Wheeler’s Calendar Missing Since May; Agency Blames Pandemic

October 15, 2020 / by

Kevin Borgadus /

E&E News

Stan Meiburg, EPN member and former EPA Deputy Regional Administrator in Region 4 and Region 6 and Acting Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article on EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s public calendar.

NC Nonprofits Petition EPA Over PFAS

October 14, 2020 / by

Staff Reprot /

Coastal Review Online

Linda Birnbaum, EPN member and former EPA federal scientist, was quoted in an article by this article concerning the toxicity of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina.

Under Trump, Criminal Prosecutions for Pollution Dropped Sharply

October 13, 2020 / by

John Schwartz /

The New York Times

Judith Enck, EPN member and former Regional Administrator for EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article on the decline of criminal prosecutions for pollution under the current administration. Judith was quoted in a similar article by EcoWatch.

Racism Turned Their Neighborhood Into ‘Cancer Alley.’ Now They’re Dying from COVID-19.

October 13, 2020 / by

Rick Jervis and Alan Gomez /

USA Today

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 role racism has played in fomenting higher cancer and COVID-19 mortality rates in Reserve, Louisiana. 

A New Class of ‘Forever Chemicals’ is an Emerging Threat to our Health and Environment

October 9, 2020 / by

Sonya Buyting /

CBC

Linda Birnbaum, EPN member and former EPA federal scientist, was interviewed on this radio program about PFAS chemicals. 

Claiming Major Superfund ‘Success,’ Trump EPA Focused on Completing Cleanups, Not Climate Planning

October 8, 2020 / by

David Hasmyer and Lise Olsen /

InsideClimate News

EPN members David Coursen (former lawyer in EPA’s Office of General Counsel), Michael Cox (former Regional Manager for Drinking Water Lead and Copper Rule, Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts Rule, and Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative), and Dennis McLerran (former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 10), were quoted in this article on the Superfund program under the current administration.

Judges Hear Arguments in President Trump’s Biggest Climate Rollback

October 8, 2020 / by

Lisa Friedman /

The New York Times

Joe Goffman, EPN member and former Associate Assistant Administrator for Climate and Senior Counsel, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article regarding an upcoming hearing in the U.S. Court of Appeals, which could curtail EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Joe was quoted in a similar article by E&E News.

The House Just Passed Another “Save Our Seas” Act. Here’s Why it Won’t.

October 7, 2020 / by

Greta Moran /

The Intercept

Judith Enck, EPN member and former Regional Administrator for EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article regarding federal legislation to curb plastic pollution. Judith was quoted in a similar article by Inside EPA.

What You Need to Know About the Chemicals We’re Exposed to Every Day and Ingest Without Realizing

October 7, 2020 / by

Rajvi Desai /

The Swaddle

Linda Birnbaum, EPN member and former EPA federal scientist, was quoted in this article regarding everyday chemicals that people are exposed to.

It is Time to Protect Kids’ Developing Brains from Fluoride

October 7, 2020 / by

Bruce Lanphear, Christine Till, and Linda S. Birnbaum /

Environmental Health News

Linda Birnbaum, EPN member and former EPA federal scientist, penned this op-ed on concerning evidence that suggests fluoride may be hampering brain development in children.

EPA Shifts Oversight of Cleanup Site to USDA, Spotlighting CERCLA Reform

October 7, 2020 / by

Suzanne Yohannan /

Inside EPA

David Janik, EPN member and former Supervisory Enforcement Attorney, EPA Region 8, was quoted in an Inside EPA article on EPA shifting Superfund site oversight to the USDA.

About That Plastic Bag Ban: Have No Fear, You Shall Adjust

October 6, 2020 / by

Star-Ledger Editorial Board /

Star-Ledger

 Judith Enck, EPN member and former Regional Administrator for EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article on a potential plastic bag ban for the state of New Jersey. 

Environmental Issues Loom Large in 2020 Election. Here’s What They Could Mean for Indiana.

October 5, 2020 / by

Sarah Bowman and London Gibson /

IndyStar

Janet McCabe, EPN member and former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article about an October panel she participated in on climate change, air and water pollution, energy policy, and the role of government in protecting the environment.

How Trump Damaged Science — and Why it Could Take Decades to Recover

October 5, 2020 / by

Jeff Tollefson /

Nature

John Bachmann, EPN member and former Associate Director for Science and Policy and New Programs, EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, was quoted in this article concerning the treatment of science under the current administration.

Why American Climate Refugees Could Bring Hope, Prosperity to Indiana

October 2, 2020 / by

Eric Sandweiss and Janet McCabe /

IndyStar

Janet McCabe, EPN member and former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, published an op-ed in IndyStar on the potential economic benefits of climate change refugees settling in Indiana.

Critics of Pending EPA Lead Water Rule Face Tough Call on Filing Lawsuit

October 1, 2020 / by

Lara Beaven /

Inside EPA

Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article regarding the current administration’s proposed rollbacks to the Lead and Copper Rule.

Remaking Environmental Justice

October 1, 2020 / by

Cliff Villa /

Loyola Law Review

EPN member Cliff Villa, former EPA attorney, wrote this article describing how the scope of environmental justice in the EPA has changed over time and suggesting a new definition of environmental justice to ensure proper protection of people most at risk and in need.

Secret Tapes Reveal Pebble’s Plans to Offset Wetlands Damage

October 1, 2020 / by

Ariel Wittenberg /

E&E News

Dennis McLerran, EPN member and former Regional Administrator, EPA Region 10, was quoted in this article on the proposed Pebble Mine and the potential consequences it can have on the Briston Bay salmon fishery.

The Former … Portraits of 24 Officials Who Have Left the Trump Administration

September 30, 2020 / by

David Burnett /

Washington Post

EPN members Mustafa Santiago Ali, former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, and Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, were profiled in this article about former government officials who have left during the current administration.

Another Toxic EPA Cookbook

September 29, 2020 / by

David Coursen /

The Hill

David Coursen, EPN member and former lawyer in EPA’s Office of General Counsel, published this op-ed on the current administration’s environmental record and the consequences of its proposed “censored science” rule.

Did the White House Stop the EPA From Regulating PFAS?

September 29, 2020 / by

Sharon Lerner /

The Intercept

Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, was quoted in this article concerning PFAS chemicals and the regulatory process to designate them as hazardous substances.

OMB to agencies: Get in Line with Trump Training Order

September 29, 2020 / by

Kelsey Brugger /

E&E News

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 article on the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) instructions to federal agencies to end race-related training.

NY Begins Enforcing Plastic Bag Ban Oct. 19

September 28, 2020 / by

Karen Dewitt /

WBFO

Judith Enck, EPN member and former Regional Administrator for EPA Region 2, was quoted in this article on New York’s enforcement of its plastic bag ban.

EPA Lead Rule Risks ‘Another Generation,’ Critics Say

September 28, 2020 / by

Hannah Northey /

E&E News

Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former Director of the Office of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s finalized rollback to the Lead and Copper Rule.