In the 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.

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.

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. 

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.

Mike Koerber, former Deputy Director, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, and Eric Schaeffer, former director of EPA’s Office of Civil Enforcement, were quoted in NPR affiliate WBOI about possible ways the Indiana Department of Environmental Management can tighten industrial facilities’ air permits.

Tracey Woodruff, former EPA senior scientist and policy advisor in the Office of Policy, was quoted in The Guardian about the links of petrochemical production to diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, neurodevelopmental issues, and certain cancers, and suggests more chemical testing, exposure tracking, and single-chemical and single-use plastics bans.

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP), was quoted in Undark about the association of fluoridation with potential neuro deficits and the hurdles of publishing this data to the public.

Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Administrator, Region 2, was quoted in Environmental Health News about chemical recycling plants proposed across the country and how state laws allow these facilities to evade environmental oversight and be recognized as manufacturing plants.

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in Environmental Health News about a new report released by Mamavation that found evidence of PFAS in six deodorants.

Margo Oge, former Director of Office of Transportation and Air Quality, wrote an op-ed in Forbes about misleading ads being run in swing states for EPA’s proposed car emission standards.

Stan Meiburg, former DRA in Region 4 and Region 6 and Acting Deputy Administrator, was quoted in E&E News about Project 2025, a report released by the Heritage Foundation, that proposes the restructuring of the federal government, agency by agency, if a Republican wins the 2024 election.

John Bachmann, former Formerly Associate Director for Science/Policy and New Programs EPA/OAR/OAQPS, was quoted in The Lancet about EPA strengthening fine particulate matter standards from 12 to 9 μg/m3 and the positive health and economic benefits that will accompany the new limit.

Kevin Minoli, former Principal Deputy General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, was quoted in Inside EPA about the Supreme Court’s plan to stay the “Good Neighbor” Clean Air Act rule in the historic Ohio v. EPA case, and the potential precedents this case would set.

Barnes Johnson, former Director, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, was quoted in Inside EPA about a new guidance EPA has finalized under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) that includes climate change considerations.

Jeff Alson, former Senior Engineer and Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in E&E News about the possible options for EPA’s tailpipe emissions proposal that is being finalized and expected to be announced soon.

Bob Sussman, former Deputy Administrator and Senior Policy Counsel to the Administrator, was quoted in Common Dreams about EPA withholding important test data regarding the presence of PFOA and PFAS in plastic containers.

Ronnie Levin, former Senior Scientist, Risk Assessor, Lead Inspector, Enforcement Office, Region 1, was quoted in E&E News about issues with the surveys periodically sent to states to determine their lead line replacement and water infrastructure needs.

Lynn Goldman, former Assistant Administrator for Toxic Substances, and Linda Birnbaum, former EPA scientist and Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, were quoted in KFF Health News about FDA’s recent classification of formaldehyde as a human carcinogen and its concerning usage in hair products.

Linda Birnbaum, former EPA scientist and Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in WSILTV about the link between phthalates, known as “everywhere chemicals,” and premature births.

Sierra Taliaferro, EPN Community Outreach Associate, Region 4, was quoted in The Times Leader about EPA’s Environmental and Justice Community Change Grants program and the support it will provide to community-driven projects.

Bob Sussman, former Deputy Administrator and Senior Policy Counsel to the Administrator, was quoted in the Port City Daily about Chemours’ lawsuit against EPA challenging a non-regulatory and non-enforceable GenX health advisory.

Jeremy Symons, environmental consultant to EPN and former EPA climate policy adviser, was quoted in E&E News about DOE’s review that will focus on the climate impacts of LNG exports.

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science & Technology in the Office of Water, was quoted in Nature about the threat to scientific integrity if Trump gets elected for another term.

Bob Sussman, an attorney for groups in North Carolina fighting against PFAS, and former EPA Deputy Administrator and Senior Policy Counsel to the Administrator, was quoted in the Port City Daily about his call to reverse a court’s dismissal of a petition for EPA to require Chemours to test 54 PFAS compounds.