The Environmental Transformation Podcast with Sean Grady

• Implementing safe drinking water policy for PFAS & Lead Pipes - Alan Roberson, Director of the ASDWA

  In this episode of the Environmental Transformation Podcast, host Sean Grady talks with Alan Roberson, Executive Director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA). Roberson shares insights from over 34 years in water policy, including how ASDWA supports state drinking water agencies, challenges of PFAS regulation, and the impact of federal funding shortfalls on public health protection. The discussion covers drinking water regulations, the role of state labs, infrastructure funding, workforce shortages, and more.Chapters with Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction and Guest Background02:12 – What Is ASDWA and Its Mission04:33 – ASDWA’s Role in Federal Rulemaking07:05 – PFAS Regulation Updates and Compliance Timelines13:42 – State Data Sharing and Collaboration18:20 – Concerns Over GenX and Short-Chain PFAS22:01 – Cost of Compliance and Affordability26:44 – Federal Funding Gaps and SRF Limitations31:10 – Holding Polluters Accountable34:40 – State-Level PFAS Standards and Support38:02 – Lab Testing Capacity and State Limitations42:35 – Lead Pipe Inventories and Replacement Challenges46:10 – Regulatory Burdens and Ratepayer Equity49:20 – Infrastructure Needs and Workforce Challenges54:00 – ASDWA’s Top Priorities for 202557:30 – Final Thoughts and ClosingPFAS drinking water rule, Safe Drinking Water Act, lead pipe replacement, Alan Roberson, ASDWA, EPA drinking water standards, public health and water utilities, SRF funding, UCMR5, GenX chemicals, state drinking water labs, water infrastructure, environmental policy, clean water initiatives, water workforce shortage, environmental transformation podcast

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• PFAS Regulation in Flux: Legal Insights from Environmental Attorney Phil Comella

  Veteran environmental attorney Phil Comella joins host Sean Grady on the Environmental Transformation Podcast to break down the EPA’s proposed rollback of PFAS drinking water regulations. With over 40 years of experience, Comella offers expert legal insight on how the delayed compliance deadlines, potential MCL reductions, and CERCLA implications could affect municipalities, water utilities, waste management companies, and communities already exposed to PFAS. The conversation covers legal risks, scientific uncertainty, and the regulatory gaps that complicate cleanup and accountability.Thanks to our sponsors: Cascade Environmental, E-Tank, and WASTELINQ📍 Chapters:0:00 – Introduction and Phil Comella’s background2:42 – What the EPA’s PFAS proposal actually means6:30 – Delays, politics, and public health impact10:10 – Why the proposed changes matter for communities14:50 – Legal risk for utilities, ratepayers, and manufacturers19:25 – Superfund and the challenge of hazardous substance listings24:40 – The case for a dedicated PFAS statute28:35 – Wastewater treatment, landfills, and managing leachate33:45 – PFAS in household products and regulatory blind spots38:50 – Exposure, science, and tort law consequences44:25 – Thoughts on the path forward for EPA regulation50:00 – Dark Waters, science-based policy, and legal legacy🧪 Get expert legal context on one of today’s most pressing environmental health challenges.

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• Potential Impacts of the Newly Proposed EPA PFAS Rule to Affected Communities with Emily Donovan

  Emily Donovan of Clean Cape Fear returns to the Environmental Transformation Podcast to discuss the EPA’s proposed rollback of the PFAS drinking water rules and how it potentially could impact contaminated communities like hers in North Carolina. Host Sean Grady explores the legal, regulatory, and public health stakes behind the EPA’s May 14 announcement, with Donovan providing on-the-ground insight into the movement to hold polluters accountable, protect public drinking water, and stop PFAS exposure. Thanks to our Sponsors: Cascade Environmental, E-Tank, and WASTELINQ📍 Chapters:0:00 - Intro and Emily Donovan returns2:05 - Clean Cape Fear’s 8-year mission6:40 - PFAS origins and EPA rule rollback10:10 - Anti-backslide concerns and regulatory uncertainty17:15 - Public health risks of short-chain PFAS22:00 - Who pays for clean water? Utilities, polluters, or the public27:50 - Legal action and transparency challenges32:10 - National awareness and the role of media38:45 - Partnerships with advocates like Mark Ruffalo and Keen43:10 - Final thoughts: Doing what’s right for communities🎧 Listen, learn, and join the “little army of goodness” working to end PFAS contamination.

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• Breaking Down Human Organizational Performance with The HOP Nerd, Sam Goodman

  Welcome to the Environmental Transformation Podcast with your host, Sean Grady. In this high-impact episode, we’re joined by Sam Goodman, also known as The HOP Nerd—a leading voice in Human and Organizational Performance (HOP), safety culture innovation, and host of The HOP Nerd Podcast.🎙️ In This Episode:Sam breaks down what HOP (Human and Organizational Performance) really means, why traditional safety programs often fall short, and how organizations can shift from blame-based models to system-level improvements that foster real operational learning, psychological safety, and frontline employee engagement.🧠 Topics We Cover:What is Human and Organizational Performance (HOP)?How HOP differs from traditional safety programsThe dangers of TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate) obsessionWhy blame, shame, and retrain doesn't workMoving from “who failed?” to “what failed?”How leadership response shapes safety cultureUsing comedy and storytelling to drive cultural changeThe origins and mission of The HOP NerdDownloadable video resources for safety meetings🔑 Key Takeaways for Safety Professionals & Leaders:Stop focusing on just injury metrics—start listening to workers.Safety isn’t the absence of incidents—it’s the presence of capacity to fail safely.Silence in an organization is dangerous—learn how to create environments where truth-telling is encouraged.Good safety culture starts with curious, calm leadership responses.🔥 Whether you're in EHS leadership, a frontline worker, or just tired of meaningless checklists, this episode gives you the tools and mindset shift you need to create sustainable safety transformation.📌 More from Sam Goodman — The HOP NERD:🌐 https://www.thehopnerd.com🎧 The HOP Nerd Podcast – Available on all major platforms📺 Safety satire videos & learning tools: The HOP Nerd YouTube Channel👷‍♂️ Who is Sam Goodman?Sam is a HOP practitioner, speaker, consultant, and podcast host who brings humor, insight, and real-world experience to the conversation about modern safety systems. His work is deeply influenced by leaders like Todd Conklin and Sidney Dekker, but his approach is distinctly his own—bold, funny, and transformative.🔎 SEO Keywords:Human and Organizational Performance, HOP safety, Sam Goodman HOP NERD, modern safety leadership, safety culture podcast, TRIR criticism, safety differently, safety improvement strategies, frontline safety communication, operational learning, leadership response safety, psychological safety in the workplace, HOP tools, safety performance podcast, environmental transformation podcast📣 Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help more safety and environmental professionals discover practical strategies that make a difference!

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• Thermal Treatment of Organic Containments and PFAs with TerraTherm's SVP Jim Galligan

  In this episode, host Sean Grady sits down with Jim Galligan, Senior Vice President at TerraTherm, to discuss advanced thermal remediation technologies. Jim, an industry veteran with over 34 years of expertise, dives deep into thermal conduction heating (TCH), electrical resistance heating (ERH), and steam-enhanced extraction (SEE)—powerful techniques used to remediate recalcitrant contaminants like PFAS, chlorinated solvents (PCE, TCE), PCBs, dioxins, and petroleum hydrocarbons.Learn how thermal remediation effectively targets complex contaminant source zones, even beneath buildings or challenging infrastructure, and discover why depth and geology are no longer barriers. Jim dispels common myths about thermal technologies, addresses lifecycle costs compared to traditional methods like chemical oxidation, and explains critical factors such as power infrastructure and hydrogeological site characterization.Ideal for environmental consultants, remediation engineers, and project managers looking for proven strategies to achieve rapid and reliable cleanup goals. Join us as we uncover how TerraTherm is driving innovation in environmental remediation, offering sustainable solutions and unparalleled performance in treating soil and groundwater contamination.#EnvironmentalTransformation #ThermalRemediation #TerraTherm #SoilCleanup #GroundwaterRemediation #PFAS #environmentalengineering 00:00 – Introduction to the Environmental Transformation Podcast01:15 – Meet Jim Galligan: 34 Years in Thermal Remediation03:25 – Overview of TerraTherm and Its Mission06:40 – What Is Thermal Remediation? Key Technologies Explained10:55 – Thermal Conduction Heating (TCH) Deep Dive13:45 – Electrical Resistance Heating (ERH) Explained16:05 – Steam-Enhanced Extraction (SEE) Use Cases18:10 – Ideal Site Conditions for Thermal Remediation22:30 – Treating Deep Contaminant Zones: Why “Deeper Is Cheaper”25:00 – Real-World Project Examples and Case Studies29:15 – Site Selection and Design Considerations33:45 – Comparing Lifecycle Costs of Thermal vs. Chemical Treatments37:20 – Power Infrastructure Needs and Utility Coordination41:50 – Debunking Common Myths About Thermal Remediation50:10 – Regulatory Cleanup Goals and Treatment Effectiveness54:20 – Remediation of PFAS, Dioxins, PCBs, and VOCs59:30 – Thermal’s Impact on Soil and Microbial Recovery1:03:00 – Thermally Enhanced Bioremediation and Future Innovations1:06:40 – How to Design an Effective Thermal Treatment System1:10:00 – How to Contact TerraTherm and Learn More

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