water Regs?

May 19, 2023 / by

E.A. Crunden /

E&E News

Ronnie Levin, former Senior Scientist, EPA Region 1, and Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, were quoted in this article discussing EPA’s decision to set drinking water standards for six PFAS compounds.

History Shows EPA’s Proposed Vehicle Emissions Rule Can Be Done – It’s Worth Trillions!

May 16, 2023 / by

Margo Oge /

Forbes

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, penned this op-ed highlighting the many benefits of EPA’s proposed light-duty vehicle emissions standards and dispelling the false claims surrounding the proposal.

Black and Latino Communities More Likely to Have Harmful PFAS Levels in Water

May 15, 2023 / by

Diane Macedo /

ABC News

Mustafa Santiago Ali, Senior Vice President for Environmental Justice, National Wildlife Federation, former EPA Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and former EPA Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was interviewed on this news segment about a recent study that determined that communities of color are disproportionately exposed to PFAS in drinking water.

Environmental Attorney Says Industry ‘Mixed Message’ Hurt TSCA Budget Bid

May 11, 2023 / by

Jessica Karins /

Inside EPA

Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article discussing how inconsistent messaging from industry groups played a role in the anemic FY 2023 TSCA budget.

Biden Rule Tells Power Plants to Cut Climate Pollution by 90 Percent — or Shut Down

May 11, 2023 / by

Alex Guillen /

Politico

Bob Perciasepe, former acting EPA Administrator, was quoted in this article discussing why the Biden administration will need to get the regulated sector to support its draft power plant rule.

Groups Offer Dueling Views of Needed Ambition in EPA’s Auto Proposal

May 9, 2023 / by

Doug Obey /

Inside EPA

Jeff Alson, former Senior Engineer and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article about the public hearings on EPA’s proposal to strengthen emission standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles.

EPA Needs to Be Rebuilt, Not Nickel and Dimed to Death with Budget Cuts

May 4, 2023 / by

David Coursen /

The Hill

Dave Coursen, former Attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed discussing how the Congressional Republicans’ proposed federal budget cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling would severely hamper EPA’s ability to continue its vital work.

Groups Tout PFAS Contamination Study to Push Strict TSCA Approach

May 1, 2023 / by

Jessica Karins /

Inside EPA

Bob Sussman, attorney for Center for Environmental Health and former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article about recent findings that show that PFAS migrates out of fluorinated high-density polyethylene plastic containers, highlighting a need to limit production of this form of packaging.

Army Corps to Revisit Parts of Pebble’s Permit Application, But Opponents Say Mine Can’t Move Forward

April 29, 2023 / by

Izzy Ross /

NPR-KDLG

Dennis McLerran, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 10, was quoted in this article discussing the Army Corps of Engineer’s decision to reconsider portions of Pebble Company’s permit application to mine in Bristol Bay, despite EPA’s recent veto of the mine proposal.

What Limits Will the World Health Organization Recommend for PFOA and PFOS in Drinking Water?

April 26, 2023 / by

Elizabeth Southerland and Linda Birnbaum /

Environmental Science & Technology

Linda Birnbaum, former Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, wrote this commentary discussing the need for the World Health Organization to substantially revise its proposed drinking water guidelines for PFAS compounds.