In the News

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article regarding a new California environmental law to curb plastic production and possible loopholes that would allow chemical recycling of plastics to continue and permit product exemptions.

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing the poorly-enforced plastic bag ban in New York State.

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in this article regarding a recent study she co-authored that found 57,412 presumptive PFAS-contaminated sites, which included industrial facilities, wastewater treatment plants, and current and former military sites in the U.S.

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in this article discussing a study by the European Food Safety Authority that found that BPA, a commonly-found component of food packaging, triggers children’s immune systems.

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article about a report from the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives that explored zero-waste solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Judith Enck, founder of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing a campaign launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies to target petrochemical and plastics facilities.

Michael Levin, former Director of Regulatory Reform, EPA Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, wrote this commentary outlining the unprecedented steps the Supreme Court took using the “major questions” doctrine in its majority opinion on West Virginia vs EPA and the impact that doctrine could have on federal agencies’ regulatory ability.

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article describing severe shortcomings of the World Health Organization’s draft drinking water guidelines for PFOA and PFOS.

Kevin Minoli, former EPA Acting General Counsel, and Mark Ryan, former Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10 and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney at the Department of Justice, were quoted in this article discussing oral arguments in the Sackett vs. EPA case and the skepticism some of the conservative Supreme Court justices felt towards the plaintiffs preferred definition of waters of the United States.

Dave Coursen, former Attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed discussing how a robust budget appropriation, not a continuing resolution, is needed for EPA to fulfill its existing responsibilities and confront new challenges.

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, was interviewed on this news segment discussing how already-vulnerable, low-wealth communities need to be prepared for natural disasters intensified by climate change.

Kevin Minoli, former EPA Acting General Counsel, was quoted in this article discussing the possible intent behind the Supreme Court hearing the Sackett vs. EPA case, which questions what bodies of water are federally protected.

Jeremy Symons, EPN consultant and former Climate Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, wrote this op-ed describing a unified Democratic permitting agenda that would help expedite renewable energy infrastructure projects forward and move us past Senator Joe Manchin’s failed permitting reform plan.

Mark Ryan, former Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10 and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney at the Department of Justice, was quoted in this article discussing the likely outcome of the Sackett vs EPA case, now before the Supreme Court, and the implications it will have on the Clean Water Act and the federal government’s ability to protect waterways nationwide.

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in this article about the likelihood that the Supreme Court will use the “major questions” doctrine in its Sackett vs. EPA decision and the impact the doctrine will have on future rulemakings and legislation.

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, penned this op-ed urging President Biden to declare a national climate emergency, which would give his administration further abilities to address climate-fueled impacts on vulnerable populations and allow federal agencies to move ahead with climate resiliency initiatives.

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, and Bob Sussman, former Senior Policy Counsel to the EPA Administrator and former EPA Deputy Administrator, were quoted and EPN was cited in this article discussing how Congress’ decision to pass a continuing resolution that would maintain federal agency funding at current levels, rather than a full budget appropriation bill for FY 2023, would harm EPA’s TSCA program and other federal programs.

John Bachmann, former Associate Director for Science/Policy and New Programs, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article regarding EPA’s reconsideration of the national ambient air quality standards for particulate matter following the Clean Air Science Advisory Committee’s review of the latest policy and science in the field.

Bob Sussman, former Senior Policy Counsel to the EPA Administrator and former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article discussing industry pushback on the process by which EPA issues chemical testing orders under revised TSCA Section 4.

Gordon Binder, former EPA Chief of Staff, and Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, were quoted in this article about the use of “administratively determined” hires at EPA to bring experienced staff in quickly at key positions within the agency.

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in this article discussing cleanup efforts at the Winston Weaver fertilizer plant, a Superfund site that caught fire in January 2022.

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article regarding Michael Bloomberg’s announcement of an $85 million dollar campaign aimed at stopping plastic pollution from the petrochemical industry. Judith was quoted in a similar article appearing in E&E News.

EPN’s letter to the Senate urging the inclusion of PFAS amendments to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act was referenced in this article discussing a National Academy of Sciences’ report that provides recommendations to clinicians who may consider PFAS testing for patients at higher risk of exposure to the chemicals.

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article regarding a planned protest march to EPA headquarters about the agency’s failure to protect communities from chemical pollution and the need for congressional action to give EPA the ability to address the protesters’ concerns.