EJToday is SEJ's selection of new and outstanding stories on environmental topics in print and on the air, updated every weekday. SEJ also offers a free e-mailed digest of the day's EJToday postings, called SEJ-beat. SEJ members are subscribed automatically, but may opt out here. Non-members may subscribe here. EJToday is also available via RSS feed. Please see Editorial Guidelines for EJToday content.
"Obama Settles On EPA, Energy Department Nominees: Source"
Reuters, 02/21/2013"President Barack Obama intends to nominate air quality expert Gina McCarthy to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and nuclear physicist Ernest Moniz to head the Department of Energy as early as this week, according to a source familiar with the process."
"EPA Officials Ignored Engineer's Theory in Range Contamination Case"
EnergyWire, 02/21/2013"A former Texas state oil and gas regulator outlined in 2011 how two Range Resources Corp. wells outside Fort Worth could have leaked natural gas into the water supply of nearby homes."
"Digging for Dark Money"
Columbia Journalism Review, 02/20/2013Exposes by the Guardian and Center for Public Integrity have unravelled parts of a dark network which launders the millions flowing from fossil-fuel interests like the Koch brothers to climate change denial and disinformation outlets. It was documents obtained by scientist Peter Gleick, whose undercover tactics brought criticism from some journalists, that helped bring the story to light.
"Regent Defends Intervening With U. Iowa On Ethanol"
AP, 02/20/2013"IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Regent Bruce Rastetter intervened on behalf of ethanol industry leaders who were upset with a prominent University of Iowa researcher for warning that water-intensive ethanol production was threatening Iowa's water supply, records show."
"High-Stakes Fight Over Soybeans at High Court"
AP, 02/19/2013Today the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case testing the reach of GMO companies' market power based on intellectual property claims -- and while environment and health are not immediately before the court, a case that could have wide impacts on both.
"Coal: Texas Developer Cancels Power Plant, Blames Obama Climate Push"
Greenwire, 02/19/2013A Texas company quit plans to build a coal-fired power plant -- blaming President Obama's environmental rules, but admitting the low price of natural gas was a key reason.
"EPA Official: Cuts Will Undercut Pollution Forecasts, Waste Cleanups"
AP, 02/19/2013"WASHINGTON -- A top environmental official is warning lawmakers that automatic spending cuts due next month would jeopardize EPA's ability to protect against oil spills, air pollution, and hazardous waste."
North Carolina: "GOP Is Poised To Restructure Coastal Oversight"
Charlotte Observer, 02/19/2013"Republican legislators’ plan to take over key state commissions would remake the Coastal Resources Commission in a way that could strain a decades-long partnership with federal regulators.
At stake is $2.5 million in federal funds the state receives each year to help protect the environment in a federal-state partnership that has afforded North Carolina local control of coastal development permits.
"Keystone XL Protesters Pressure Obama on Climate Change Promise"
Wash Post, 02/18/2013"Event billed as largest climate protest in US history intended as show of force as Obama nears decision on controversial project."
"Secret Funding Helped Build Vast Network of Climate Denial Thinktanks
Guardian, 02/15/2013"Anonymous billionaires donated $120m to more than 100 anti-climate groups working to discredit climate change science."
"Activists Arrested at White House Protesting Keystone Pipeline"
Wash Post, 02/14/2013Some 48 prominent activists were arrested at the White House Wednesday when they protested the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which they say will worsen climate change. The Obama administration faces an upcoming decision on completing the pipeline.
Two-Thirds of Americans Want Obama To Act on Climate Change, Says Poll
Guardian, 02/14/2013"Two-thirds of Americans want President Barack Obama to act now on climate change, adding momentum to his state of the union promise to take up the challenge with or without Congress."
"Ouster of Scientist from EPA Panel Shows Industry Clout"
PBS NewsHour, 02/14/2013"In 2007, when Deborah Rice was appointed chair of an Environmental Protection Agency panel assessing the safety levels of flame retardants, she arrived as a respected Maine toxicologist with no ties to industry."
Canada's New Confidentiality Rules on Arctic Project Called 'Chilling'
Postmedia, 02/14/2013"A bid by [Canada's] federal government to impose sweeping confidentiality rules on an Arctic science project has run into serious resistance in the United States."
"To Go: Plastic-Foam Containers, if the Mayor Gets His Way"
NY Times, 02/14/2013"It is the most humble of vessels for New York City foodstuffs, ubiquitous at Chinese takeout joints and halal street carts. In pre-Starbucks days, coffee came packaged in its puffy embrace. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, whose regulatory lance has slain fatty foods, supersize sodas, and smoking in parks, is now targeting plastic foam, the much-derided polymer that environmentalists have long tried to restrict."

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