EPN In Action March-April 2023

Bill Jordan, former Deputy Director for Programs, EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s proposal to transfer oversight of flea and tick collars to the Food and Drug Administration.

Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, former Deputy Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Research and Development, and Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, were quoted in this article about political interference in the toxicity assessment for the PFAS chemical PFBS at the close of the Trump administration.

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article discussing EPA’s proposal to set drinking water standards for six PFAS, including PFOS and PFOA. Betsy was also quoted in Politico and 21 News-WFMJ articles discussing the improvements to drinking water quality the rulemaking would provide.

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article discussing the importance of the EPA’s proposed vehicle emissions standards in the Biden administration’s efforts to combat climate change. Margo was quoted in related articles from the Associated Press, Washington Post, Detroit Free Press, and Nature. She was also interviewed on CNN.

Mustafa Santiago Ali, former EPA Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and former EPA Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was quoted in this article discussing how the impacts of air pollution and climate change disproportionately affect Black and low-income communities.

Bob Perciasepe, former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article regarding protests outside EPA headquarters demanding a faster rollout of tighter climate and air quality regulations for fossil fuel power plants.

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.

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, wrote this op-ed about the high cost that lobbying by regulated industries to weaken, delay, or rollback rules has on public health, safety, and the environment.

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, co-authored this op-ed honoring the legacy of former Representative Donald McEachin, a congressional leader in the environmental justice movement.

Mark Ryan, former Assistant Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10, and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, was quoted in this article regarding the failed House vote to undo the Biden administration’s waters of the U.S. rule and the legal challenges that will continue, possibly even beyond the forthcoming Supreme Court decision on Sackett vs. EPA.

Bill Muno, former Superfund Director, EPA Region 5, was quoted in this article discussing the treatment and disposal of hazardous waste at commercial hazardous waste facilities, a concern that has arisen in the wake of the East Palestine train derailment.

Dave Coursen, former Attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, and Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, were quoted in this article regarding staffing levels at EPA and the need for more hires to meet current challenges and demands.