Interview: Get to Know Land, Water, and Ocean Policy Associate Tanya Trinh
We’re thrilled to introduce you to CVSC’s newest team member! Tanya Trinh joined CVSC this summer to support our policy and government relations team. Read more to get to know Tanya and how she’ll be helping us protect South Carolina’s air, land, and water.
Q: Hi Tanya! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what drew you to environmental work and CVSC specifically?
A: My name is Tanya (pronounced tan-yuh), and I was drawn to environmental work through my interest in the plastics and fast fashion industries. Seeing waste being littered around the earth I call home gave me a sort of claustrophobic feeling, and I became filled with an intense passion to fight for a cleaner environment! I pursued this career interest by studying at the University of South Carolina, where I recently graduated, and came to discover CVSC through a class taught by our very own President, John Tynan! I truly admired the work that CVSC did and how the organization was people-centric in its values. As fate would have it, the role of Land, Water, and Ocean Policy Associate opened right after I finished school, and I knew I had to apply!
Q: It sounds like it was meant to be! What exactly does your new role entail?
A: In this new role, I monitor and analyze state-level policy developments in the land and water use realms. In my first month here, I’ve conducted extensive research to support the Land, Water, and Ocean (LWO) team’s goals and have utilized this newfound knowledge to produce reports and pursue potential policy options with various partners. Specifically, I’ve been looking into emerging drinking water contaminants and smart growth initiatives.
Q: What campaign are you most excited to work on?
A: I am most excited to work on implementing the PFOS, PFOA, and Emerging Contaminants Remediation Fund. In 2022, CVSC secured $10 million to test for and filter toxic forever chemicals called PFAS from drinking water in private wells across the state. The LWO team is currently working with the new Department of Environmental Services (DES) to expand the fund’s impact. The testing that DES is able to do with this funding also helps the department learn more about how PFAS are spreading through South Carolina, which will lead to more informed decision-making from our elected officials. Clean drinking water is extremely important to me, so I genuinely look forward to this opportunity!
Q: That’s a huge undertaking, the team is really lucky to have your help. For anyone reading who may want to get involved, how can they help with that campaign?
A: The biggest thing is letting people know that this resource exists. If you use well water or know someone who does, it’s important to make sure you’re not at risk of PFAS consumption and are properly maintaining your well. Follow this link to see if your well is in an area of concern: https://forms.office.com/g/wE0Y9Ew3uF.
There is still a long way to go in protecting South Carolina’s drinking water from PFAS, and they are only one class of emerging contaminants that pose a threat. I’m excited to help CVSC continue to advocate for safe, healthy drinking water for all South Carolinians!