EPN In Action September-October 2021

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article about the release of EPA’s PFAS Roadmap, the agency’s plan of actions across multiple statutes to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Betsy was quoted in similar articles appearing in Inside EPA, Bloomberg Law, E&E News, and Chemical Watch.

Bob Sussman, counsel to Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), former Senior Policy Counsel to the EPA Administrator, and former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article regarding a settlement agreement EPA has reached with ADAO that sets a schedule for the agency to conduct risk evaluations for legacy asbestos use. Bob was quoted in a similar article in Chemical & Engineering News.

Mustafa Santiago Ali, Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization for the 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 discussing the positive health, educational, and wealth impacts lead-pipe replacement would have on Black and brown communities and the harm that comes from disinvestment in these communities. This article also appeared on News/Talk 95.3 MNC.

Mike Shapiro, former Deputy Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Water, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article discussing the importance of including ephemeral and intermittent streams in the definition of “waters of the US” and the need to clarify to farmers which waters are jurisdictional.

Mark Ryan, former EPA Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10, and former Special Assistant US Attorney, was quoted in this article about the recent repeal of the Trump-era Navigable Waters Protection Rule, an action that will afford more protections to drinking-water sources and wetlands. Mark was also quoted in similar articles appearing in E&E News, The New York Times, and S&P Global.

Cheryl Wasserman, former Associate Director for Policy Analysis, EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, was quoted in this article discussing what may be included in a second rulemaking on NEPA that the White House Council on Environmental Quality intends to propose in 2022.

John Bachmann, former Associate Director for Science/Policy and New Programs, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, was quoted and EPN was cited in this article discussing the recently released draft supplemental science assessment of particulate matter, which is part of EPA’s review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Mustafa Santiago Ali, Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization for the 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 announcement from the White House Council on Environmental Quality that it will restore key provisions of the National Environmental Protection Act, federal regulations that regulate major infrastructure projects that had been dramatically overhauled by the Trump administration. Mustafa was quoted in related articles appearing in Reuters, Bloomberg Law, Courthouse News Service, and Common Dreams.

Mustafa Santiago Ali, Senior Vice President for Environmental Justice, National Wildlife Federation; former EPA Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization; and EPA Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, co-authored this op-ed emphasizing the continued risk of asbestos exposure, particularly in Black, brown, indigenous, and lower-wealth communities, and the need for a total ban on the chemical.

Jeremy Symons, former Climate Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, penned this op-ed discussing how a corporate pollution fee should be included in the Build Back Better reconciliation plan to ensure corporations pay their fair share and to make innovation a central part of a climate change strategy.

EPN members Mark Ryan, former EPA Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10, and former Special Assistant US Attorney, and Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Research and Development, EPA Office of Water, penned this op-ed discussing the recent repeal of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule and what EPA can do to ensure development of a lasting definition of waters of the United States that offers clean water protections for everyone.

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing Beyond Plastics’ recent report that indicates that greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production will exceed that of the coal industry by 2030. Judith was also quoted in numerous other media outlets, including Reuters, E&E News, The Hill, and Rolling Stone.

Cynthia Giles, former Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, was quoted in this article regarding a new rule implemented by the Biden administration that will allow for better tracking of chemical shipments containing hydrofluorocarbons.

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in this article about the progress the Biden administration has made and challenges they have encountered in reversing Trump-era environmental actions.