Trump Critics Press EPA To Address Advisors’ TSCA Evaluation Concerns

October 2, 2019 / by

Maria Hegstad and David LaRoss /

Inside EPA

EPN is mentioned in this article about EPA’s draft risk evaluations for pigment violet 29 and pressure from environmentalists to revise the conclusion that the chemical does not present a significant risk to human health; it was the first completed draft risk assessment under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

EPA’s Impeachment Mantra: ‘Business As Usual’

October 3, 2019 / by

Kevin Bogardus /

Greenwire

EPN member Bob Perciasepe, former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article about the history of presidential impeachment in the context of EPA, outlining the effects of impeachment proceedings on the Agency.

Trump Isn’t Wrong About California’s Smog. But He’s Not Helping

October 2, 2019 / by

Jennifer Dlouhy and Jeffrey Taylor /

Bloomberg

EPN member Gay MacGregor, former Senior Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article about the Trump Administration’s attacks on California for its air and water pollution, even while making it harder for the state to clean its environment.

Ewire: Obama EPA Alumni Slam Wheeler’s California Attacks

October 1, 2019 / by

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Inside EPA

Janet McCabe, former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, and Cynthia Giles, former Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, were quoted in this article about the Trump Administration’s attacks on California over fuel efficiency standards and its inaccurate allegations about the state’s pollution levels.

Obama EPA Enforcement Chief Slams Wheeler Over Calif. Plans

September 30, 2019 / by

Mike Soraghan /

E&E

EPN member Cynthia Giles, former Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, was quoted in this article about EPA’s letter to California blasting the state for its pollution problems, which does not match up with California’s low number of compliance violations. A similar article ran in POLITICO.

These Scientists Were Disbanded ByThe EPA — They Plan To Meet Anyway

September 30, 2019 / by

Jordan Davidson /

Nation of Change

Chris Zarba, EPN member and former Director, EPA Science Advisory Board, was quoted in this article about an independent gathering of the members of the disbanded Particulate Matter Review Panel in order to provide scientific expertise on air quality standards, regardless of government support.

Water Experts Tell Trump No, The Homeless Aren’t Hurting California Water Quality

September 28, 2019 / by

Rebecca Beitsch /

The Hill

Carl Reeverts, EPN member and former Project Manager, Infrastructure Branch of EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, and Deputy Director of the EPA Drinking Water Protection Division, was quoted in this article about California’s water quality and EPA’s letter accusing the state of failing to meet its sewage and water pollution issues, blaming the homeless population in major cities for excess waste.

Trump Administration Accuses California of Water Pollution

Sept. 26, 2019 / by

John Flesher /

Associated Press

Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, is quoted in this article about the Trump Administration accusing California of failing to stop water pollution from sources such as human waste in big cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. This story also ran in the Hartford Courant.

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States Demand Wheeler Explain EPA’s Stance on Federalism (2)

September 27, 2019 / by

Stephen Lee /

Bloomberg Environment

EPN members Janet McCabe, former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, David Coursen, former EPA Office of General Counsel, and Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, were quoted in this article about the Trump Administration’s fight with California regarding fuel efficiency standards.

Even At Legal Levels, Contaminants Found In Tap Water Are A Cancer Risk

September 26, 2019 / by

Hillel Aron /

FairWarning

Ronnie Levin, EPN member and former EPA Senior Scientist, Region 1, was quoted in this article about tap water contamination and EPA’s acceptable carcinogen levels that are so permissive that few water utilities, if any, are violating federal standards.

Fired EPA Scientists Band Together To Continue Their Work

September 26, 2019 / by

Steve Hanley /

CleanTechnica

Betsy Southerland, EPN member and former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article about the gathering of scientists from the disbanded particulate matter review panel that existed under the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee.

Scientists Booted From EPA Panel Form Their Own Group

September 26, 2019 / by

Rebecca Beitsch /

The Hill

EPN member Chris Zarba, former Director, EPA Science Advisory Board, was quoted in this article about a gathering of former members of the now-disbanded Particulate Matter Review Panel in an attempt to provide objective, scientific expertise without the backing of the government. Similar articles ran in S&P GlobalInside EPA, and Bloomberg Environment.

Around the Agencies: California vs. EPA Goes Another Round

September 25, 2019 / by

Kelsey Tamborrino /

Politico

EPN member Janet McCabe, former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, is quoted in the Around the Agencies section about EPA’s threat to withhold California highway money over air quality compliance.

Former EPA Staff See ‘Dangerous Precedent’ In SO2 Designation Revision

September 25, 2019 / by

Stuart Parker /

Inside EPA

EPN members Sara Schneeberg, former Assistant General Counsel, EPA Air and Radiation Law Office, and Janet McCabe, former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, were quoted in this article about comments submitted by EPN regarding EPA’s decision to allow five Texas counties to escape sulfur dioxide regulation.

US EPA Floats Sanctions For California As Fight Over Clean Car Rules Escalates

September 24, 2019 / by

Zack Hale /

S&P Global

EPN member Gay MacGregor, former Senior Policy Advisor, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article about EPA’s letter threatening California over its backlog of air quality plans in retaliation for the state’s deal with automakers to maintain strict fuel efficiency standards.

EPA Threatens California Over Backlog Of 100-Plus Air Quality Plans

September 24, 2019 / by

Abby Smith /

Washington Examiner

Janet McCabe, EPN member and former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article about EPA’s letter to California threatening to withhold federal funding unless it addresses its air pollution, the latest salvo in the fight between California and the government over fuel efficiency standards. Similar articles ran in the Washington Post and NPR.

Trump Administration Ramps Up Fight With California As EPA Threatens To Withhold Federal Funds

September 24, 2019 / by

Stephanie Ebbs /

ABC

Margo Oge, EPN member and former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article about the escalation of the Trump Administration’s fight with California over fuel efficiency standards, specifically regarding a recent letter sent by EPA claiming that California could lose federal funds unless it fixes its air quality. Similar articles ran in Bloomberg and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Lawyers Expect EPA’s New CWA 401 Plan To Spur Lengthy Litigation ‘Mess’

September 23, 2019 / by

Lara Beaven /

Inside EPA

Mark Ryan, EPN member and former EPA Regional Counsel, Region 10, was quoted in this article about an EPA proposal to scale back state authority to review whether federal programs under the Clean Water Act would harm state water quality standards.

EPA Rule Not Great for Clean Power

September/October 2019 / by

Michael H. Levin /

BioCycle

Michael H. Levin, EPN member and formerly EPA’s first National Regulatory Reform Director, wrote this article about EPA’s Affordable Clean Energy Rule, developed to replace the Clean Power Plan, which could eliminate EPA’s ability to use the Clean Air Act to regulate existing-source greenhouse gas emissions as well as compliance options for emitting sources.

 

Professor: West Virginia Faces Challenges From Climate Change

September 22, 2019 / by

Scott Beveridge /

Observer-Reporter

EPN member Bernard Goldstein, former chair, EPA Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, was quoted in this article about the growth of renewable energy and changing energy dynamics in West Virginia, emphasizing the importance of science and education about air pollution.

Repealing The Clean Water Rule Is Not About Protecting Farmers

September 20, 2019 / by

Betsy Southerland and Mark Ryan /

The Hill

EPN members Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, and Mark Ryan, former EPA Regional Counsel, Region 10, wrote this op-ed about the repeal of the 2015 Clean Water Rule and the law’s crucial role as an authority protecting national waterways and wetlands.

MIT Media Lab Kept Regulators in the Dark, Dumped Chemicals in Excess of Legal Limit

Sept. 20, 2019 / by

Lisa Song and Max Larkin /

ProPublica

Carl Reeverts, EPN member and former Project Manager, Infrastructure Branch of EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, and Deputy Director of the EPA Drinking Water Protection Division, was quoted in this article about MIT’s Media Lab dumping wastewater underground in violation of a state environmental regulation.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump Team Distortions On Fuel Economy Rules

September 19, 2019 / by

Michael Biesecker and Tom Krisher /

Associated Press

Jeff Alson, EPN member and former EPA Senior Engineer and Policy Advisor, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article that fact-checked EPA Administrator Wheeler’s claim that electric vehicles were making an insignificant impact on national emissions, concluding that loosening fuel efficiency standards would be disastrous for fossil fuel pollution and auto industry competitiveness.

White House Green Lights Looser Standards To Drive Back Climate Change

September 19, 2019 / by

Kyle Midura /

Gray TV

Mustafa Santiago Ali, EPN member and former EPA Senior Advisor and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was interviewed about dual moves by the Trump Administration to weaken fuel efficiency standards: federal plans to lower national standards combined with a repeal of California’s authority to set stricter limits. (Clip starts at approximately 0:36).