EPN Sends Letter to Congressional Committees on PFAS Exemptions from CERCLA
On April 18, 2024, EPN sent a letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee regarding legislation under consideration on PFAS that could include exemptions from the potential liability under CERCLA for releases (or threat of release) of PFAS compounds into the environment.
EPN Comments on Listing of Specific PFAS as Hazardous Constituents
On March 27, 2024, EPN submitted comments on EPA's proposal to expand the scope of constituents under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Section 3004(u) to include nine listed PFAS chemicals. We commend EPA for proposing this important new rule and providing clear explanations to prevent confusion regarding its implementation.
EPN Comments on EPA’s Proposed Definition of Hazardous Waste Applicable to Corrective Action for Releases From Solid Waste Management Units
On March 7, 2024, EPN submitted comments on EPA's proposal to amend the definition of hazardous waste applicable to corrective action for releases from solid waste management units. We suggest some clarifications and urge EPA to continue to utilize the statutory definition of hazardous waste.
Walter Mugdan, former EPA Region 2 Deputy Regional Administrator and Superfund Director, was quoted in Common Dreams about EPA’s recently finalized rule to hold industrial polluters accountable for PFAS contamination across the country.
Tracey Woodruff, former EPA Senior Scientist and Policy Advisor in the Office of Policy, was quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the new Superfund rule, adding that it is a step in the right direction, especially for low income communities and communities of color.
Ronnie Levin, former EPA Senior Scientist, Region 1, was quoted in The Washington Post about the challenges of implementing national lead pipe replacement standards and working with thousands of utility companies across the country. Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator and Senior Policy Counsel to the EPA Administrator, was quoted in Politico about a petition from the Asbestos Disease and Awareness Organization (ADAO) that asserts EPA’s recent ban on asbestos is not strong enough. Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in NPR discussing the positive impacts of the agency’s recently finalized drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals.
EPN Comments on White Paper Describing Benefits of Structured and Digital Content Labels for Pesticide Products
On March 14, 2024, EPN submitted comments on the White Paper about the benefits of structured and digital content labels for pesticide products. We discuss challenges and offer suggestions for overcoming them, as well as suggestions on how to realize benefits more quickly.
EPN Comments on Candidates for Ad Hoc Participation in the SACC Peer Review of the Draft Risk Evaluation for Formaldehyde
On March 13, 2024, EPN submitted comments on the candidates under consideration for selection as ad hoc peer reviewers, assisting the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) with their peer review of the agency’s evaluation of the risks from formaldehyde. We suggest areas of expertise that should be enhanced, support specific candidates, and caution against using multiple candidates from the same place of employment.
Chemicals in the News
Why the U.S. Struggles to Replace Millions of Lead Pipes. ‘We’re Just Stuck.’
Lawsuits Mount Over EPA’s Asbestos Ban
EPA Puts Limits on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water
Mike Koerber, former Deputy Director, Office of Air Quality and Planning Standards, Office of Air and Radiation, was quoted in ProPublica about how a new EPA rule that requires fenceline monitoring could help Calvert City, KY, address severe community pollution. Jeremy Symons, Senior Advisor to EPN, was quoted in Public News Service about a new EPA rule requiring select chemical plants in West Virginia and other states to lower pollution of ethylene oxide, chloroprene, and other cancer-causing pollutants and report their emissions to EPA. Margo Oge, former Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, penned an op-ed in Forbes about EPA’s final heavy-duty vehicle emissions rule and writes about how it advances economic, climate, and public health goals.
Air in the News
The EPA Has Done Nearly Everything It Can to Clean Up This Town. It Hasn’t Worked.
Experts: EPA Chemical Plant Emissions Rule a Win for WV Communities
EPA’s Truck Pollution Standard Means Clean Trucks, Clean Air, Clean Lungs
EPN members contributed to a range of articles on topics such as EPA’s new PFAS standards, air toxics reporting, and President Biden’s climate agenda. Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in Smithsonian Magazine discussing EPA’s new federal limits of PFAS in drinking water. A Politico article mentioned a set of public comments written by EPN on air emissions reporting requirements. EPA is expected to issue a final rule in the coming months. Stan Meiburg, former DRA in Region 4 and Acting Deputy Administrator, and Jeremy Symons, EPN Senior Advisor, were quoted in E&E News about Biden’s delicate climate agenda ahead of the 2024 election.
EPA Sets First Federal Limits on Dangerous ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water
EPA Nears Finish Line on Expansion of Air Toxics Reporting
Biden’s Climate Playbook: Propose Strong Rules, Then Soften Them
Read all recent EPN in the News items here
