Public Health

Senior Counsel

Jeff serves as Senior Counsel to PEER, where he specializes in civil service, scientific integrity, and whistleblower protection issues. Jeff was PEER’s Executive Director from 1997 to 2019 and its Pacific Director from 2019 to 2025. Previously, he was the Policy Director and a staff attorney at the Government Accountability Project, representing whistleblowers from both the public and private sectors. Before coming to DC, Jeff worked in California state government for 17 years, mostly in the State Legislature as counsel to various committees where he drafted hundreds of laws on topics ranging from energy conservation to the rights of employed inventors. Jeff served stints as a deputy district attorney and an appellate court clerk. He is a graduate of the California Correctional Officers Academy.

Op-Ed | San Francisco’s Sewage Agency Also Needs Some Treatment

by Jeff Ruch | August 31, 2023
San Francisco taxpayers and ratepayers are footing the bill in the fight against tougher sewage controls on its oceanside outlets since 2019 ...

Webinar | The Local Fight Against PFAS Contamination

by PEER | August 28, 2023
Learn how community leaders in Nantucket are working to educate their community about PFAS and make actionable change ...

More Oil and Gas Wells Illegally Permitted in Colorado

by PEER | August 8, 2023
Conservation groups petition EPA to step in and protect air quality ...

STATEMENT | IG Report Finds EPA New Chemical Review Process Badly Broken

by PEER | August 2, 2023
EPA has not complied with applicable record keeping and quality assurance requirements when implementing its New Chemicals Program ...

EPA Plays Political Shell Game on PFAS Definition

by PEER | August 1, 2023
No Sound Scientific Basis Available for Any of the Changing Definitions ...

Navy Refuses to Probe Hunters Point Toxic Disinformation

by PEER | June 15, 2023
Navy IG Won’t Review False Statements on Sr-90 Levels in “Clean” Parcel ...