The Latest Chapter in EPA vs Environmental Science Saga

Dec 11, 2018 / by

Bernard Goldstein /

The Hill

EPN member Bernie Goldstein, former EPA Assistant Administrator for Research and Development and Chair of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), wrote this op-ed on EPA’s divorce proceedings against science.

Trump administration to strip pollution protections, harming vital wildlife

Dec 11, 2018 / by

Emily Holden /

The Guardian

Mark Ryan, EPN member and former EPA leading Clean Water Act expert and Chief Trial Attorney, is quoted in this article on the Administration’s plans to relax protections in the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule from streams and wetlands that could harm vital wildlife and allow pollution into drinking water.

Update 1-U.S. Proposing to Weaken Obama-era Wetland Protections

Dec 11, 2018 / by

Timothy Gardner /

Reuters

Mark Ryan, EPN member and former EPA leading Clean Water Act expert and Chief Trial Attorney, is quoted in Reuter’s article on the Administration’s plans to strip pollution protections from streams and wetlands that could harm vital wildlife and allow pollution into drinking water.

Trump Administration to Lift Barriers to Build New Coal Plants

Dec 7, 2018 / by

Cecilia Jamasmie /

Mining.com

EPN member and Advisor Janet McCabe, former EPA Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, is quoted in this article on the Administration’s recent announcement that they are rolling back regulations on carbon emissions from new coal plants.

Science Adviser Allowed Oil Group to Edit Research

Dec 10, 2018 / by

Scott Waldman /

E&E News

EPN member John Bachmann, former EPA Associate Director for Science/Policy and New Programs, Office of Air, is quoted in this article on Chairman of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Tony Cox allowing the American Petroleum Institute to help finance his research into particulate matter pollution, as well as proofread and copy edit his findings before they were published.

The EPA Says Its Latest Move to Revive the Coal Industry Won’t Make an Impact

Dec 7, 2018 / by

Staff /

The West Side Story

EPN member and Advisor Janet McCabe, former EPA Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, is quoted in this article on the Administration’s recent announcement that they are rolling back regulations on carbon emissions from new coal plants.

The Trump Administration Is Spinning Its Latest Pro-Coal Policy as Good for People of Color

Dec 7, 2018 / by

Yessenia Funes /

Earther

Mustafa Ali, EPN member and former EPA Environmental Justice Chair, is quoted in this article on the EPA’s use of energy affordability among low-income communities and people of color as an argument to bring back coal.

The EPA Is Lifting Greenhouse Gas Limits on Coal Power Plants

Dec 7, 2018 / by

Umair Irfan /

Vox

Janet McCabe, EPN Advisor and former EPA Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, is quoted in this article on the Administration’s proposed rollback of carbon emissions for coal-burning power plants.

Five Ways the Midwest Is Enduring Climate Change

Dec 7, 2018 / by

Janet McCabe /

Inside Sources

EPN Advisor and former EPA Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, Janet McCabe wrote this op-ed on climate change in the Midwest and what can be done about it.

Trump EPA Acts to Roll Back Control on Climate-Changing Coal

Dec 7, 2018 / by

Ellen Knickmeyer /

The Associated Press

Janet McCabe, EPN Advisor and former EPA Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, is quoted in this article on Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s proposal to dismantle a 2015 rule that any new coal power plants include cutting-edge techniques to capture the carbon dioxide from their smokestacks. This article was also picked up in the Daily Journal.

EPA Announces Plan to Ease Carbon Emissions Rule for New Coal Plants

Dec 6, 2018 / by

Steven Mufson and Brady Dennis /

The Washington Post

Janet McCabe, EPN Advisor and former EPA Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, is quoted in this article on the Administration’s plans to reverse a rule that would have forced new U.S. coal plants to install technology to capture their carbon dioxide emissions. This article was picked up by the Duluth New Tribune.

Emails Show Staff Wary of Pruitt’s Science Board ‘Agenda’

Dec 6, 2018 / by

Maxine Joselow /

Greenwire

EPN member Chris Zarba, former EPA Director of Science Advisory Board, is quoted in Greenwire’s article on EPA staffers’ alarm after former Administrator Scott Pruitt signaled plans to alter the makeup of the agency’s scientific advisory boards.

George H.W. Bush Put Environment Above Politics — We Should Too

Dec 6, 2018 / by

Stan Meiburg /

The Hill

Stan Meiburg, EPN Board member and Advisor, former EPA Deputy Regional Administrator in Regions 4 (Atlanta) and 6 (Dallas), and former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator, wrote this op-ed on the part George H.W. Bush played in the historic Clean Air Amendments of 1990.

Emails: EPA Staffers Freaked When Pruitt Tried to Stage Climate-Change Debate

Dec 5, 2018 / by

Sam Stein and Tanya Basu /

Daily Beast

EPN members Dan Costa, former EPA Director of the Air, Climate and Energy Research Program, and Robert Kavlock, former EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development and Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, are quoted in this article on how deeply shaken the EPA staff was that politics could overtake scientific consensus on the climate change issue if Pruitt’s proposed debate took place. They are also quoted in Climatewire’s piece on the same topic, and Dan is quoted in The Hill as well.

Revamped Carbon Rule for New Power Plants Could Come Soon

Dec 4, 2018 / by

Niina Heikkinen /

Climatewire

EPN member Joe Goffman, former EPA Associate Assistant Administrator for Climate and Senior Counsel in the Office of Air and Radiation, is quoted in this article on the expected elimination of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology when the Administration proposes changes to New Source Performance Standards for power plants.

How George H.W. Bush (Eventually) Rescued U.S. Wetlands

Dec 3, 2018 / by

Ariel Wittenberg /

Greenwire

EPN members Ellen Gilinsky, former Associate Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water at the EPA, and Robert Wayland, former EPA Director of the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds in the Office of Water, are quoted in this article on Bush’s “no net loss of wetlands” pledge and how it finally came to regulatory fruition under his son George W. Bush’s administration.

In California’s Fertile Valley, Industry and Agriculture Hang Heavy in the Air

Dec 3, 2018 / by

Brendan Borrell and Larry C. Price /

Pulitzer Center

John Bachmann, EPN member and former EPA Associate Director for Science/Policy and New Programs, Office of Air, is quoted in Pulitzer Center’s article on the San Joaquin Valley, a land of big agriculture and some of the worst air pollution in the nation.

The EPA Has Lost Its Mind

Nov 29, 2018 / by

Mark Kaufman /

Mashable

EPN member Joe Goffman, former EPA Associate Assistant Administrator for Climate and Senior Counsel in the Office of Air and Radiation, is quoted in this article on the Administration’s  misleading, oversimplified, and politicized view of the National Climate Assessment.

‘It’s Not a Happy Place’

Nov 21, 2018 / by

Maxine Joselow /

E&E News

EPN member and advisor Janet McCabe, former EPA Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, is quoted in E&E’s article on the current climate at the EPA for climate staffers: flagging morale, staff cuts and a lack of support for their work.

Former EPA Admin on PFAS

Nov 16, 2018 / by

Stateside Staff /

Michigan Radio's Stateside

Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former EPA Director of Science and Technology in the Office of Water, was interviewed on Michigan Radio’s Stateside to discuss the advisory her team put out in 2016 on what’s considered a safe level of PFAS in drinking water, and why there’s still confusion over what the cutoff should be.

US EPA Research Plan Focuses on Energy Transition, Wildfire Air Pollution

Nov. 19, 2018 / by

Zack Hale /

S&P Global

EPN member Dan Costa, former EPA Director of the Air, Climate and Energy Research Program, is quoted in this article on the EPA’s plan to ramp up research on air pollution caused by wildfires and the states’ ability to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, despite the Air and Energy Subcommittee dropping “climate change” from its top research objective.

How CA Wildfires Are Evolving

Nov 16 2018 / by

AMtoDM /

BuzzFeed

EPN member John Kennedy, former EPA Staff, Region 9, serving the Pacific Southwest region of California, Nevada and Arizona, was interviewed on BuzzFeed’s AMtoDM. Here he discusses California’s new abnormal year-round fire season caused by the drying effects of climate change.

How Wildfires Impact People’s Health

Nov 16 2018 / by

AM2DM /

BuzzFeed

EPN member John Kennedy, former EPA Staff, Region 9, serving the Pacific Southwest region of California, Nevada and Arizona, was interviewed on BuzzFeed’s AMtoDM on the effects wildfires, like those in California, have on public health.

‘Shadow’ Reviews by Former CASAC Members Could Help Defend NAAQS

Nov 16, 2018 / by

Stuart Parker /

Inside EPA

EPN members Chris Zarba, former EPA Staff Director of the Science Advisory Board, and John Bachmann, former EPA Associate Director for Science/Policy and New Programs, Office of Air, were quoted in Inside EPA’s piece on in-depth “shadow” reviews planned by former members of EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), which could help defend the PM and ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).