Joel Mintz, “Biden Can Restore the EPA, but It Will Require Steadfast Effort"

In his article, Joel Mintz identifies that the work to restore the EPA must include the reinstitution of effective practices which were curtailed by the Trump administration, while simultaneously expanding the agency’s workforce and talent. Specifically, the EPA should 1) significantly increase its full-time equivalent workforce; 2) return to a model of scientifically-based policy to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis; 3) assign a team of agency scientists to identify the most harmful Trump administration policies for priority action and reversal; 4) restore the prior EPA model of deterrent enforcement; 5) recruit new personnel, especially criminal investigators, lawyers, and engineers; and 6) augment punitive deterrence by publicizing enforcement work.