Chemical, Hazardous Substances, and Petroleum Spills: CRS Experts

January 13, 2014 – September 14, 2017 R43360

Chemical, Hazardous Substances, and Petroleum Spills: CRS Experts

Updated September 14, 2017 (R43360)

In response to spills of chemicals, hazardous substances, and petroleum after industrial incidents, railroad tanker derailments, and flooding, concerns arise about impacts to public health (e.g., drinking water), as well as coordination of emergency response activities. The following table provides names and contact information for CRS experts on various issues associated with spills and other releases of chemicals, hazardous substances, and petroleum into air and surface water and onto land, including related drinking water, emergency response management, and public health issues.

Legislative Issues	Name/Title	Phone	E-mail
Chemical and hazardous substance response and cleanup	David Bearden, Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Oil spill response and cleanup	Jonathan Ramseur, Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Chemical toxicity and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)	Jerry H. Yen, Analyst in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Drinking water, Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), drinking water standards, treatment, infrastructure financing and security	Mary Tiemann, Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Legal aspects of chemical and environmental releases	Linda Tsang, Legislative Attorney	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	Jared Brown, Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	Bruce R. Lindsay, Analyst in American National Government	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
General Clean Water Act (CWA), water pollution discharges, water monitoring	Laura Gatz, Analyst in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Water treatment systems and water infrastructure finance	Jonathan Ramseur, Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Air emissions from oil and chemical facilities, "nuisance" authority	Richard Lattanzio, Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Appropriations for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state grants	Robert Esworthy, Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	David Bearden, Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Public health and medical response to disasters	Sarah Lister, Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), and "Superfund" (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, or CERCLA)	David Bearden, Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (Chemical Safety Board, or "CSB") Clean Air Act 112(r)(6) and Accident Prevention program (Clean Air Act 112(r)(7)) Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) (Title III of Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act)	Richard Lattanzio, Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]
	David Bearden, Specialist in Environmental Policy	[phone number scrubbed]	[email address scrubbed]