Proposals to Undermine Professional Civil Service Would Endanger Public Health and the Environment

April 17, 2024 / by

Mark Hague /

Environmental Protection News

Mark Hague, former EPA Regional Administrator and Deputy Regional Administrator in Region 7, penned an op-ed about the importance of civil service employees and the dangers of “Schedule F,” an executive order signed by Trump–later rescinded by Biden–that would no longer protect civil service employees from politically-motivated firings.

The EPA Has Done Nearly Everything It Can to Clean Up This Town. It Hasn’t Worked.

April 15, 2024 / by

Lisa Song /

ProPublica

Mike Koerber, former Deputy Director, Office of Air Quality and Planning Standards, Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in ProPublica about how a new EPA rule that requires fenceline monitoring could help Calvert City, KY, address severe community pollution.

Experts: EPA Chemical Plant Emissions Rule a Win for WV Communities

April 15, 2024 / by

Nadia Ramlagan /

Public News Service

Jeremy Symons, Senior Advisor to EPN, was quoted in Public News Service about a new EPA rule requiring select chemical plants in West Virginia and other states to lower pollution of ethylene oxide, chloroprene, and other cancer-causing pollutants and report their emissions to EPA.

EPA Sets First Federal Limits on Dangerous ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water

April 12, 2024 / by

Will Sullivan /

Smithsonian Magazine

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in Smithsonian Magazine discussing EPA’s new federal limits of PFAS in drinking water.

Hair-Straightening Products Contain Chemicals That Boost Risks of Cancer, Kidney Injuries and Breathing Issues

April 11, 2024 / by

Emily Cooke /

Live Science

Tracey Woodruff, former EPA Senior Scientist and Policy Advisor in the Office of Policy, was quoted in Live Science about the FDA’s expected ban of formaldehyde in hair products and notes that other dangerous chemicals in many products are not tested for safety.

In a First, EPA Sets Limit for ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water

April 10, 2024 / by

Teddy Amenabar /

The Washington Post

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in this article about the importance of the federal drinking water standards for certain PFAS compounds.

Breast Milk Can Expose Babies to Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’

April 9, 2024 / by

Sharon Usadin and Rachil Frazin /

The Hill

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in this article about the very real concern of passing PFAS from mother to child through breastfeeding.

EPA Puts Limits on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water

April 10, 2024 / by

Pien Huang /

NPR

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in NPR discussing the positive impacts of the agency’s recently finalized drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals.

Evidence of PFAS Found in Popular Bandage Brands Including Band-Aid

April 3, 2024 / by

EHN Editors /

Environmental Health News

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in Environmental Health News about bandaid brands containing organic fluorine, a strong indicator that PFAS are present.

EPA Nears Finish Line on Expansion of Air Toxics Reporting

April 2, 2024 / by

Sean Reilly /

Politico Pro

A Politico article mentioned a set of public comments written by EPN on air emissions reporting requirements. EPA is expected to issue a final rule in the coming months.

Lead In The Drinking Water Is Still a Problem In The U.S. — Especially in Chicago

April 1, 2024 / by

Pien Huang /

NPR

Elin Betanzo, former Environmental Engineer, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Standards and Risk Management Division, and Betsy Southerland, former Director of the Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water, were quoted in NPR about Chicago’s 400,000 lead service lines and how the city has lacked enforcement of EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule.

EPA’s Truck Pollution Standard Means Clean Trucks, Clean Air, Clean Lungs

April 1, 2024 / by

Margo Oge /

Forbes

Margo Oge, former Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, penned an op-ed in Forbes about EPA’s final heavy-duty vehicle emissions rule and writes about how it advances economic, climate, and public health goals.

Biden’s Climate Playbook: Propose Strong Rules, Then Soften Them

March 28, 2024 / by

Jean Chemnick and Benjamin Storrow /

E&E News

Stan Meiburg, former DRA in Region 4 and Acting Deputy Administrator, and Jeremy Symons, EPN Senior Advisor, were quoted in E&E News about Biden’s delicate climate agenda ahead of the 2024 election.

Federal Grant for Exxon Plant Faces Blowback

March 27, 2024 / by

Sean Reilly and Ellie Borst /

Politico Pro

Judith Enck, former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in Politico about an Exxon Mobil plant–one of 33 projects announced–that is up for millions of dollars of federal funding to decarbonize. Many argue that this funding goes against Biden’s climate commitments.

Plastic Chemicals Are Inescapable — And They’re Messing With Our Hormones

March 22, 2024 / by

Joseph Winters /

Grist

Tracey Woodruff, former EPA senior scientist and policy advisor in the Office of Policy, was quoted in Grist about endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in many plastics that humans are exposed to on a daily basis. These EDCs are also released and found in the air, water, soil, and food.

5th Circuit Curbs EPA Authority Under Chemical Safety Law

March 22, 2024 / by

Ellie Borst /

Politico Pro

Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator and Senior Policy Counsel to the EPA Administrator, was quoted in Politico Pro about the 5th Circuit Court’s decision to strike down EPA’s interpretation of the ‘Significant New Use Rule’ and adopt Inhance Technology’s interpretation.

Biden Emissions Rules Face Lawsuit Barrage Over EV Transition

March 21, 2024 / by

Jennifer Hijazi /

Bloomberg Law

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in Bloomberg Law about the legal strength of the Biden Administration’s new light-and medium- duty vehicle emissions rule.

EPA’s New Clean Car Rules Will Make People, The Planet, And Auto Manufactures Healthier

March 20, 2024 / by

Margo Oge /

Forbes

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, penned an op-ed in Forbes about how the new car standards will make Americans healthier, reduce climate pollution, and allow US car companies to compete around the world.

Cascade of Climate Rules Starts Today With Clean Cars

March 20, 2024 / by

Mike Lee and Jean Chemnick /

Politico Pro

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in Politico about the Biden Administration’s newest transportation rule that will push for EV’s and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, citing it as the “​​single most important climate regulation in the history of the country.”

Report Reviews How Smart Donating Can Help Solve the Climate Crisis — and Highlights Some of the Top Charities Deemed Worthy of Donations

March 20, 2024 / by

Jeremiah Budin /

Yahoo! News

EPN was mentioned in a Yahoo News article as a donation-worthy organization working to fight the climate crisis.

Program to Replace Lead Pipes in Boston Off to Slow Start

March 20, 2024 / by

Mike Sullivan /

CBS News

Ronnie Levin, former EPA Senior Scientist, Region 1, was quoted in CBS News about her cost-benefit analysis work on lead contamination and the slow rollout of Boston’s free lead pipe replacement program.

Does Your Colorado Town Have PFAS In Its Water? There’s Help For That.

March 20, 2024 / by

Jerd Smith /

Colorado Sun

Betsy Southerland, former Director of the Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water, was quoted in the Colorado Sun about the $86 million in emerging contaminant funding available to Colorado to detect and monitor PFAS in water.

Boston Struggles to Persuade Property Owners to Replace Their Lead Pipes

March 19, 2024 / by

David Abel and Taylor Brokesh /

The Boston Globe

Ronnie Levin, former EPA Senior Scientist, Region 1, was quoted in the Boston Globe about Boston College’s failure to replace lead pipes in student dorms after learning about the contaminated pipes in 2009. The pipes were replaced earlier this year. 

Nearly 130,000 Children Exposed to Lead-Tainted Drinking Water in Chicago

March 18, 2024 / by

Erin McCormick /

The Guardian

Elin Betanzo, former Environmental Engineer, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Standards and Risk Management Division, was quoted in The Guardian about Chicago’s need to replace its 400,000 lead service lines to protect children and the greater population.