EPN In Action May-June 2023

Welcome to your EPN In Action newsletter

Highlights

  • EPN submitted comments on EPA’s proposed interim decision and draft risk assessment addendum for ethylene oxide (EtO). We also submitted comments on EPA’s Reconsideration of the Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) Amendments, a part of the Agricultural Workers Protection Standard.

  • EPN submitted comments on EPA’s proposed revisions to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) following a residual risk and technology review and also submitted comments on greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) phase 3.

  • EPN submitted comments on EPA’s Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. EPN also submitted comments on EPA’s Supplemental Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category.

  • EPN submitted two sets of comments related to President Biden’s Executive Order on Modernizing Regulatory Review.

EPN Announcements

EPN’s Work on Pesticides

EPN Comments on EPA’s Reconsideration of AEZ Amendments

On May 12, 2023, EPN submitted comments on EPA's Reconsideration of the Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) Amendments. We commend EPA on its efforts to reestablish more protective and reliable requirements of the 2015 AEZ Rule and make suggestions on how to avoid disruptions to occupants within the AEZ.

EPN’s Work on Air

EPN Comments on GHG Standards for HDVs Phase 3

On June 16, 2023, EPN submitted comments on greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) phase 3. EPN strongly supports EPA’s proposal but believes that it could go further. We recommend that EPA set the national standard for HDVs at the same level as California’s Advanced Clean Trucks program.

Air in the News

History Shows EPA’s Proposed Vehicle Emissions Rule Can Be Done – It’s Worth Trillions!

May 16, 2023 / by

Margo Oge /

Forbes

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, penned this op-ed highlighting the many benefits of EPA’s proposed light-duty vehicle emissions standards and dispelling the false claims surrounding the proposal.

Biden Rule Tells Power Plants to Cut Climate Pollution by 90 Percent — or Shut Down

May 11, 2023 / by

Alex Guillen /

Politico

Bob Perciasepe, former acting EPA Administrator, was quoted in this article discussing why the Biden administration will need to get the regulated sector to support its draft power plant rule.

EPN’s Work on Water

EPN Comments on EPA’s Proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation

On May 30, 2023, EPN submitted comments on EPA's PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. We provide comments on the preliminary determination, the maximum contaminant level goals (MCLGs) and maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS, the Hazard Index MCLG and MCL for PFAS mixtures, monitoring requirements, public notification requirements, compliance requirements, and the benefit/cost analyses.

EPN Comments on Supplemental ELGs for Coal-Fired Power Plants

On May 30, 2023, EPN submitted comments on EPA’s Supplemental Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category. We recommended a more stringent Best Available Technology Economically Achievable (BAT) for combustion residue leachate and legacy wastewater and an earlier compliance date for direct dischargers.

Water in the News

How Do You Know If Drinking Water Is Safe From Forever Chemicals?

June 24, 2023 / by

Teddy Amenabar /

The Washington Post

Linda Birnbaum, former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health and the National Toxicology Program, was quoted in this article discussing acceptable levels of PFAS in water systems and the greater risk of PFAS contamination for water supplies located near PFAS-manufacturing and military facilities.

Calls To Toughen Water Quality Rules After Sackett Face Many Doubts

May 26, 2023 / by

Sam Hess /

Inside EPA

Betsy Southerland, former Director, Office of Science and Technology, EPA Office of Water, was quoted in this article discussing the many uncertainties in state-level water protections that have been created as a result of the Sackett vs. EPA decision.

Supreme Court Narrows Scope of EPA Water Protections

May 25, 2023 / by

Rachel Frazin /

The Hill

Mark Ryan, former Assistant Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10, and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney at the Department of Justice, was quoted in this article discussing the significant narrowing of the definition of waters of the United States following the Supreme Court decision on Sackett vs. EPA.

EPN’s Work on Economic Policy

EPN Member Op-Eds

EPN members penned their own op-eds on gas stoves, vehicle emission standards, and budget cuts.

Expert Insights: Why Gas Stoves Are Under Fire

June 9, 2023 / by

Bernard Goldstein /

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bernie Goldstein, former EPA Assistant Administrator for Research and Development and former chair, EPA Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee, penned this op-ed discussing why the phasing out of household gas appliances will be beneficial to human health and the environment.

History Shows EPA’s Proposed Vehicle Emissions Rule Can Be Done – It’s Worth Trillions!

May 16, 2023 / by

Margo Oge /

Forbes

Margo Oge, former Director, EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality, penned this op-ed highlighting the many benefits of EPA’s proposed light-duty vehicle emissions standards and dispelling the false claims surrounding the proposal.

EPA Needs to Be Rebuilt, Not Nickel and Dimed to Death with Budget Cuts

May 4, 2023 / by

David Coursen /

The Hill

Dave Coursen, former Attorney, EPA Office of General Counsel, penned this op-ed discussing how the Congressional Republicans’ proposed federal budget cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling would severely hamper EPA’s ability to continue its vital work.

More Examples of EPN in the News

In addition to the articles above, EPN members contributed to a range of articles on topics such as PFAS and the FY2024 budget appropriation.

EPA’s ‘Forever Chemicals’ Approval Plan Draws Mixed Reaction

June 30, 2023 / by

Ellie Borst /

E&E News

Bob Sussman, former EPA Deputy Administrator, was quoted in this article about the shortcomings of EPA’s new framework for reviewing new PFAS and significant new uses of existing PFAS.

What the Debt Ceiling Deal Means for Agencies

June 9, 2023 / by

Kevin Bogardus /

E&E News

Stan Meiburg, former EPA Acting Deputy Administrator and former Regional Administrator, EPA Regions 4 and 6, was quoted in this article about the potential impacts of a flatline budget appropriation for EPA in FY2024.

Black and Latino Communities More Likely to Have Harmful PFAS Levels in Water

May 15, 2023 / by

Diane Macedo /

ABC News

Mustafa Santiago Ali, Senior Vice President for Environmental Justice, National Wildlife Federation, former EPA Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and Community Revitalization and former EPA Assistant Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice, was interviewed on this news segment about a recent study that determined that communities of color are disproportionately exposed to PFAS in drinking water.

 

Read all recent EPN in the News items here