Liza Tucker is a consumer advocate for Consumer Watchdog, following everything from oil and gas to the regulation of toxic substances in the state of California. She comes to us from Marketplace, the largest U.S. broadcast show on business and economics heard by ten million listeners each week on 400 radio stations. Liza worked at this public radio show for a decade, first as Commentary Editor and then as Senior Editor for both Washington and Sustainability News. At Marketplace, Liza produced and edited several special feature series from who funds Washington think tanks to the BP oil spill. Liza has worked as a journalist, consultant, teacher, and translator.
Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Liza spent a few years in Bologna, Italy. She covered business at The Washington Post and later free-lanced her way through the Soviet Union, covering its collapse for Time, Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal. Liza is fluent in Russian and speaks Italian. She taught journalism at Allegheny College. She also served as a consultant to the MacArthur Foundation awarding individual grants in the areas of independent media, women’s rights, and legal reform, and to US AID on how to support independent media in Ukraine. She translated Alexandra’s letters to Nicholas for The Fall of the Romanovs, published by Yale University Press. She traveled through Europe in 2009 as a German Marshall Fund Fellow studying German, French, Danish, and British approaches to sustainability. She holds a B.A. from Oberlin College and an M.F.A. in poetry from Columbia University’s School of the Arts.
Toxics Regulators Reject Proven Technology to Link Exide Battery Recycler to Lead Contamination at 39 Homes
Santa Monica, CA—Regulators at the Department of Toxic Substances Control folded under industry pressure and ignored proven particulate sampling technology that could have shown Exide Technologies is the source of lead and arsenic contamination in East LA communities, Consumer Watchdog said today. Without proof of the connection, the DTSC cannot fine Exide or force it to clean up.
Concern Mounts That NASA Is On Verge Of Breaking Out Of Santa Susana Field Lab Cleanup Agreement
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog and four other environmental groups today said that NASA could be about to break the commitments it made in a 2010 agreement to clean up all the detectible contamination at its former Santa Susana Field Lab (SSFL) rocket testing site in the Simi Hills.
Consumer Watchdog Calls on Governor to Spearhead Toxic Cleanups After Regulators Reveal Exide Contamination
SANTA MONICA, CA — Consumer Watchdog today called on Governor Brown to direct the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to order Exide Technologies, a lead battery recycler in Vernon, to clean up its lead contamination of soil at 39 homes and a pre-school in the area.
California Governor Jerry Brown Intervenes in Case of Exide Technologies
SANTA MONICA, CA--Governor Jerry Brown today intervened in the case of Vernon lead battery recycler Exide Technologies that has threatened public health with hazardous emissions of lead. The governor discussed the case with regulators at the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), which revealed that testing of soil at 39 area homes showed unacceptably high levels of lead.
Department of Public Health Radiological Branch Launches Investigation as Toxics Regulators Allow Large Quantities of Possibly Contaminated Soil to Leave Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard
Santa Monica, CA—Consumer Watchdog has confirmed that the Department of Public Health’s Radiological Health Branch is investigating allegations that large amounts of soil dug up in a potentially radioactively contaminated parcel at Hunters Point may not have been checked for radiation before shipping to facilities not licensed to take low level radioactive waste.
Consumer Watchdog Requests Radiological Inspection at Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard As Possibly Contaminated Soil Heads to Landfills Unlicensed for Radioactive Waste
Santa Monica, CA—Consumer Watchdog has called for a state investigation of the cleanup of Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco for large amounts of soil that may have been dug up in a radioactively impacted parcel without being checked for contamination and then sent off site for possible disposal in landfills unlicensed to take low-level radioactive waste.
Consumer Groups Win Preliminary Injunction Against Toxics Regulator Over Illegal Disposal of Boeing Radioactive Debris
SANTA MONICA, CA –The Sacramento Superior Court granted a motion for preliminary injunction against the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) pending final outcome of a lawsuit filed by Consumer Watchdog counsel and Strumwasser & Woocher on behalf of Consumer Watchdog and three other groups over the illegal demolition and disposal of radioactive debris from Boeing's Santa Susana nuclear reactor an
The Cartel Of Contamination: Regulators Just Won’t Shut Down Exide
The Resurrection Church in Boyle Heights was a fitting venue last night for a town hall meeting about resurrecting justice. Senators Kevin De Leon of Los Angeles, Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens, and Assembly Speaker John Perez were the heroes grilling a panel of environmental regulators that included the state’s top toxics regulator Debbie Raphael, and a top air regulator, Barry Wallerstein, Executive O
Fair Political Practices Commission Should Postpone Settlement Agreement with California Strategies and Winston Hickox for Undisclosed Lobbying Until Boeing is Added
SANTA MONICA, CA –Consumer Watchdog today asked the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) to postpone a proposed settlement agreement between staff attorneys and three well-connected partners in the public affairs company California Strategies until one of the partners, Winston Hickox, fully discloses his lobbying activities on behalf of Boeing in its efforts to get out of its cleanup obligations at a S
Will Regulators Get Extra Power To Leave Hazardous and Radioactive Waste In Place On Last Day Of Session?
SANTA MONICA, CA—In the fine print of “environmental justice” legislation, AB 1330 (Speaker John Perez) is a huge to gift to polluters that allows the state’s toxics regulator to make a plan for “reducing the disposal of hazardous waste that may post a significant threat to human health or the environment to the maximum extent practicable.”
Take Action Now — Stop Sacramento’s 11th Hour Assault on Environmental Protection
We need your help! In the last week of the legislative session, polluters may be getting a big gift if last minute legislation is not amended.
Eleventh Hour Bill Helps Keep Toxic Waste “In Place†In Your Backyard
SANTA MONICA, CA – Californians can look forward to hazardous waste being “left in place” instead of removed and sent to specially constructed and licensed facilities if lawmakers vote through a gut-and-amended Assembly Bill 1330 without new amendments this week, said Consumer Watchdog.
Consumer Watchdog Files Preliminary Injunction Motion To Stop Illegal State Approval of Boeing Radioactive Waste Demolition and Disposal
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog and Strumwasser & Woocher have filed a motion in Sacramento Superior Court for a preliminary injunction freezing all of Boeing’s demolition of structures and disposal of radioactive waste at the Santa Susana Field Lab in Simi Valley—including a plutonium fuel fabrication building.
California Superior Court Lifts Top Toxic Regulator’s Suspension of Exide Technologies in Move Endangering Californians
SANTA MONICA, CA –Exide Technologies has won a temporary reprieve that prevents the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) from enforcing its shutdown of the company’s Vernon plant. That means the lead battery recycler can restart its operations, threatening Californians with renewed pollution of their air and water, Consumer Watchdog said today.
Exide Technologies Files for Bankruptcy and Threatens Californians with Bill for Cleanup that Top Toxics Regulator Botched
SANTA MONICA, CA – Now that lead battery recycler Exide Technologies has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has potentially stuck California taxpayers with the tab for multi-millions in cleanup costs in the city of Vernon, Consumer Watchdog said today. The DTSC suspended operations at the plant on April 24 because of imminent danger to the public health.
Consumer Watchdog Requests Financial Audit After Toxics Regulator Reveals $185 Million in Uncollected Cleanup Bills
SANTA MONICA, CA –Consumer Watchdog called for the California State Auditor to perform a comprehensive financial audit of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) today after, as acknowledged in the Sacramento Bee, the state’s top toxics regulator admitted it had never billed or failed to collect $185 million in reimbursements of public funds from polluters for overseeing cleanup of their toxic messes.
New Documents Reveal Top Toxics Regulator Knew of Exide Safety Risks for Years
SANTA MONICA, CA – New documents reveal that, contrary to its public statements, the state’s top toxics regulator knew about lead and arsenic emissions at Exide Technologies for years but looked the other way, Consumer Watchdog said today.
Top Toxics Regulator’s Chief Deputy Resigns Amid State Conflict of Interest Investigation
Santa Monica, CA -- After a complaint by Consumer Watchdog to the state about investments made in companies she regulates, Odette Madriago, chief deputy director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), has stepped down from her position and will retire at the end of the year, the group has learned.
Top Toxics Regulator Suspends Lead Battery Recycler Exide But Consumer Watchdog Warns Californians Could Be On Hook For Millions In Cleanup Costs
SANTA MONICA, CA –The Department Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) did the right thing in taking aggressive action against the biggest lead battery recycler in the state, a serial toxic polluter, Consumer Watchdog said today. But the group faulted the DTSC for serious lapses in its regulation of the facility over two decades.
Earth Day, Earth Spin
It’s Earth Day. Here in California, state regulators are celebrating with their Keep California Beautiful Event that kicks off at the State Capitol followed by cleanup activities, like picking up litter and collecting e-waste, across the State.
Lessons (Not) Learned From the Chevron Fire
On Friday, federal accident investigators told California legislators that the state’s patchwork of oil industry regulations needs a serious overhaul. The Chevron fire that produced a toxic cloud and sent 15,000 people to the hospital could have been prevented, but the system was reactive and not designed to foresee and forestall problems, said the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Duh.
Top Toxics Agency Left Refinery Inspector Positions Vacant As Lead Official Held Chevron Stock
SANTA MONICA, CA – The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has gutted its ability to inspect refineries in the wake of the Chevron refinery fire in Richmond last August, Consumer Watchdog said today. The information comes on the heels of a U.S. Chemical Safety Board statement before California lawmakers that the fire could have been prevented if agencies had more and better-skilled inspectors on staff.
Consumer Watchdog Calls for Firing of Top Toxic Officials After Fair Political Practices Commission Launches Investigation
SANTA MONICA, CA –Following news that the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) will investigate a top toxics regulator for financial conflicts of interest, Consumer Watchdog today reiterated its call for the firing of two top officials at the Department of Toxic Substances Control who invested as much as six and seven figures into companies that the DTSC regulates or licenses.
Department of Toxic Substances Control Levies Wrist Slap Fine on Chemical Waste Management Landfill Operator in Kettleman City
SANTA MONICA, CA –Consumer Watchdog today said that the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) levied a paltry fine of under $300,000 onto Chemical Waste Management - operator of the Kettleman Hills hazardous waste landfill - for failing to notify the department of 72 spills of hazardous waste over a four-year period.
Chevron Conflict At Toxics Agency That Routinely Ignores California Environmental Quality Act Requires External and Transparent Investigation
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called for Governor Brown to conduct his own investigation into allegations of financial conflict of interest at the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and to put two officials at the department on administrative leave immediately.
Consumer Watchdog Calls for Governor Brown to Fire Two DTSC Officials for Conflicts of Interest
SANTA MONICA, CA – Consumer Watchdog today called for Governor Jerry Brown to fire two top officials at The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) for conflicts of interest. The letter said that the officials may have violated the California Code of Regulations by holding six and seven figure interests in companies regulated and/or licensed by the department while making decisions that could have affected those companies.