Review of Particulate Matter Air Levels a ‘No Brainer’ for EPA

June 11, 2021 / by

Jennifer Hijazi /

Bloomberg Law

John Bachmann, EPN member and former Associate Director for Science Policy and New Programs, EPA Office of Air Quality Standards and Planning, was quoted in this article discussing EPA’s decision to reconsider National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter, which was left unchanged by the Trump administration.

Will Environmental Justice Change Under Biden?

June 10, 2021 / by

Dean Scott and Jennifer Hijazi /

Bloomberg Law

Cliff Villa, EPN member and former EPA attorney, was interviewed in this news segment regarding the progress of environmental justice at the federal level.

Will We Ever Be Able to Clean Up All Our Trash?

June 14, 2021 / by

Daniel Kolitz /

Gizmodo

Judith Enck, EPN member and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article discussing possible ways to dispose of existing landfill waste and minimize the production of new municipal waste.

Regan’s Pledge for WOTUS ‘Middle Ground’ Faces Doubts Amid Criticisms

June 10, 2021 / by

Lara Beaven /

Inside EPA

Kevin Minoli, EPN member and former EPA Acting General Counsel, was quoted in this article discussing challenges the Biden administration faces as it considers redefining Waters of the United States.

Will New Efforts Finally Bring Equity to Communities Long Impacted, At Risk and Underserved by Infrastructure?

June 10, 2021 / by

Pam Radtke Russell, Debra K. Rubin, Corinne Grinapol, Aileen Cho, and Nadine M. Post /

Engineering News-Record

Mustafa Santiago Ali, EPN member and former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was quoted in this article concerning the need to ensure funding for environmental justice programs is targeted to areas including STEM training.

Advocates Push Congress, EPA for Tougher Action on PFAS

June 9, 2021 / by

E.A. Crunden /

E&E News

EPN Executive Director Michelle Roos was quoted and EPN was cited in this article supporting a comprehensive class-based approach to PFAS regulation.

EPA Budget Request Emphasizes Recycling

June 9, 2021 / by

Colin Staub /

Resource Recycling

EPN’s letter to Congressional appropriators in support of EPA’s FY2022 Budget request was cited in this article discussing the proposed EPA budget.

Rebuilding EPA Through Its Climate Programs

June 9, 2021 / by

David Coursen /

The Hill

Dave Coursen, EPN member and former attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed describing how the proposed EPA FY2022 budget will allow the agency and its partners to carry out their mission to protect human health and the environment.

Energy Justice Nominee Brings Activist Voice to Biden’s Climate Plans

June 8, 2021 / by

Jeff Brady /

NPR

Mustafa Santiago Ali, former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was interviewed in this radio segment discussing the need for more federal money to be invested in historically Black colleges and other minority institutions.

Republicans Pledge Allegiance to Fossil Fuels Like it’s Still the 1950s

June 7, 2021 / by

Oliver Milman /

The Guardian

Judith Enck, EPN member and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article about the Republican party’s reluctance to move away from the fossil fuel industry.

EPA Agrees to 18-Month Deadline for TSCA Asbestos Reporting Rule

June 7, 2021 / by

Maria Hegstad /

Inside EPA

Bob Sussman, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization attorney (and EPN member and former EPA Deputy Administrator and Senior Policy Counsel to the EPA Administrator), was quoted in this article regarding a possible settlement between environmentalists and EPA that would require EPA to include asbestos in the Chemical Data Reporting program.

Infrastructure Funding Might Throw Environmental Protections Under the Bus

June 6, 2021 / by

Cheryl Wasserman /

The Hill

Cheryl Wasserman, EPN member and former Associate Director for Policy Analysis, EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, wrote this op-ed discussing how processes of the National Environmental Policy Act and environmental permitting would be significantly compromised under infrastructure legislation under consideration in Congress. She suggests how legislation can best be implemented to guide smart, efficient infrastructure construction that also enhances the environment, equity, economic empowerment, and climate resilience.

Biden EPA’s FY22 Budget Hike Seeks to Reverse Years of ‘Level’ Funding

June 3, 2021 / by

Lara Beaven /

Inside EPA

EPN was cited and EPN member Dave Coursen, former attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, was quoted in this article discussing how EPA’s robust budget request for FY2022 is needed to rebuild the agency after years of stagnant funding.

Can Biden’s Justice40 Plan Deliver a Fairer Environment for People of Color?

June 2, 2021 / by

Miranda Green /

The Guardian

Mustafa Santiago Ali, EPN member and former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was quoted in this article concerning implementation of the Biden administration’s Justice40 initiative.

A Bold Budget Vision for Climate

June 1, 2021 / by

David Coursen /

The Hill

David Coursen, EPN member and former attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, wrote this op-ed discussing the many ways the Biden administration’s proposed budget addresses the challenge of climate change, including within the EPA budget.

Biden Proposes Senate-confirmed Environmental Justice Post

June 1, 2021 / by

Kelsey Brugger /

E&E News

EPN members Mustafa Santiago Ali, former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, and Tim Whitehouse, former EPA senior attorney and advisor, were quoted in this article regarding President Biden’s proposal to create an environmental justice assistant administrator position within EPA.

A Look at What’s Inside Biden’s $6 Trillion Budget Request

May 28, 2021 / by

Lisa Friedman /

The New York Times

David Coursen, EPN member and former attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, was quoted in this article, as well as a Bloomberg Law article and an Inside EPA article, regarding the Biden administration’s proposed EPA budget for fiscal year 2022.

Biden Administration Wants to Give More Power Back to States to Block Pipelines

May 27, 2021 / by

Dino Grandoni /

The Washington Post

Mark Ryan, EPN member and former Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10, was quoted in this article discussing the Trump-era changes to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act that limited state and tribal authority over permitting energy projects. Mark was also quoted in a Bloomberg Law article about how the Navigable Waters Protection Rule could impact proposed mining in the Okefenokee Swamp.

Environmental Justice Advocates Seek Changes to Permitting Law

May 27, 2021 / by

Stephen Lee /

Bloomberg Law

Mustafa Santiago Ali, EPN member and former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was quoted in this article regarding a push for federal agencies to consider cumulative impacts when assessing projects in environmental justice communities permitted under the National Environmental Policy Act.

EPA to Revise Trump Rule Limiting State Authority to Block Pipelines

May 27, 2021 / by

Rachel Frazin /

The Hill

Mark Ryan, EPN member and former Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10, was quoted in this article concerning possible new regulations to reverse Trump-era changes to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.

Biden: ‘This Sucker’s Quick!’ (And the F150 Lightning Makes My Job Easier)

May 25, 2021 / by

Margo Oge /

Forbes

Margo Oge, EPN member and former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, wrote this op-ed discussing the importance of comparably-priced, equally-powerful electric versions of popular cars and trucks in a new clean transportation transition.

PFAS Found in Widely Used Home Garden Fertilizers

May 25, 2021 / by

E.A. Crunden /

E&E News

Linda Birnbaum, EPN member and former EPA scientist, was quoted in this article concerning the discovery of  per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in widely-available home fertilizers.

The Terrible Environmental Costs of Stagnant EPA Funding

May 24, 2021 / by

David Coursen /

The Hill

David Coursen, EPN member and former attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed describing the need for Congress to deliver sustained, adequate funding to allow EPA to perform its vital roles in protecting human health and the environment.

The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Bending Toward Environmental Justice

May 24, 2021 / by

Terry Yosie /

Green Biz

David Coursen, EPN member and former attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, was quoted in this article discussing how investing in water infrastructure can promote environmental justice.