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 quoted in this article regarding the Council on Environmental Quality’s interim guidance that directs federal agencies to consider environmental justice and climate change impacts when making permitting decisions on new energy and infrastructure projects. David Coursen, former Attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, and Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, were quoted in this article about the significant work EPA has planned for 2023 and the challenges the agency may face in the new Congress. John Bachmann, former Associate Director of Science/Policy and New Programs, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, was quoted in this article discussing the benefits of more stringent air quality standards for particulate matter.
EPN Presents Testimony on EPA’s Proposed PM NAAQS
On February 21, 2023, EPN delivered oral testimony during a hearing on the proposed NAAQS for PM2.5. EPN suggests that the scientific evidence supports the conclusion that an annual level of 8.0 ug/m3 is requisite to protect public health. In addition, we encouraged EPA to adopt a 24-hour standard from 25 to 30 ug/m3 as recommended by the CASAC majority.
EPN Comments on Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
On January 18, 2023, EPN submitted comments in response to EPA's request for information on Climate Pollution Reduction grants. EPN provides four recommendations and offers our ongoing support in any way that our volunteers can be of help to EPA and stakeholders in meeting the goals of the program.
Air and Climate in the News
Success of US Climate Guidance Revamp Hangs on Agency Commitment
‘Shoulder to the Wheel’: EPA Girds for 2023
EPA Rule to Limit Soot Could Save Lives, Especially in Indiana’s Metro Areas
EPN members penned their own op-eds on the Supreme Court, clean transportation, and renewable energy. Judith Enck, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, wrote this op-ed suggesting that the hazardous nature of the East Palestine train derailment was due to our over-reliance on plastics production. Dan Reich, former Assistant Regional Counsel, EPA Region 9, penned this op-ed discussing how the major questions doctrine, recently codified by the US Supreme Court in its West Virginia vs. EPA decision, could limit the roles of administrative agencies. Margo Oge wrote this op-ed discussing how the next phase of greenhouse gas standards for light- and heavy-duty vehicles could secure vehicle electrification goals set out by the Biden administration.
The East Palestine Disaster Was a Direct Result of the Country’s Reliance on Fossil Fuels and Plastic
The Supreme Court Could Doom Biden’s Environmental Agenda
2023 Is a Fork in the Road for Bold Action to Accelerate Clean Transportation
In addition to the articles above, EPN members contributed to a range of articles on topics such as the East Palestine derailment, implementing environmental justice into policy, Pebble Mine, PFAS, and EPA’s budget.
Bill Muno, former Director, EPA Region 5 Superfund Program, was quoted in this article regarding the transport of hazardous waste between states as they are moved to designated waste management sites. Jim Woolford, former Director, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, EPA Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM), was quoted in this article discussing OLEM’s recent implementation of an environmental justice action plan intended to strengthen emergency response requirements for communities with environmental justice concerns. Dennis McLerran, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 10, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s decision to block development of the Pebble Mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed. Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program and former EPA scientist, was quoted in this article discussing the adverse effects PFAS have on human health. Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article about how EPA is still struggling to meet its regulatory deadlines because of chronic underfunding, despite the recent influx of money from the climate bill.
Holcomb Opposes East Palestine Waste Coming to Indiana Landfill
EPA Quietly Integrates EJ into Emergency Response Incident Command
EPA Blocks Alaska Pebble Mine in Salmon-Rich Bristol Bay Region
Traces of Harmful Chemicals Reported in Valley Drinking Water
Depleted Under Trump, a ‘Traumatized’ E.P.A. Struggles with Its Mission
Read all recent EPN in the News items here
