USGS Minerals Report: A Tale of Economy and Environment

March 3, 2010–Many story leads are tucked away in this 196-page report: recession impacts from drops in extraction and consumption, increases in importation of key materials, insights on stories related to climate change and air pollution, and much more. 

Will Appliance Rebates Match Cash for Clunkers?

February 3, 2010–States and territories are each designing and running their own unique rebate program, with funding from the US DOE for development and implementation.

Environmental Disclosure a High-Stakes Issue for Corporations

January 27, 2010–Companies of all kinds face the prospect of major costs or losses as they face a future of unknown risks and uncertain regulations — and you are provided an environmental reporting opportunity.

20% of Chemicals in Commerce Claim To Be 'Trade Secrets'

January 13, 2010–Washington Post reporter Lyndsey Layton writes about the thousands of chemicals exempted from EPA screening for potential harm to the environment and public health — and the three-decades-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that renders it possible, in the interest of protecting manufacturers' bottom lines.

Watchdog Groups Call for Improvements in Contractor Misconduct Database

November 18, 2009–The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) and OMB Watch want the federal government to tighten the accountability of federal contractors by fixing problems with the database — a potentially valuable tool for environmental reporters.

Feds Begin To Quantify Hidden Climate Change Costs

October 28, 2009–As debate over climate legislation rages, reporters will encounter many confusing and seemingly contradictory statements about the costs of changing US energy practices. You may help your audience with an understanding of how incomplete the cost figures cited by companies and politicians often are.

Report Documents Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farm Lands

October 28, 2009–Foreign ownership of privately-held US agricultural lands, on the rise for the second year in a row, can affect the local economy, politics, culture, foreign investment in the US, food security, and agricultural subsidies.

CRS Publishes Cost-Benefit Analysis of House Climate Bill

September 30, 2009–A report prepared by the Congressional Research Service is likely to be one key focus of an upcoming Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.

GM Dropout Endangers Vehicle Mercury Switch Recycling Program

August 19, 2009–The Associated Press reports "GM says mercury pollution not its problem anymore," defaulting on its dues payments just as the US government's cash-for-clunkers program is causing the retirement of many older vehicles.

Lobbyists of All Stripes Join Climate Change Fray

August 19, 2009–A Center for Public Integrity report indicates the number of entities officially lobbying on climate change increased 31% in the second quarter of 2009, and draws some parallels between the lobbyists involved prior to the June 2009 House vote on a climate change bill and the major pre-vote changes that happened to the bill.