Transcripts For CSPAN Politics And Public Policy Today 20161

CSPAN Politics And Public Policy Today November 22, 2016

We are confident it will come soon. But i know that it is a specific concern of that community. We have been working with the state of missouri not just to address that landfill, but it is an area where this is not the only thing to worry about in terms of impact on the environment in that area. We have been doing an awful lot of work, looking at the area as well, as well as this small landfill. It is a big deal and we are being as responsive as we can. We will at the record of decision as quickly as we can. Some are worried about a protective action guide regarding radioactive water. Why is the epa proposing this, and does the protective action guide pose a risk to the public . There are two ways that we are looking at this protective action guide. And i will explain this from the viewpoint of someone at work at state for 17 years. This guideline is a guideline to explain to states what they should do when an emergency happens, when there is a release of radioactive material, and how do you manage that situation, knowing full well that it will take time to resolve the situation . There is a guideline for water, but there is another large guidance document that we are hoping to get out soon, that talks about all of the other things states should do based on our recommendations, because we have quite a bit of expertise in this area. States have been driven crazy because its been years that anyone has a hated it. And because they know that we have more at issue with radiation. We have little bombs that can happen. We need to update it be we deserved to give them the information. We are in the finals of updating that larger effort. There is a smaller piece, which is the Drinking Water issue. Let me tell you where this came in. I dont want anyone to think that we are changing our standards for Drinking Water. That is not the case. What we are trying to do is figure out how to actually start transitioning from a case where everybody is in their house and hunkered down and cannot drink Drinking Water, to being able to understand what exposures in a temporary way would allow life to continue, but not present a hazard to those individuals. So we are providing the best information we can in this transition days, not sending a signal that we think that those numbers should be the standard for Drinking Water. It clearly should not be. But we have to recognize you cannot go from zero to 90 without figuring out how to start wrapping up again. How we provide the right recommendation. A lot of this information and concern came out of japan in the fukushima incident. It did not get resolved quickly. There were people that were left not knowing what to do. We thought that it was necessary to actually provide this information. Again, we will see where it goes, its in the process. We are doing the best we can to provide advice in a situation that we certainly hope nobody will have to face in the United States. Since we are on Drinking Water, a recent report was critical of the epas inactions on flint, michigan. What changes are underway to respond to the report and ensure the agency is more proactive in similar situations, and what would you advise your successor to do in situations like flint . We certainly still have a large presence in flint. The good news is we have made a lot of progress but it continues to be a very challenging situation. We have learned some lessons. You will see shortly, we are coming out with a Drinking Water action plan. When flint happened, shortly after, we began National Discussions with all of the stakeholders, because there are a number of shrinking cities like flint that have too large a system. When you have a large Drinking Water system, it is not a good thing because it means there is stagnant water in those pipes, and you do not want that. How we manage those situations will be important. One of the other lessons in flint, it is very clear that flint was a community that was this and that sit in disinvest it in, they lost their manufacturing base. Their ability to eat economically manage the system is under threat. Since we are getting it to the levels and needs to be. We have handled that across the United States. How do we invest in infrastructure, not simply for new infrastructure, but how we look at the infrastructure that exist that is either decaying, too big, needs additional treatment, in the case of Drinking Water, and how do we move that forward. We have completed many rounds of focus groups. We have a plan that we are getting ready to release shortly. That will hopefully be a Lessons Learned and a path forward, not just to address lead and copper rules, which we know need to be updated, but also to figure out a path forward to look at how we begin the reinvestment, how much we need, and how we keep up with Drinking Water and wastewater facilities. We have become very accustomed to not having to worry about Drinking Water and wastewater. We can no longer have that luxury. What is with the recent revision to the city of flint, and how would that reflect with how state and local agencies work . One thing we do is make sure that we have aggressive oversight. One of the enforcement orders was recently updated. We did an enforcement order about a year ago. We are doing one again. It is because the situation in flint is shifting. The city is making decisions about where its horse water will come from. Source water will come from. We just wanted to make sure that it was inviting. We needed a three months window to test any new water system and the ability of their Treatment Facility to handle it because we did not want what happened before, which was, unbeknownst to us, the system is changed, it is not properly tested, not properly managed, and we ended up with a situation. So it is all the change in the order. It was not a surprise to either the city or the state. We are working with them very closely. If there is one lesson learned, when it comes to Drinking Water, you put it in writing and you make it as tough as you can. That is what that is. Switching subjects, how soon can we expect the epa final report on hydraulic fracturing and Drinking Water, and whether this incorporates the recommendations from the Science Advisory Board that the epa clarifies the conclusion that no systemic link exist between hydraulic fracturing and water contamination . A mouthful. It is not easy to say. Much easier to say fracking. We are looking at trying to wrap that up soon. I have certainly been advised about where we are now. We will be listening to the direction of the Science Advisory Board. This was one Science Advisory Board that was as fractured as the subject matter. It sort of came up with many different conclusions, some of which conflict with one another. We know what our job is and we will be finalizing that. While i cannot tell you the direction it is going to take, we are going to listen to all sides, in terms of what the members thought, and will come to the best decision we can. But again, remember, this is not a policy document, it is a science document. There is some clear indication from the Science Advisory Board that we needed to do a better job at explaining the science. While i have been briefed on it, it is my scientists that will make these decisions. Lets talk about one of those disagreements, the consideration of a widespread impact. What do you consider the impact definition of widespread impact, and what impacts does the epa fined acceptable, and why . You are asking the same questions that many of the questions in the Science Advisory Board revolved around. The purpose of the hydra fracking study, we were asked to do this and told to do this. The purpose of it was basically to identify look at the water cycle and identify what point in the water cycle, and in the hydro fracking operation, could pose a risk to Drinking Water. It was very clearly done in a way that it was just a science and technical document about what does the data show us, and what do we know. Though the challenge for us is to characterize what we know and to make sure that is not over characterized, that we know everything. Our data is limited. How we project that and clarify that in this report is what we are going to accomplish. With president elect trump openly admitting to denying Climate Change and likely pointing at an epa administered or who is a climate denier, what final steps are you making sure that communities are detected from fracking . Will you meet with families from pennsylvania or wyoming when they say water has been impacted by fracking . Epa folks in the regions have been working on this issue. We all know, and the president has said it, this inexpensive natural gas has been one of the factors that really changed the Energy Sector and how it is heading, but we all know it needs to be done save and responsibly. This report will be an opportunity for people to know where the impacts could happen, what we have already seen, so that steps can be taken. At this point in the administration, that is what we are trying to accomplish, to be as clear as possible. Without using the word soon when will the epa release its rules on Greenhouse Gases and infrastructure . I dont know. [laughter] so everyone understands, what epa has done, they have sent thousands of requests actually not request, we are asking for information that is consistent with our legal authorities to gather it, so that we can take that data and understand where methane is being emitted. So that we can continue to move forward on another rulemaking. But i do not have a timeline for this to be done. If you look at it, it will be done in phases, which will give information to the agency in a few months. But it will give you to go on for a lengthy period of time. One of the things that people dont understand, when we do a rule where we regulate existing, we are looking at requirements that ask us not just what can you reduce but what other costs, what are the technology choices. In the area of oil and gas development, its been going on forever. There are so many different types of pieces of equipment that are very challenging, and we want to make sure, when we do a rule, that it will be done well. So it is very challenging. And it can be done in phases or the next administration can make other choices. You are here to talk about what you did do at the epa. Looking back, is there any climate or Environmental Action you regret not taking or not starting sooner . All of them. [laughter] the one thing i regret is, i know Everybody Knows that i had a fairly lengthy process of getting confirmed by the legislature for this position by the senate. I also had a fairly lengthy time getting into the agency in the first place as assistant administrator. I think that is just because it takes a long time. One of the things i regretted was there was an announcement in the rose garden when the president stood up and talked about granting california its waiver, moving forward with the endangerment finding for light duty vehicles, which was the big first way which in which the agency began to use the Clean Air Act to regulate Greenhouse Gases. I was really ticked off that i was not there. That is what i regret. I remember being at home watching it. That is mine what would you advise your state colleagues to do if the epa and congress, they believe, are working their interests or environment of goals . In any democracy, everyone has the right to their own opinion and their voices should be heard. Epa has done, i think, over the past eight years, a wonderful job looking at what the science is, what the facts are. I think that folks should continue to speak, if they disagree, and dont think people are paying attention. That is the democratic process. Do you think the, states, corporations can fill the gap left in leadership iraq is not doing it the right way . I do. There are a lot of people who can confirm this. There are two reasons why i think progress will continue. There are many reasons why, but the two to answer this question number one, if you have worked at the local level, you cannot run away from people. You have to make decisions not based on politics but based on what your people are demanding of you, or you will be the shortest lived municipal servant in the history of mankind. People really are worried about the impact of climate. There are thousands of mayors who have signed climate pledges. They are working hard to we have provided tools for them to see how they would adapt to a changing climate. Because they are afraid of wildfires, they are afraid of floods, they are afraid of running out of Drinking Water, which is particularly frightening. These things are happening across the country. Mayors will continue to speak up. Cities will continue to be some of our best and loyal allies. On the state side, i worked for the states for more than 20 years, and i cannot tell you how much i am grateful for the work that we have done with the states and many of the folks here have been doing with them. We just saw a report from georgetown you are here somewhere the Climate Center there, vicki you are here. She mustve run out. That basically said 19 states are continuing to make significant progress, consistent with the clean power plan, even working on plans, it Energy Efficiency standards. There is a reason that is. That is because this is all about the Energy Transition that is already happening. When you want to buy renewables, they have been cheaper than ever before, the technology is more efficient. People want it. They are demanding it. Energy efficiency saves money as well as provides opportunities to keep peoples bills and costs of energy down. While i appreciate their big lift of continuing to do this, i know darn well that people are continuing to demand it. Whether or not states want to go under the heading that they are taking Climate Action or sibley doing what is best for their consumers, energy systems, i am fine with that. That will continue. The clean energy economy, that train has left the station. Millennials, the generation that every company seem to want to capture right now, they see the demand for sustainable products. Companies are responding. How can the government take advantage of this generational moment . Let me tell you how we have all taken advantage of it. I think it is through our continued outreach. We are trying to make sure epa, because of its visibility, is a premier science entity. When epa puts its logo on something, it matters. That is why Energy Star Products are out front. People want to save money and want to buy something they can articulate as being maybe a little bit more money, if at all, but how quickly they can get paid back. That is what energy star is all about. They get from billing when you put in and applies with an energy star label. We are doing the same thing with household products. That is what safer choice is all about. We continue to know and survey, but folks want to see that label. They would rather buy it. What it does, it basically generates momentum among the Chemical Manufacturers themselves, to produce products that are less toxic, so they can get a label. There are ways to continue to get information out. The third area is work that i mentioned. There are so many ways in which individuals at the local level, millennials themselves, can actually get in the game here and change their own world. We have apps and new Monitoring Technology that is so inexpensive, that can tell them what their little world looks like, and how they may be able to work effectively in their own democracy, in their own city or community or neighborhood, to use information that we make readily transparent, that we analyze, that we help them with and make accessible. That is where they can get active. I know you may not think that im this old, but in the 1960s and 1970s i look so young this is how we got involved. We did not just protest, we did something. We took action and became a part of the solution. I am thinking that that is what millennials actually like because they like to roll their own lives. The National Press club is the worlds leading organization for journalists and we fight for a free press worldwide. Please visit our website at press. Org. Sir, im sorry, we are in the middle of a program. [inaudible] we beg you for a meeting. Thank you, sir. Where are you . That is my neighbors water. No meeting with ms. Mccarthy. Ms. Mccarthy, i am begging you, tell president obama, please meet with the resident before you leave. Tell donald trump that he can come see it and drink it and breathe it in our neighborhoods. We will not tolerate it. We do not blame you, we do not blame the president. We blame the ignorance. This is a good example of how people continue to be passionate about having clean water and clean air. It bodes well for the continued mission of epa and the work we do. I wish we could be responsive and answer everyones needs. Thank you. We will present you with the National Press club mug. Oh, cool. Another one. I will ask you one more question. What advice would you leave your successor . My advice would be to listen to the great staff at epa. They are experts in these issues. They will give you an opportunity to lead. I suggest you take it. Next, a conversation on president ial transitions and and on middle east politics president ial security. Sociologist examines data caninion and how be manipulated. Coverage tomorrow from the wilson center. Protest of the S

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