Can Trump Kill Rules in a Pandemic? Experts Doubt It

May 21, 2020 / by

Jean Chemnick /

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 regarding a Trump Executive Order that would encourage federal agencies to cut regulations.

Science on the Ballot

May 20, 2020 / by

Judith Lewis Mernit /

Capital & Main

Chris Zarba, EPN member and former Director, EPA Science Advisory Board, was quoted in this article about the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks and their impact on climate change. The article was reprinted in City Watch LA.

Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali on Environmental Justice During COVID-19

May 20, 2020 / by

Ty Burrell and Brock Burrell /

The Climate Pod

Mustafa Santiago Ali, EPN member and former Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was interviewed on this podcast discussing environmental justice in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Law and Environmental Policy Advocacy with Joseph Goffman of Harvard Law’s EELP

May 20, 2020 / by

Nathanial Pearlman /

The Great Battlefield

Joe Goffman, EPN member and former Associate Assistant Administrator for Climate and Senior Counsel, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was interviewed on this podcast, where he discussed environmental legislation and the Harvard Environmental Energy & Law Program’s tracking of the Trump administration’s rollbacks.

Watchdog Finds High Dissatisfaction Over Scientific Integrity

May 20, 2020 / by

Kelsey Brugger /

E&E News

EPN members Tom Burke, former Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Research and Development, and Dan Costa, former National Program Director, EPA Air, Climate, and Energy Research Program, Office of Research and Development, were quoted in this article regarding an Inspector General report that showed a majority of EPA employees had expressed dissatisfaction with EPA’s culture of scientific integrity.

Basketball Was Made to Be Played Indoors. Now That’s the Problem.

May 20, 2020 / by

Ben Cohen /

Wall Street Journal

Dan Costa, EPN member and former National Program Director, EPA Air, Climate, and Energy Research Program, Office of Research and Development, was quoted in this article on how indoor stadiums are one of the highest risk areas for COVID-19 transmission.

White House Warned EPA About Legal Concerns, ‘Spurious’ Tone

May 19, 2020 / by

Maxine Joselow /

E&E News

Margo Oge, EPN member and former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article, concerning the shaky legal ground of the administration’s fuel efficiency standards.

EPA Effort to Limit Guidance Could Undermine Past Administration Policy

May 19, 2020 / by

Rebecca Beitsch /

The Hill

Stan Meiburg, EPN member and former EPA Deputy Regional Administrator in Region 4 and Region 6 and Acting Deputy Administrator, was also quoted in this article regarding a new EPA policy that would look to increase public engagement in the rulemaking process while making past rules more susceptible to court challenges.

EPA Staff Warned that Mileage Rollbacks Had Flaws. Trump Officials Ignored Them.

May 19, 2020 / by

Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis /

Washington Post

Jeff Alson, EPN member and former EPA Senior Engineer and Policy Advisor, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article on EPA staff warnings to the White House regarding flaws in the administration’s fuel efficiency rollbacks. This article was reprinted by The Telegraph.

Doctors, Health Groups Bash Science Proposal

May 19, 2020 / by

Kelsey Brugger /

E&E News

Steve Silverman, EPN member and former Attorney, Office of General Counsel, was quoted in this article on EPA’s supplementary proposal to its “censored science” rule.

EPA Emails Reveal Talks Between Trump Officials, Chemical Group Before 2017 Settlement

May 17, 2020 / by

Rachel Frazin /

The Hill

EPN members Scott Gordon, former Branch Chief and Deputy Director, EPA Region 4, and Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator, were quoted in this article about 2017 emails between Trump officials and the National Association of Chemical Distributors regarding a fine that was to be levied against the chemical company Brenntag.

Critics Blast EPA Rule to Seize Control of State Permits

May 13, 2020 / by

Hannah Northey and Kelsey Brugger /

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 on the finalization of EPA’s Clean Water Rule.

Watchdogs Criticize Trump Administration’s Deregulation Efforts During Pandemic

May 13, 2020 / by

Courtney Buble /

Government Executive

Joel Mintz, EPN member and former EPA Enforcement and Supervisory Attorney, was quoted and EPN was mentioned in this article on the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nine U.S. States Sue EPA for Easing Environmental Enforcement Amid Pandemic

May 13, 2020 / by

Valerie Volcovici /

Reuters

Cynthia Giles, EPN member and former Assistant Administrator, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, was quoted in an article by Reuters on a lawsuit brought forth by 9 states against EPA’s suspension of enforcement. Cynthia was also quoted in a similar article by One Green Planet.

Medical Supply Crunch Scrambles Fight Over Toxic Sterilizer Emissions

May 12, 2020 / by

Annie Snider /

Politico

Janet McCabe, EPN member and former Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in this article on the potential for the uptick in medical supply production to lead to increased emissions of a cancer-causing gas associated with sterilizing facilities. 

Critics Blast EPA Waiver Promises as ‘Unnecessary’

May 11, 2020 / by

Kelsey Brugger /

E&E News

EPN members Cynthia Giles, former Assistant Administrator, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance; and Steve Herman, former Assistant Administrator, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance; and Joel Mintz, former EPA Enforcement and Supervisory Attorney, were quoted in this article on EPA’s loosening of enforcement measures and use of no-action assurances during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plastic Recycling is Broken. So Why Does Big Plastic Want $1 Billion to Fix it?

May 11, 2020 / by

Shannon Osaka /

Grist

Judith Enck, EPN member and former EPA Regional Administrator for Region 2, was quoted in this article on the plastic recycling system and the bailout requested by the plastic industry. Judith was quoted in a similar article by The New Yorker.

Tensions Flare Over Sluggish EPA Revamp of Cost-Benefit Rule

May 8, 2020 / by

Sean Reilly /

E&E News

Dan Costa, EPN member and former National Program Director, EPA Air, Climate, and Energy Research Program, was quoted in this article on EPA’s draft rule, which would overhaul its cost-benefit forecasting.

Short-Staffed EPA Leans on Older Adjunct Workers, With No Raises

May 7, 2020 / by

Stephen Lee /

Bloomberg

 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 regarding EPA’s reliance on the Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) program.

EPA Gets More Time to Fend Off Enforcement Policy Challenge

May 6, 2020 / by

Ellen Gilmer /

Bloomberg

EPN members Cynthia Giles, former Assistant Administrator, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, and Steve Herman, former Assistant Administrator, Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, were quoted in this article on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York decision to grant EPA an extension to respond to challenges regarding their suspension of enforcement. Cynthia and Steve were also quoted in a similar article by E&E News. You can find their amicus brief here.

 

Scientists to EPA: Draft Study on Toxin ‘Too Limited’

May 6, 2020 / by

Ariana Figueroa /

E&E News

Bob Sussman, EPN member and former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article regarding the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals’ (SACC) final report on EPA’s draft review of carbon tetrachloride.

Trump Virus Economic Recovery Plan May Strip Environmental Protections

May 6, 2020 / by

Tom Pelton /

WYPR

Stan Meiburg, EPN member and former EPA Deputy Regional Administrator in Region 4 and Region 6 and Acting Deputy Administrator, was interviewed on this radio show regarding the Trump administration’s economic recovery plan, including environmental deregulation. 

Legal Experts Question EPA’s Ability to Quickly Develop Maui Guidance

May 6, 2020 / by

Lara Beaven /

Inside EPA

Mark Ryan, EPN member and former EPA Regional Counsel, Region 10, was quoted in this article regarding EPA’s capacity to develop guidance based on the Supreme Court’s ruling against the administration’s interpretation of the Clean Water Act.

COVID-19 Crisis: Is it the End of the Oil Age and the Beginning of Clean Air?

May 5, 2020 / by

Charles Morris /

InsideEVs

Margo Oge, EPN member and former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, was quoted in this article on how the COVID-19 pandemic can accelerate the end of the oil age.