Podcasts about Environmental Integrity Project

In honor of Earth Day ..... Part One: (from 2022) Carole Douglis, co-author (with Peter Fiekowsky) of "Climate Restoration: The Only Future That Will Sustain The Human Race." Part Two: (from 2024) Eric Schaeffer, founder and director of the Environmental Integrity Project, which monitors the work of the EPA.

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued several earth-shaking decisions recently – including one that overturned decades of precedent about the authority of the EPA to make decisions about pollution. What will the court's rejection of the 40-year-old “Chevron deference” mean for organizations fighting for clean air and clean water? And what was the Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council case that started the precedent of deferring to federal agencies on questions left unclear by the law? We interview David Bookbinder, the Environmental Integrity Project's new director of law and policy and a veteran environmental attorney who formerly served as the Sierra Club's chief climate counsel. Bookbinder initiated and managed a landmark case before the U.S. Supreme Court, Massachusetts v. EPA, which confirmed the power of the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases under the federal Clean Air Act.

The Mississippi House is reviving their education funding bill, despite Senate efforts to block it.From the Gulf States Newsroom: Jackson has struggled to keep drinking water safe and affordable. Now, the city's taking a new approach through one of the nation's oldest safety nets.Plus, billions of taxpayer dollars are being used to fund plastics manufacturers that pollute. That's according to a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro is denied more time before he has to report to the slammer. He was trying to delay the start of his 4-month long prison sentence for ignoring a subpoena from the House committee investigating the insurrection. Navarro is appealing convictions on two counts of contempt of Congress citing executive privilege. US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts flatly rejected Navarro's claim. One of the lawyers trying to overturn the 2020 election is now under arrest. Stefanie Lambert, who had a warrant out for her arrest related to a separate case in Michigan where she's accused of trying to steal voting machines, was arrested in a DC courtroom after a hearing about her recent leaking of internal Dominion Voting Systems emails.We will ask Pulitzer Prize winning author and journalist David, Cay Johnston about these Trump allies and Trump's comments yesterday attempting to shame Jewish Democratic voters. Alexandra Shaykevich, research manager at the Environmental Integrity Project, will stop by to talk about how taxpayer subsidies of plastic factories are supporting Illegal air pollution in communities of color. Jefferson Graham is headed our way to talk tech too! The Mark Thompson Show 3/19/24Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.com#Trump #Navarro #DavidCayJohnston #StefanieLambert #insurrection #election #Dominion #politics #politicalanalyst #plastic #environment #subsidies #republicans #tech

Few people know it, but taxpayer dollars are going to help pay for the manufacture of the single-use plastic that is trashing our planet. A new report by the Environmental Integrity Project, “Feeding the Plastics Industrial Complex: Taking Public Subsidies, Breaking Pollution Laws,” reveals that two thirds of the 50 plastics manufacturing plants built or expanded in the U.S. since 2012 received a total of $9 billion in state and local government subsidies and tax breaks. These plastics companies often promise to protect the environment to win these government subsidies. But then, 84 percent of them violate their air pollution control permits – including by releasing dangerous chemicals like benzene, a carcinogen. Who pays for these tax breaks for pollution? Two thirds of the people who live around these factories are people of color, and they are being hit twice -- first, by losing out on billions in revenues that could otherwise improve their schools and communities. And second, by having to breathe in hazardous air pollutants, in violation of the law. We interview Erin Hansen, an analyst with a nonprofit advocacy organization, Together Louisiana, about these tax breaks in Louisiana. And we also talk to environmental activists who live in the shadow of Louisiana plastics factories: James Hiatt and Roishetta Ozane.

A proposed carbon capture pipeline across the Midwest by Summit Carbon Solutions is awaiting approval from Iowa and other states. Minnesota approved the permit for it last year.The five-state, $5.5 billion pipeline system would capture carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and send it to North Dakota for underground storage.As more places, including ours, pursue carbon capture projects, what rules and monitoring mechanisms need to be in place to make sure things work as intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?Eric Schaeffer is Executive Director with the Environmental Integrity Project, which just released a report on the current federal rules for carbon capture projects — and what might be missing.

On Friday's show: Houston's communities of color are hit hardest by worsening air quality, a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project says. Also this hour: What a new report about traffic across Texas tells us about Houstonians' daily commute. It's not all bad news. Then: Why Mayor Sylvester Turner is upset about comments made this week by a candidate vying to replace him, and changes have begun to the quad at Rice in response to a university task force's findings about the school's founder. We discuss those intrigues in the news as we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we reflect on lessons learned from the collapse of Enron.

Indianapolis' City-County Council is looking at a proposal to solve some of the city's technology needs with emerging artificial intelligence, or AI. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita will appeal a court ruling that allows Indianapolis Public Schools to sell buildings instead of being forced to offer the property to charter schools for $1. The United Auto Workers membership is in the midst of voting on its tentative contract agreement with General Motors. Rep. Jim Banks says IU fails to combat antisemitism in a letter to Pamela Whitten. President Joe Biden announced five nominees for federal judgeship, including Judge Cristal Brisco of South Bend, Indiana. The Sierra Club and the Environmental Integrity Project announced their intent to sue the Alcoa Warrick smelter for water pollution violations. Want to go deeper on the stories you hear on WFYI News Now? Visit wfyi.org/news and follow us on social media to get comprehensive analysis and local news daily.  Subscribe to WFYI News Now wherever you get your podcasts. Today's episode of WFYI News Now was produced by Darian Benson, Abriana Herron, and Kendall Antron with support from Sarah Neal-Estes.

Nadia Steinzor from the Environmental Integrity Project talks about their new report titled "The Aluminum Paradox" that outlines some of the environmental damage that is done in the way we currently produce aluminum, a material that - ironically - figures prominently in some alternative energies.

Aluminum is a key component in solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and other projects essential for combating climate change. As demand for low-carbon products grows, aluminum demand is projected to soar 40 percent by 2030. But production of this lightweight metal is energy-intensive and pollution heavy, including greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide from smelters, destructive mining practices, and mercury contamination of rivers. Nadia Steinzor, researcher and policy analyst with the Environmental Integrity Project, talks about her new report, “The Aluminum Paradox: Vital for Clean Energy, but also a Major Source of Greenhouse Gases, Air and Water Pollution.” Steinzor explains how the U.S. could boost aluminum production – and create American jobs -- while also cleaning up aluminum production, including by using cleaner fuels and installing air pollution control devices called “scrubbers” on smelting plants. The full text report can be found here at www.environmentalintegrity.org

Science, Storytelling and a New War on Cancer / Kristina Marusic, Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Sandra Steingraber and Host Kristin Schafer If we can stop cancer before it begins, why don't we? This question motivated a deep-dive inquiry into cancer prevention for award-winning journalist Kristina Marusic. Her exploration uncovered an often invisible community of creative, talented individuals who dedicate their careers to identifying and challenging environmental drivers of cancer. In this CHE Café conversation, Kristina will share highlights from her book, A New War on Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention. She'll then be joined by Children's Environmental Health Network Executive Director Nsedu Obot Witherspoon and renowned biologist, author, activist, and cancer survivor, Dr. Sandra Steingraber. The group will explore the power of storytelling as a tool for communicating complex scientific issues, and reaching people in ways that motivate action for change. ~Co-presented by The New School at Commonweal and the Collaborative for Heath and the Environment~ Kristina Marusic is an author and journalist who covers issues related to environmental health and justice for Environmental Health News. A New War on Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention is her first book. Marusic is the co-founder of the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Association of LGBTQ Journalists (a.k.a. NLGJA), and previously worked as a freelance journalist covering LGBT equality, feminism, social and environmental justice, activism, and politics with bylines at CNN, Slate, Vice, Women's Health, the Washington Post, MTV News, The Advocate, Logo TV's NewNowNext, and Bustle, among others. She believes true, well-told stories have the power to change the world for good. Sandra Steingraber, PhD, a senior scientist with the Science and Environmental Health Network, is the author of a trilogy of award-winning books on environmental health: Living Downstream_ : An Ecologist's Personal Investigation of Cancer and the Environment (adapted as a documentary film in 2010); Having Faith: An Ecologist's Journey to Motherhood_; and_ Raising Elijah: Protecting Our Children in an Age of Environmental Crisis_. The 2018 documentary film Unfractured tells the story of New York State's fracking ban, featuring Steingraber as its subject. Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, MPH, is the executive director for the Children's Environmental Health Network (CEHN) and a key spokesperson for children's vulnerabilities and the need for their protection. She holds leadership roles in many spaces, including the External Science Board for the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes at NIH, the Health/Science initiative of the Cancer Free Economy Network and the National Environmental Health Partnership Council. Nsedu is also member of the Board for Pesticide Action Network North America and the Environmental Integrity Project, and serves on the Maryland Children's Environmental Health Advisory Council. Nsedu is a proud mom to four children. #environmentalhealth #publichealth #environmentalhealthnews #waroncancer #newschoolcommonweal #commonweal Find out more about The New School at Commonweal on our website: tns.commonweal.org. And like/follow our Soundcloud channel for more great podcasts.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we learn about trash cleanup efforts in Baton Rouge and statewide litter abatement efforts. Plus, we hear why environmental groups are suing the EPA over water contamination.    It's Love the Boot Week in Louisiana, the state's largest litter cleanup and beautification initiative. It's one of several new efforts to ensure the sportsman's paradise is known for its beauty and not its trash. We hear more from Keep Louisiana Beautiful Executive Director Susan Russell and look back on a story about volunteers cleaning up Baton Rouge on their own time — and their own dime.  While efforts to cleanup the streets are underway, the same can't quite be said for our waterways. Last week, a coalition of twelve environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, alleging that the Biden administration is in violation of the Clean Water Act because it has failed to crack down on water pollution and protect against contamination. Jen Duggan, deputy director of the Environmental Integrity Project, which has been investigating how refineries discharge waste into waterways, tells us more.  Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our digital editor is Katelyn Umholtz. Our engineers are Garrett Pittman and Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12:00 and 7:30 pm. It's available on Spotify, Google Play, and wherever you get your podcasts.  Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to. Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this special bonus episode we learn more about the #TransRightsReadathon happening this March 20th-27th from the author who brought the idea to social media: Sim Kern. If you are looking to share an example of a decentralized campaign with students, Kern's #TransRightsReadathon is brilliant to share. Sim Kern is a Gulf Coast author and environmental journalist writing about climate change, queer identity, and social justice. Their debut horror novella, Depart, Depart!, was selected for the Honor List for the 2020 Otherwise Award. Their short story collection, Real Sugar is Hard to Find, was hailed in a starred review by Publishers Weekly as, “a searing, urgent, but still achingly tender work that will wow any reader of speculative fiction.” As a journalist, they report on petrochemical polluters and drag space billionaires. Fall of 2022 will see publication of their YA scifi novel Seeds for the Swarm, and in 2023, their novel The Free People's Village will be published with Levine Querido. Learn more about them: https://www.simkern.com/ Learn more about the readathon: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiRFONzaklfnJXc5Wegm2P8SQ9n5cN5ChkxFz6-PRkZV8Low/viewform Connect with Sim online: https://linktr.ee/SimKern Explore their most recent books: https://bookshop.org/p/books/depart-depart-sim-kern/14672086?ean=9781777091705 https://bookshop.org/p/books/seeds-for-the-swarm/18956334?ean=9781777682309 Follow them on Goodreads: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20284605.Sim_Kern&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1678741785856722&usg=AOvVaw3gJCMub8H3N3D_tW4oKl9A As mentioned in the show check out the Environmental Integrity Project: https://environmentalintegrity.org/ For a transcript of this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kGBB6KFSMGyTizt5Xme3PrAI5Gk8LKRsgj7FffqRm0Y/edit?usp=sharing

Henrico County and environmental groups involved in a lawsuit over pollution from a local sewage treatment facility reached a settlement requiring the county to notify the public of overflows, ramp up system improvements and invest [post_excerpt] million in environmental work. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and James River Association, represented by in-house attorneys and the Environmental Integrity Project, respectively, announced the settlement agreement Tuesday following the dismissal of the lawsuit, which was filed in December 2021. Peggy Sanner, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Virginia executive director, called the settlement a “big win,” saying it will give Henrico County residents “better access to...Article LinkSupport the show

Part One: Chris Whipple talks about his much-discussed book "The Fight of his Life: Inside Joe Biden's White House." Part Two: Eric Schaeffer, founder and director of the Environmental Integrity Project, talks about his concerns regarding the effectiveness of the EPA (the Environmental Protection Agency.)

Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project and former Director of Civil Enforcement at EPA, joins to talk about the status of EPA enforcement. How would you feel about your co-workers bringing guns to the office? Wisconsin Dells McDonald's named one of the "most beautiful" in the world by Architectural Digest.Guest: Eric Schaeffer

  On Monday's show: A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project claims the EPA and state environmental agencies are failing to regulate 81 U.S. refineries, allowing them to dump toxic chemicals and metals into waterways. The top four worst offenders are based in Texas, including Greater Houston. Also this hour: City officials are considering the implementation of “conservation districts” to preserve some elements of historic neighborhoods. We learn how the concept would work and discuss what it would mean for the city and its neighborhoods as a whole. Then, this month's edition of The Bigger Picture delves into issues raised in the film The Whale starring Oscar nominee Brendan Fraser. And we learn more about the Astros' new general manager, Dana Brown, and we recap the NFL conference championship games and preview the Super Bowl.

Chicago Tribune reporter Michael Hawthorne joins Lisa Dent to discuss a study done by the Environmental Integrity Project, which revealed BP Whiting in Indiana, ExxonMobil Joliet and Citgo in Lemont are dumping toxic chemicals into Lake Michigan and other waterways. Follow The Lisa Dent Show on Twitter:Follow @LisaDentSpeaksFollow @SteveBertrand Follow @kpowell720 Follow @maryvandeveldeFollow @LaurenLapka

For our show on November 14th, tune in to hear host Craig Lubow speak with Abel Russ, Senior Attorney with The Environmental Integrity Project and co-author of the report “Poisonous […] The post POISONOUS COVERUP – POWER PLANTS AVOID THE COAL ASH RULE appeared first on KKFI.

Did you know that almost four decades after the Clean Water Act's deadline for all waters across the U.S. to be “fishable and swimmable,” 50 percent of assessed river and stream miles in the U.S. are so polluted they are classified as “impaired”? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Tom Pelton, Communications Director for the Environmental Integrity Project and lead author of EIP's report, “The Clean Water Act at 50: Promises Half Kept at the Half Century Mark.” Learn if your elected officials vote in favor of environmental protection here: League of Conservation Voters: https://lcv.org/mission/ and listen to Pelton's “Environment in Focus” interviews here: https://www.wypr.org/people/tom-pelton  Related website:  https://environmentalintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CWA-report-3.23.22-FINAL.pdf 

In the new AMC show "61st Street," Courtney B. Vance plays a Chicago attorney who takes on the case of a young Black man accused of killing a police officer. Vance and co-executive producer Marta Cunningham join us. And, Congress enacted the Clean Water Act in 1972. With the landmark legislation turning 50 later this year, we discuss the good, bad, and ugly with Eric Shaeffer, executive director at the Environmental Integrity Project.

It's been 50 years since the enactment of the federal Clean Water Act with the goal of making all waters across the U.S. “Fishable and Swimmable.” I speak with Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of The Environmental Integrity Project who tells us the promise of the legislation is only half fulfilled.https://environmentalintegrity.org/https://environmentalintegrity.org/news/clean-water-acts-promises-half-kept-at-half-century-anniversary/Starting on April 18th the city of Philadelphia returns to indoor mask requirements. I speak with Deputy Health Commissioner Frank Franklin with the latest on COVID 19, guidance on vaccinations and masks as well as resources.www.phila.gov/covid19 There is a pressing need for organ donation. I talk about National Donate Life Month with Rick Hasz, Gift of Life President and CEO and transplant recipient Brian Rath about the serious public health issue surrounding the need for organ donors. We also discuss the upcoming Donor Dash on April 24th to celebrate of the life-saving power of organ and tissue donation and to honor the donors who make it possible.www.donordash.orgwww.donors1.org

Fifty years after passage of the groundbreaking Clean Water Act, Eric Schaeffer (executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project) talks about his organization's study of the Clean Water Act and what still needs to be done to reach the legislation's lofty goals.

The Infrastructure Law that was signed in late 2021 funds the first phase of a huge infrastructure project called the Appalachian Storage Hub, which would consist of large gas processing plants, underground chemical storage facilities, and pipeline networks to connect them all together. In this episode, get the details - as many as are known - about the plans for this possible project. Is this a good idea for our country? Please Support Congressional Dish Contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Support Congressional Dish via Patreon (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536. Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD240: BIF The Infrastructure BILL CD231: Lights Out: What Happened in Texas? CD134: The EpiPen Hearing Negative Impacts of Natural Gas Susan Phillips. Dec 27, 2021. “Mariner East pipeline is set to be completed in 2022, after years of environmental damage and delays.” WHYY. CBS Philly. Oct 5, 2021. “Attorney General Charges Pennsylvania Pipeline Developer In Mariner East 2 Pipeline Spill.” Forty-Fifth Statewide Investigating Grand Jury. Oct 5, 2021. “Mariner East Presentment.” attorneygeneral.gov Gunnar W. Schade. Aug 3, 2020. “The Problem With Natural Gas Flaring.” Texas A&M Today. Emily Henderson. Jul 15 2020. “Exposure to flaring at oil and gas production sites linked to higher odds of preterm birth.” James Bruggers. Apr 21, 2020. “For the Ohio River Valley, an Ethane Storage Facility in Texas Is Either a Model or a Cautionary Tale.” Leo Weekly. Environmental Integrity Project. Jan 21, 2020. “Warnings for Appalachia in Texas Ethane Storage Hub.” Britain Eakin and David Lee. Oct 31, 2017. “Emissions Settlement to Cost ExxonMobil $300M in Plant Upgrades.” Courthouse News Service. Josh Fox. 2010. Gasland. “Trinity River among most polluted waters in Texas.” Jan 13, 2010. Dallas Morning News. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. “Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay: PCBs TMDL Assessment.” Lettice Stuart. July 15, 1990. “NATIONAL NOTEBOOK: Mont Belvieu, Tex.; A Gas Leak Prods Exodus.” The New York Times. Peter Applebome. Nov 28, 1988. “Chemicals in Salt Caverns Hold Pain for Texas Town.” The New York Times. Appalachian Hub Kathy Hipple and Anne Keller. November 2021. “Poor Economics for Virgin Plastics: Petrochemicals Will Not Provide Sustainable Business Opportunities in Appalachia.” Ohio River Valley Institute. Kathy Hipple and Anne Keller. November 2021. “Poor Economics for Virgin Plastics: Petrochemicals Will Not Provide Sustainable Business Opportunities.” Ohio River Valley Institute. Kentucky Beyond Fossil Fuels. Last updated August 2021. “Appalachian Storage Hub: Latest News.” Reuters Staff. Oct 9, 2020. “Shell says Pennsylvania ethane cracker about 70% complete.” Reuters. Keith Schneider. Jul 31, 2019. “West Virginia Bets Big on Plastics, and on Backing of Trump Administration.” ProPublica. U.S. Department of Energy. Dec 4, 2018. “Secretary Perry Announces Appalachian Ethane Storage Hub Report.” U.S. Department of Energy. Nov 2018. “Ethane Storage and Distribution Hub in the United States: Report to Congress.” Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition. “Who Really Stands to Profit from the Appalachian Storage Hub/Petrochemical Complex?” Steve Horn. Feb 6, 2018. “China Is Financing a Petrochemical Hub in Appalachia. Meet its Powerful Backers.” DeSmog. Open Secrets. “Clients Lobbying on S.1075: Appalachian Ethane Storage Hub Study Act.” Appalachian Regional Commission Baltimore Sun Editorial Board. Jan 07, 2019. “Larry Hogan, reluctant environmentalist.” Appalachian Regional Commission. “Federal Co-Chair Gayle Conelly Manchin.” The Manchins Alex Kotch. Jul 20, 2021. “The Democrat blocking progressive change is beholden to big oil. Surprised?” The Guardian. Liza Featherstone. 2021. “Meet Joe Manchin's Appalling Daughter.” Jacobin. Open Secrets. “Sen. Joe Manchin - West Virginia: Top Industries 2017-2022.” Images U.S. Department of Energy. “Figure 9. NGL Pipelines, Existing and Announced, in and around the Appalachian Basin.” Ethane Storage and Distribution Hub in the United States: Report to Congress. U.S. Department of Energy. “Table 3: Stages of Development of Market Hubs.” Ethane Storage and Distribution Hub in the United States: Report to Congress. U.S. Department of Energy. “Figure 28. Projected Total Capacity, Total Production, and Real Consumption in the U.S. for Ethylene Products.” Ethane Storage and Distribution Hub in the United States: Report to Congress. U.S. Department of Energy. “Figure 30. Historical and Projected Ethylene Production Capacity by Global Area.” Ethane Storage and Distribution Hub in the United States: Report to Congress. The Law H.R.3684 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Sponsor: Rep. Peter DeFazio Bills H.R. 4152: Appalachian Regional Energy Hub Initiative Act S. 1064: Appalachian Energy for National Security Act S. 1340: Appalachian Energy and Manufacturing Infrastructure Revitalization Act H.R. 2568: Appalachian Ethane Storage Hub Study Act S. 1075: Appalachian Ethane Storage Hub Study Act S. 1337: Capitalizing on American Storage Potential Act. Hearings Field hearing to examine the economic importance of modern, reliable energy infrastructure to West Virginia and the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources August 29, 2016 Witnesses: Dr. Brian J. Anderson Director, West Virginia University Energy Institute Dr. John Deskins Director, Bureau for Business and Economic Research, West Virginia University Mr. Chad Earl Director of Marketing and Business Development, Orders Construction Company, Inc. Mr. Steven Hedrick President and Chief Executive Officer, Mid-Atlantic Technology, Research and Innovation Center Mr. Jeffery Keffer President and Chief Executive Officer, Longview Power, LLC Mr. Dan Poling Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer, District Council 53, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Sound Clip Transcripts: 6:32 - 6:59 Sen. Shelley Moore Capito: So using ethane from Natural Gas as a feedstock means that chemical companies can choose to operate in West Virginia due to the enormous benefits of being right on top of the resource. That's why, again, I included language in the energy bill that will require the Department of Energy and Commerce to conduct a study to look at the feasibility of an ethane storage and distribution hub here in Appalachia, in West Virginia or in the region. 11:34 - 12:00 Sen. Joe Manchin: In 2016 Annual Energy Outlook, the EIA projected that even in a clean power plan scenario, coal and natural gas will make up approximately half of our electric generation mix in 2040. We talk about deniers you know, there's those who deny that there's climate change going on. And there's those who deny that we're going to be needing fossil for the next two, three or four decades. 12:50 - 13:33 Sen. Joe Manchin: Infrastructure, we must put the necessary infrastructure in place to take advantage of the robust opportunities that come from our abundant natural resources, while ensuring the reliability of our electric grid. And I will mention one thing. I've spoken to a lot of our state legislators. And I said, we've got to start thinking in terms of regional energy have Mid-Atlantic energy, regions such as the southwest, we should be looking at Pennsylvania and Ohio as part of this region, not the borders that separate us but basically the ability that we have to work together, build these pipelines that basically keep some of this product in this market area. To attract it, they say, build it and they will come. I truly believe if you have it, they will come but you have to have access to it. 18:42 - 19:00 Brian Anderson: Over the last 10 years production of ethane and propane at the Marcellus and Utica Shales have driven the cost of these very valuable raw materials to a price point well below global and national prices. Connecting this valuable resource to the national and global markets will take modern, robust infrastructure, the topic of this hearing. 19:01 - 19:13 Brian Anderson: I contend that the types of infrastructure necessary to benefit both the region and the nation is not only a reliable modern network of pipelines but also a robust regional system with natural gas liquid storage and distribution 20:12 - 20:28 Brian Anderson: With current production rates in the in the basin, around 500,000 barrels per day, the resource is certainly sufficient to support a renewed and robust chemical industry. That is, as long as there is modern and robust energy transportation infrastructure to support that. 21:42 - 22:32 Brian Anderson: The goal of this project is to provide essential data to support the development of the chemical manufacturing industry, promoting economic development. As evidenced by the industry's commitment to our project, developing storage and transportation infrastructure is a critical pathway to developing the industry in the region. Subsurface storage and distribution and a network of pipelines will benefit both the raw material producers -- the upstream oil and gas industry -- as well as the chemical industry by fostering a readily available and reliable network and research and source of natural gas liquids, developing a predictable price point of the commodity in the region. Currently, there is only one spot pricing for natural gas liquids in the United States and Gulf Coast. And thirdly, promoting regional investment in a more robust ecosystem for the industry. 38:55 - 39:50 Steven Hedrick: Rather than exporting additional ethane available via pipelines in the United States Gulf Coast to Europe, Asia or even Canada, it could be utilized here in the Appalachian Basin, here in America, to maximize the value potential of our raw materials. According to the publication the Natural Gas Intelligence, ethane accounts for more than 50% of the typical barrel in the Appalachian region, with exports now leading market spoke near Philadelphia. I think production has been increasing in the region. In fact, administering company MPLX's CEO Gary Heminger recently said with incremental ethane takeaway projects and the projected completion of a regional cracker facility, we anticipate reaching full utilization of our existing facilities. In other words, we need more infrastructure and companies like Shell need more elasticity in the supply chain in order to maximize the benefit of ethane. 39:48 - 40:41 Steven Hedrick: We would propose that the corridors naturally created by the Ohio and Kunal rivers be utilized as a platform for a substantial pipe system that will support the distribution of key raw material and intermediate constituents, including but not limited to, methane, ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and chlorine all of which are significant building blocks to the petrochemical industry and hence our society. We therefore must add substantial underground storage to the highest value of broadly used raw materials, specifically ethane, ethylene and propane and butane if we're able to create a built for purpose Appalachian storage hub. This can be safely and efficiently done and naturally occurring underground caverns in depleted natural gas extraction points, or even in depleted salt domes. In fact, the brightest minds in geological formations are currently studying the best locations for the hub. 1:34:03 - 1:35:40 Sen Joe Manchin: So I've come to the conclusion of this, the only way that we're ever going to is follow the dollars, the tax credits, extenders. They've been pouring more and more tax credits and extenders into renewables. And the only thing I'm going to say if that's the policy direction, and we can't collectively stop some of this other thing, when you have an administration desire to do something as they've done, we could at least say this, it makes all the sense in the world, if you're going to use these tax extenders, they call them tax extenders, they're credits, they give them credits if they do certain things in certain fields. So for moving to solar, or hydro, or wind and all this, those credits should only be used in a germane energy, that's where the losses were. So if the losses came from areas such as West Virginia and such as southwest Virginia, and such as Kentucky, those credits have to be used there. It makes all the sense in the world. We're gonna do every -- I'm gonna do everything I can just to shut the system down the next time, because trust me, they love tax credits. The wind people ain't letting tax credits go, solar'snot letting tax credits go. So I'm saying how do you argue against at least using the credits if you're going to get them? We'll build the best windmills, Danny. Our guys can build windmills. We can build solar, we can build anything you want. Just give us a chance. And that's what I am most upset about is no plan. There was no plan for a major policy shift in energy. And that's what we've got to correct I think, as quickly as possible to give us all a chance to survive in this tough area. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

John Beard is a former Exxon Mobil oil refinery operator and firefighter from Port Arthur, Texas. Like his father before him, he labored his whole life in the refineries that surround this struggling city on the Gulf Coast east of Houston. When Beard finally retired after 38 years in 2017, he decided to make a radical change. He devoted himself, full time, to fighting against the air pollution, chemical threats, climate change and coastal flooding caused by the fossil fuel industry that he saw devastating the lower-income, mostly African-American community where he grew up. Working with the Environmental Integrity Project and Lone Star Legal Aid, he recently succeeded in petitioning the Biden EPA to launch an investigation of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for allegedly violating the civil rights of Port Arthur residents by allowing a petroleum processing plant owned by billionaire William Koch to release tons of potentially deadly sulfur dioxide air pollution every year without any modern pollution control equipment.

The FDA clears Pfizer COVID vaccines for emergency use in 5 to 11 year olds. In the latest Goucher Poll, Maryland residents share what they are looking for in the next Governor. Baltimore County Council members faced a blistering public hearing over redistricting this week. The task before them is... how to redraw a second majority Black district map.  Now that we are allowed to mix and match COVID booster shots, is that making it easier for people to roll up their sleeves...or creating more confusion? We'll hear from the always insightful Dr. Leana Wen.  And...chicken poop! Yep, you heard that correctly. A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project says  runoff  from the Eastern Shore's poultry farms is going where it should not. Those stories, coming up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When most people think about greenhouse gas emissions, they think about gas-guzzling vehicles and coal-fired power plants. They don't talk trash. That's not the case with Environmental Integrity Project attorneys Ryan Maher and Leah Kelly. They recently authored a ground-breaking investigative report that revealed that Maryland's landfills are releasing four times more methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than the official state estimates. When EIP's report, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Maryland's Landfills,” was released, the Maryland Department of the Environment immediately issued a statement confirming the report's conclusions and correcting the state's greenhouse gas inventory. Across the country, researchers are finding far higher than anticipated methane emissions from municipal landfills and their decaying food waste – and the issue is stirring government action. Maryland is now holding a series of public meetings as it looks to issue new regulations to better control methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from dumps. We take a road trip out to one of Maryland's largest landfills – Baltimore's Quarantine Road landfill – with Maher and Kelly to get down into the nitty gritty about calculating greenhouse gas emissions from waste – a major global issue.

For years – driving on my way to the airport I'd have to roll up my window as I passed by the Philadelphia energy solutions refinery because of the smell. The refinery is shut down – but hazardous benzene fumes still threatened the nearby neighborhood. We'll talk about the dangers of benzene and why we should be paying attention with Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project. https://environmentalintegrity.org/ For thousands of Philadelphians, the barrier to advancing to life sustaining jobs is reading and math literacy. The City of Philadelphia's Office of Children and Families works with community-based organizations to provide adult education to help residents build the skills they need to realize their personal professional and civic goals. I'm joined by Christine Piven, Chief of Staff for Office of Children and Families and Irina Sapiro, Educational Program Director and ESL Instructor and Learning Coach, New World Association.https://www.phila.gov/programs/adult-education/http://russworld.us/The School District of Philadelphia, many public charter schools, private schools, and dozens of summer youth programs (including summer camps, sports camps, child care programs, and more) are looking for full-day and partial-day summer staff who can teach and/or work with children. Organizations need teachers, coaches, group leaders and operations staff. Most jobs pay $15/hour or more. I speak to Charmaine Sudler-Milligan of To Our Children's Future with Health.https://www.teachphl.org/summer-employment/https://tocfwh.org/

The U.S. has not only met targets set by the Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions at power plants — it’s exceeded them. That’s according to a new report by the Environmental Integrity Project which looked at data from the Environmental Protection Agency.

President-Elect Joe Biden has picked North Carolina’s top environmental regulator, Michael Regan, as his choice to run the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. How has Regan performed in his job as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality? And what challenges will he face rebuilding an EPA devastated by deregulation, staffing cuts, and control by industry lobbyists during the Trump Administration? We interview three experts: Derb Carter, Director of the North Carolina office of the Southern Environmental Law Center, who has extensive first-hand knowledge of Regan’s track record in North Carolina; Eric Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project and former Director of Civil Enforcement at EPA, who has insights into how to get the EPA back on track; and Betsy Southerland, former Director of Science and Technology in EPA’s Office of Water.

What a Biden administration might mean for federal water policy. Guests: Heather Cooley, the director of research at the Pacific Institute, where she works on a variety of water and climate issues. Anne Castle, a senior fellow at the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment at the University of Colorado Law School. From 2009 to 2014, Castle was the assistant secretary for water and science at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project. Schaeffer also led the EPA Office of Civil Enforcement from 1997 to 2002.

Charlie Reeves grew up in public housing in South Philadelphia near the oldest and largest oil refinery on the East Coast, the Point Breeze Refinery, later owned by Sunoco and then Philadelphia Energy Solutions. Back in the 1970s, his father led public protests at City Hall and Sunoco headquarters over what he was convinced was toxic air pollution from the plant that was harming his family’s health. But authorities dismissed the protests and assured the neighborhood that everything was fine. Those reassurances didn’t ring true – especially when Charlie, his mother, and several neighbors were diagnosed with cancer, and Charlie’s mother died. But the neighborhood could not do anything to stop the refinery, because they had no evidence. Finally, the refinery closed on June 21, 2019, when a massive explosion and fire at the plant sent a fireball into the sky and rattled windows for miles around. To Charlie Reeves, the most devastating fact was what he learned six months later, when the Environmental Integrity Project, working with NBC National News, revealed that air pollution monitors ringing the refinery had registered benzene – a known carcinogen — at the plant’s fence lines at concentrations averaging more than five times the federal limit (EPA’s “action level” for benzene) for an entire year. That meant that local residents like the Reeves family could have been exposed to excessive cancer risks for a long time – including months after the explosion, and potentially months or years before the fire. Charlie is determined to use the new benzene air monitoring data collected by the Environmental Integrity Project to fight for environmental justice for his lower-income neighborhood. Southwest Philadelphia is one of 13 communities across the country that face potential cancer risks from excessive benzene air pollution detected at the fencelines of nearby oil refineries, according to EPA data produced for the first time in 2019 because of a lawsuit filed by the Environmental Integrity Project and allies to help protect communities in Texas and Louisiana.

Brent Walls, the Upper Potomac Riverkeeper in Western Maryland, dedicated his life to fighting for clean water in the Nation’s River after he experienced a moment of clarity. He was serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Constellation when he witnessed a routine procedure during his first cruise in the Pacific Ocean. “Twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, the ship would slow down and a bell would ring, and everyone would gather their trash and take it to the back of the boat and just throw it over,” Walls recalled. “I remember one time, in particular, it was a sunset, and there was nothing but open ocean. The ship slowed down and I could see just miles and miles of huge garbage bags floating that we just unloaded into the ocean. That kind of made me sick, it really did.” He knew there had to be a better way. And so, when he got out of the Navy, Walls transformed himself into a clean water warrior and a high-tech sleuth. As the Upper Potomac Riverkeeper for the last 11 years, he has worked to document and report pollution with digital photos, water sampling equipment, and a drone he launches from a James Bond-like compartment on the back of his motorcycle. He’s working with the Environmental Integrity Project to stop toxic water pollution from a paper mill site in Luke, Maryland. There, local residents are struggling to imagine a new future for themselves after the plant's shutdown. Walls thinks he may have an answer.

The COVOD-19 pandemic poses a particular threat to people in prisons - both inmates and correctional officers. The basic tenets of virus mitigation, social distancing and frequent hand washing, aren’t possible, and the number of older inmates is substantial. Roughly 12 percent of the nation’s 2.3 million inmates are over the age of 55. Last Sunday, Governor Larry Hogan issued an executive order that will accelerate the release of inmates who meet certain criteria, such as those who are already scheduled to be released within the next four months. It came after weeks of urgent appeals by health experts and human rights advocates. There are about 18,400 people currently in custody in correctional facilities in MD. It’s estimated that the Governor’s executive order will result in the release of about 800 of them. Is that enough to slow the spread of COVID 19 among this very vulnerable population? Today, Tom talks first with Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who has been a vocal advocate for the expedited release of prisoners. We join her by phone at her home office in Baltimore. Next, Tom is joined on the line by Tammie Owens, the president of the Prince George's Correctional Officers Association, the union that represents the corrections staff at the County Corrections Center in Upper Marlboro. Lt. Owens' union was one of the signers of a letter to Governor Hogan urging him to protect staff and inmates in the prison system. Then, Tom welcomes Leonard Rubenstein, a lawyer with the Center for Public Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Rubenstein organized a collective letter to Governor Hogan in late March, and again last week, on behalf of 200 faculty at Johns Hopkins, about the urgent need to address the problems in MD prisons. The appeal raises the fundamental question: what do we owe people who are incarcerated when it comes to protecting their health? Two important reminders about two important pieces of mail you need to make sure you submit. If you’re a voter in the 7th Congressional District, you can mail your ballot in the special election to choose a successor to the late Elijah Cummings any time before next Tuesday, April 28th. Democrat and former Congressman Kweisi Mfume is running against former Fox news analyst Kimberly Klacik. Again, the deadline to postmark your ballot is next Tuesday, April 28th. And don’t forget to complete your 2020 Census form. When this pandemic is over, we need to be sure that everyone is counted so that our area receives the level of support that is appropriate for our population. Every one of us has a duty to fill out the form, on-line, or on paper, to be sure we are all counted. We also want to acknowledge that today is the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, which marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. After Earth Day in 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency was established, and several important environmental laws were passed in the years that followed. Today, the Environmental Integrity Project is releasing a new report today on the health of the Chesapeake Bay, focusing on the poultry industry. Here's a link to that report.

Tom Pelton from the Environmental Integrity Project joins Joe DeMare talking about the Trump administrations decision to stop enforcing environmental laws during the Covid-19 crisis. Joe captures some spring peepers on his cell phone and talks about "hidden gems." Nuke plants are understaffed because of Covid, and there's the letter from the future and more!

Juan Flores grew up near Houston, the son of a refinery worker who repeatedly warned his children of the risks of going into his profession...and then died on the job. Juan became a community coordinator for nonprofit Air Alliance Houston, and now works to protect the people of Baytown and other neighborhoods from air pollution, fires, and explosions. A new report by the Environmental Integrity Project reveals that minority neighborhoods like this one are put at greater risk by severe budget cuts to pollution control programs at state environmental agencies in Texas and across the U.S.

Question to John Hood and Howard Lee – The independent Environmental Integrity Project reports that between 2008 and 2018 the legislature cut funding to the Department of Environmental Quality by more than one-third or more than $136 million. Almost 430 positions were eliminated. Our budget was growing during the period. Only Wisconsin, Texas and Louisiana have made larger cuts. Are these cuts justified? Why is DEQ being targeted? How are we being impacted?

For years, fishing guide Rod Bates has been taking families out on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania and letting kids swim and play in the water. Then he learned about something disturbing being piped into the river from the Governor's Mansion and State Office Complex in Harrisburg, the state capital. The Environmental Integrity Project and Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper investigated the outfalls. We discovered information that -- when released at a packed press conference -- sparked an interstate furor and demands for an investigation.

This week, I sat down with a highly-regarded member of the environmental NGO community, Eric Schaeffer, who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Environmental Integrity Project, which he co-founded in 2002.  Previously, Eric worked for more than a decade at EPA, including a five-year stint as the Director of EPA’s Office of Civil Enforcement, which, as you will hear in our conversation, was a very formative time for his thinking. At a time when some news outlets and EPA detractors are reporting environmental enforcement numbers to be at historic lows, Eric and I had a great discussion about the possible reasons for this, as well as the other goals and methods that his organization employs to encourage compliance and help protect the environment. Throughout our conversation, we also managed to touch on EPA’s evolving enforcement strategy, how ideally to address non-compliant companies, voluntary disclosures by businesses that discover indiscretions, remote pollution monitoring techniques, and even the much-discussed idea of cooperative federalism. Eric has a well-deserved reputation for being tough but fair and honest.  His candid assessment of what is working well for EPA enforcement and industry compliance professionals and what needs improvement may surprise you.  What comes through in a very big way is Eric’s approach to analyzing and addressing issues, one that, not surprisingly, is based on the integrity of the enforcement process and a respect for the environment. ALL MATERIALS IN THIS PODCAST ARE PROVIDED SOLELY FOR INFORMATIONAL  AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES. THE MATERIALS ARE NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE OR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES. ALL LEGAL QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ANSWERED DIRECTLY BY A LICENSED ATTORNEY PRACTICING IN THE APPLICABLE AREA OF LAW.

One of the biggest sources of water pollution in the U.S. is runoff pollution from farms and livestock operations. But a new Environmental Integrity Project study found that only 19 percent of livestock farmers in Virginia's two largest agricultural counties are fencing their animals out of waterways, creating unhealthy bacteria levels and algal blooms in the Shenandoah River and Chesapeake Bay.

The Environmental Integrity Project examined two decades of EPA data and concluded that environmental enforcement under the Trump Administration in 2018 set record lows for civil penalties against polluters, inspections, and people charged with environmental crimes. In our report, “Less Enforcement: Communities at Risk,” we give 10 examples across the U.S., from Louisiana to Minnesota, of well-documented, major environmental violations that the administration has so far failed to crack down on that threaten the health of local communities. EIP Executive Director Eric Schaeffer, former Director of Civil Enforcement at EPA, offers his analysis of the trend. He also discusses his testimony on February 26, 2019, before a U.S. House oversight committee investigating the drop. You can find a text version of our full report here: http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/EIP-Enforcement-Report.pdf (Photo from Karen Kasmauski/International League of Conservation Photographers)

What is the environmental impact of the food you eat? We investigate the water pollution produced by the meat processing industry. The nonprofit, nonpartisan Environmental Integrity Project examined federal records for 98 large slaughterhouses across the U.S. that discharge into rivers and streams and found that 75 percent of them violate the federal Clean Water Act by dumping illegal amounts of fecal bacteria, nitrogen and other pollutants -- with little enforcement and few penalties.

On today's show, environmental journalist Tom Pelton joins us live in Studio A. He’s been writing about the Chesapeake Bay and other environmental issues for more than two decades. He is the Director of Communications for the Environmental Integrity Project, and the host of The Environment in Focus, which airs Wednesday mornings and evenings here on WYPR. His new book is called The Chesapeake in Focus: Transforming the Natural World.From Baltimore’s leaky sewer system to farms in Pennsylvania and even pollution from factories in the Midwest, the Bay and its ecosystem face serious challenges. What will it take to meet them?

In Episode 11 of Series 2 of The Rights Track Todd talks to the internationally acclaimed environmentalist photographer Garth Lenz about the idea of crimes against the environment and how his photography helps to make a case for environmental rights. 0.00-5.26 Garth talks about the power of photography in helping to change the way people think e.g. about injustice or war and how it can motivate people to demand change He talks about why Canada where he is based is such a powerful example of “industrial sacrifice” because the sites are so vast and why photography is such a good medium for communicating that to a broad audience Todd asks Garth about how he conveys the idea of vastness such as in his photos of industrialised landscape such as that at the Tar Sands Development  Garth talks about finding a point of reference such as equating the size of a single truck being used with the size of a family home and how doing this helps link what's happening with the environment and human rights 5.26-12.55 Todd outlines the tensions around the human rights arguments i.e the right to economic development and prosperity and the need to explore sustainable development and also the more philosophical debates around where the environment sits in debates around human rights  Garth argues there is not a major tension between the needs of humans and the needs of the environment - he believes they both need a healthy ecosystem  Garth talks about a recent project around Houston and Port Arthur in the US where he says there are huge Fortune 500 companies juxtaposed with some of the highest rates of unemployment, poverty and poor health      Garth mentions recent work he has been undertaking for the Environmental Integrity Project in Pennsylvania looking at the human cost of fossil fuel development  particularly where people have signed over rights to  companies to extract fuels and then find, for example, that their water supply is contaminated  - he feels that nothing changes until the privileged and rich are affected in the same way. Todd picks up and describes the so-called “fracking process” which is what Garth has been talking about and Garth goes onto talk about some of the knock ons success as earthquakes in places where they don't normally happen.  Garth goes on to mention recent wildfires in British Columbia and their impact on communities and individuals including his own asthmatic daughter - he says he could not imagine as a child a point in time when people would be scared to go out and breathe the air or drink the water without wanting to take action as a society 12.55-16.10 Discussion around some of the policy responses to environmental issues such as recent moves in France and the UK to ban the production of petrol and diesel vehicles and the shift towards hybrid vehicles  Todd raises the question of where the power will come from to fuel electric cars - he mentions plans to develop nuclear power in the UK Garth believes the moves in Europe are encouraging and agrees the fuel will need to come from a wind range of sources - he says the US and even Canada are far behind He argues that plugging electric vehicles into coal powered stations for recharging is better for the environment than driving petrol or diesel fuelled cars because of the major reduction in greenhouse gases even though he acknowledged it's not ideal 16.10 -end  Discussion about President Trump's preference not to be a signatory to the Paris Climate Change agreement and what motivates Garth to keep up his work Garth points out that at a federal, state and local level people are saying that Washington may have a view but they will continue to make their own decisions and moves regardless and that this makes him feel more optimistic going forward  Todd urges Rights Track listeners to watch Garth's emotional and gripping Ted Talk 

If you are concerned with fracking infrastructure you're going to find this interview with Lisa Graves-Marcucci incredibly valuable. Lisa shares two decades of experience challenging industrial activity such as coal, oil, and gas projects. She helps us understand what questions to ask, where to intervene, and how to identify the tactics used by industry to discourage us from getting involved. I hope you enjoy this episode of the Halt the Harm Podcast with Lisa Graves-Marcucci. As Mentioned in the Show: Citizens Toolkit (coming soon!) http://environmentalintegrity.org @EIPOnline https://www.facebook.com/EnvIntegrity Bio: Lisa has been a community advocate for over 20 years. Since joining EIP in 2009, her efforts to protect human health from power plant and oil and gas pollution have grown from the community to the regional and national level. Lisa has conducted extensive reviews of permit files for EIP, helped to identify violations, and organized citizen testimony at numerous public hearings before local, state and national agencies. Lisa was invited to speak before the National Academy of Sciences in October of 2004 in Washington, D.C., advocating for more effective regulation of coal combustion waste disposal.  Ms. Graves-Marcucci is a life-long resident of Pittsburgh’s Monongahela Valley and is a graduate of Duquesne University. Main Message: Industry tries to discourage participation in the local permitting process new industrial activity. But getting involved is critical, and there is a tangible set of tools you can use to challenge industry and start getting results. What We Talked About: In this interview Lisa shares how she began a two-decade career scrutinizing industrial projects and learning how to stand up to industry. She brings strength and determination to her work – and in this interview she shares some of the common forms of intimidation that industry representatives and "experts" use to discourage public participation during the permitting process. In her  experience Lisa has seen patterns emerge, and educates people how to stand up to industry and challenge these permits. Why? Because in her two decades of experience she's never found a permit for an industrial project that didn't have problems or mistakes. She is currently in the process of creating a Citizen's Toolkit, which will be available through the Environmental Integrity Project and help everyday folks like you and me participate in decisions that impact us. This podcast is a project of halttheharm.net, a powerful resource for anyone confronting the fracking industry. Halt the Harm is a network of leaders who are taking action, sharing resources and information, and supporting each other’s campaigns. Find out more at halttheharm.net Halt the Harm Podcast is produced in collaboration with Eco-Defense Radio, which you can learn more about at ecodefenseradio.org

January Jones Talk Radio Host, Author, Kennedy Expert, Humorist and Motivational Speaker! Ms. Jones is a talk radio show host with “January Jones sharing Success  Stories” syndicated on iHeart Radio Talk over 50 million listeners, Talk4Media and BlogTalkRadio. with 1.8 million listeners to date. January is an author,  humorist, Kennedy Expert and Motivational Speaker. January Jones is the author of 5 books that are available at amazon.com and audible.co Michael Hoffman professional speaker and the creator of "The Sales Secrets of the One Percenters" AND survivor of four teenagers,  the Master of the Tornado  Whitney Ferrell attorney with the Environmental Integrity Project in Washington DC, a non-profit dedicated to the enforcement of environmental laws. Ms. Ferrell has been with EIP since 2011 and works primarily on coal and refinery issues Steve G. Jones board certified  Clinical Hypnotherapist.He has been practicing hypnotherapy since the 1980s. He is the author of 22 books on Hypnotherapy. He is a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists, American Board of Hypnotherapy, president of the American Alliance of Hypnotists, on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Lung Association, and director of the California state registered Steve G. Jones School of Hypnotherapy

Five years later, what lessons have been learned from the Christmas coal ash spill? David Biello investigates

Eric V. Schaeffer has served as director of the non-profit Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) since he co-founded the organization in March of 2002. Eric’s vision of combining policy analysis, media outreach and litigation to advocate for more effective enforcement ofenvironmental lawsstill drives all of EIP’s work. Previously, Eric served as director of EPA's Office of Civil Enforcement from 1997 to 2002, where he received a Presidential Rank Award, as well as the John Marshall award from the Justice Department for his leadership in negotiating an industry-wide cleanup of petroleum refineries. Eric's career at EPA began in 1990, and included an appointment as special assistant to the Deputy Administrator. Prior to his service at EPA, Eric worked as an environmental attorney for two and a half years at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, and spent six years on Capitol Hill working for various members of Congress. Eric received his law degree from Georgetown University in 1987, and graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1976.