These Carbon-Spewing Vehicles Must Be Stopped

January 12, 2022 / by

Margo Oge and Drew Kodjak /

The New York Times

Margo Oge, chair of the International Council on Clean Transportation and former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, co-authored this op-ed urging the Biden administration to set targets for making heavy-duty trucks and buses emission-free.

Biden’s 2022 Climate Test

January 6, 2022 / by

Jeremy Symons /

The Hill

Jeremy Symons, EPN consultant and former Climate Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, penned this op-ed discussing the importance of curtailing U.S. liquid natural gas exports in order to meet our climate goals.

Despite Extended Timeline, 2022 may be ‘Pivotal’ for Next Auto GHG Rule

January 5, 2022 / by

Doug Obey /

Inside EPA

Jeff Alson, former Senior Engineer and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article about the importance of and challenges in setting long-term vehicle emissions standards.

Advocates Call EPA ‘Forever Chemical’ Testing Announcement Insufficient

December 29, 2021 / by

Rachel Frazin /

The Hill

Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator and currently counsel to several North Carolina-based environmental groups petitioning EPA, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s decision to fulfill the petitioners’ request for testing 54 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances using its existing PFAS testing strategy, not through new testing orders as asked by the petitioners. Bob was quoted in similar articles appearing in The Charlotte Observer and Inside EPA.

EPA Needs an Annual Appropriation That Will Fund the Biden Environmental Agenda

December 23, 2021 / by

David Coursen /

The Hill

Dave Coursen, former attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, wrote this op-ed outlining the many reasons why EPA needs an annual appropriations bill passed in order to rebuild and restore its role in protecting human health and the environment.

Industry Split on Pyrolysis Rules Deepens as Environmentalists Intervene

December 22, 2021 / by

Stuart Parker /

Inside EPA

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article about a proposed EPA rulemaking that would regulate pyrolysis and gasification, processes used in the chemical recycling of plastics, under the Clean Air Act.

How EPA’s Power Plant Rule Dodged Industry ‘Fear-spreading’

December 21, 2021 / by

Sean Reilly /

E&E News

Bob Perciasepe, former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article discussing the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, ten years after it was implemented to limit hazardous emissions from power plants.

How Black Communities Become “Sacrifice Zones” for Industrial Air Pollution

December 21, 2021 / by

Ken Ward Jr. /

ProPublica

Mustafa Santiago Ali, 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 the article about a predominantly Black West Virginia community that lies in the sacrifice zone of a Union Carbide chemical plant.

U.S. EPA Issues Strictest-Ever GHG Emissions Standards

December 20, 2021 / by

News Editor /

Environment News Service

Mustafa Santiago Ali, 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, and Jeff Alson, former Senior Engineer and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, were quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article discussing EPA’s stricter greenhouse gas vehicle emissions standards.

EPA Will Tighten Fuel Mileage Standards For Cars and Light Trucks, Replacing Looser Trump-era Standards

December 20, 2021 / by

Ella Nilsen /

CNN

Margo Oge, Chair of the International Council on Clean Transportation and former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s new 2023-2026 vehicle fuel emission standards and electric vehicle tax credits that are part of the Build Back Better bill.

E.P.A. Announces Tightest-Ever Auto Pollution Rules

December 20, 2021 / by

Coral Davenport /

The New York Times

Jeff Alson, former Senior Engineer and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article discussing the recently-announced vehicle emissions standards for model year 2023-2026 automobiles and light-duty vehicles. Jeff was also quoted in related articles appearing in a variety of news outlets including The Washington Post, E&E News, Huffington Post, and Grist.

Final ‘Forever Chemicals’ Water Monitoring Rule Issued by EPA

December 20, 2021 / by

Bobby Magill /

Bloomberg Law

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article about EPA’s recent nationwide monitoring rule that will track levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and lithium in drinking water.

Why the Midwest Should Lead on Electric Vehicles

December 18, 2021 / by

Jeff Alson /

I Heart Climate Voices

Jeff Alson, former Senior Engineer and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, penned this op-ed about how Midwesterners could take the lead in the country’s transition to electric vehicles.

Do You Know What’s in Your Blood? New EPA Docs Show Widespread Risk From Common Chemicals

December 16, 2021 / by

Kyle Bagenstose /

USA Today

Tracey Woodruff, Director of Reproductive Health and Environment Program, University of California, San Francisco, and former Senior Scientist and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Policy, was quoted in this article discussing EPA’s findings indicating that PFOA, a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, is a likely carcinogen.

White House Lead-Eradication Plan Draws Praise and Questions

December 16, 2021 / by

Hannah Northey /

E&E News

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article discussing the Biden administration’s recently announced Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan.

EPA Launches Civil Rights Revamp

December 14, 2021 / by

Kelsey Brugger and Hannah Northey /

E&E News

Mustafa Santiago Ali, Vice President for Environmental Justice, National Wildlife Federation; former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization; and former Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was quoted in this article about changes to EPA’s Office of Civil Rights that have been outlined in the agency’s strategic agenda.

A ‘Polluter Pays’ Tax in Infrastructure Plan Could Jump-Start Languishing Cleanups at Superfund Sites

December 9, 2021 / by

David Hasemyer /

Inside Climate News

Bill Muno, former Superfund Director, EPA Region 5, was quoted in this article discussing how the polluters pay tax incorporated into the infrastructure law will allow work to resume at many languishing Superfund sites.

Here’s How Toyota Can Regain Its Lost Green Brand Image

December 9, 2021 / by

Margo Oge /

Forbes

Margo Oge, former Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, wrote this op-ed outlining what Toyota can do to regain its footing in the clean transportation market.

Biden Wants to Remove Lead Pipes for Cleaner Drinking Water. But Does New Law Spend Enough?

December 3, 2021 / by

Bryan Lowry /

McClatchy DC

Ronnie Levin, Instructor at Harvard’s Chan School of Public Health and former Senior Scientist, EPA Region 1, was quoted in this article about how the $15 billion allocated for lead service line replacement in the new infrastructure law will not be enough to replace every lead service line in the US.

US Lags in Electric Vehicle Sales Despite Biden Administration’s Push

December 3, 2021 / by

Oliver Milman /

The Guardian

Margo Oge, former Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article regarding the legislative and regulatory push the Biden administration will need to exert on US automakers in order for the country to reach the administration’s 2030 electric vehicle sales target.

Pulling Back the Curtain on Pollution

December 2, 2021 / by

Joseph Winters /

Grist

Mustafa Santiago Ali, former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s recent ruling that requires all natural gas processing facilities to report their hazardous pollutant emissions to the Toxics Release Inventory.

New PFAS Findings Open Door to ‘No Safe Level’ Regulatory Approach

December 2, 2021 / by

Diana DiGangi /

Inside EPA

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article discussing the possible regulatory outcome of EPA’s Science Advisory Board review of draft toxicity analyses performed on two key per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

A Commonsense Proposal to Deal With Plastics Pollution: Stop Making So Much Plastic

December 1, 2021 / by

James Bruggers /

Inside Climate News

Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article about a National Academies of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering report that recommends the US develop a comprehensive strategy to curtail plastic waste and its negative environmental impacts.

Interview With Dr. Linda Birnbaum

November 30, 2021 / by

Daniel Rosenberg /

The Toxic Avengers

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and former EPA scientist, was interviewed on this podcast discussing her career as a scientist and program director studying dioxins, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and other important and prevalent toxic chemicals.