“We are proud to join the EPA team of dedicated career professionals,”
said Dan Utech, EPA’s incoming Chief of Staff. “EPA will be at the heart of President Biden’s commitment to protect public health and the environment while building a clean energy future that creates good paying jobs. We will be guided by science as we work together to achieve these goals on behalf of all Americans.”
EPA’s leadership team comes with a broad range of expertise and knowledge, including decades of experience in federal, state, and local governments; academia; and non-profit and advocacy organizations. The EPA team also reflects the Biden-Harris commitment to diversity. Additional members of the EPA appointee team will be named in the days and weeks to come.
01/27/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/27/2021 14:27
Dow Chemical Company and Two Subsidiaries Will Reduce Harmful Air Pollution at Four Chemical Plants
01/27/2021
WASHINGTON (January 27,
2021) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) announced a settlement with Dow Chemical Company and two subsidiaries, Performance Materials NA Inc. and Union Carbide Corporation, that will eliminate thousands of tons of air pollution from four of Dow s petrochemical manufacturing facilities in Texas and Louisiana.
The settlement resolves allegations that Dow and its subsidiaries violated the Clean Air Act by failing to properly operate and monitor industrial flares at their petrochemical facilities, which resulted in excess emissions of harmful air pollution. Under the settlement, the companies will spend approximately $294 million to install and operate air pollution control and monitori
State report questions Louisiana’s air quality enforcement
Though Louisiana’s air quality has improved in recent years, state regulators should be doing more to ensure companies are complying with air quality rules, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor says.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality agreed with some of the LLA’s conclusions but said adding staff as the auditor’s office suggests may not be affordable.
According to the LLA’s analysis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data, the number of “good” air quality days in Louisiana has increased from 191.9 days in calendar year 2008 to 232 days in 2018, or about a 21 percent improvement. Meanwhile, the number of unhealthy days for sensitive groups decreased about 75 percent, from 14.3 days to 3.6 days.
Joshua Roberts/Getty Images News
TAGGED FOR EPA: Michael Regan has been named by the Biden Administration to head EPA. His confirmation hearings are to begin soon. A large group of ag organizations are supporting his nomination. Incoming EPA staff not requiring Senate confirmation loaded with litigation experience in advancing environmental justice agenda.
A diverse group of 23 agricultural groups wrote Senate Environment and Public Works leaders in support of Michael Regan who’s been nominated to serve as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Currently, a nomination hearing date has not been set for Regan.
“As Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Michael Regan has an established record of listening to all stakeholders, including farmers and ranchers,” states the letter to incoming EPW Chairman Tom Carper, D-Del., and Ranking Member Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va. “During his tenure, he has worke