FDA Mulls Putting Public's Health Above Companies' Trade Secrets

June 3, 2009–NYT: "The goal is to open up a system in which the agency failed to inform the public that a widely prescribed heartburn drug was especially toxic to babies; that a diabetes medicine and a painkiller increased heart attack risks; and that antidepressants increased suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and teenagers."

New Jersey DEP Proposes Gag Order on Science Info

June 3, 2009–The Newark Star-Ledger reports a move by a top New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection official to prevent public disclosure of scientific information that should be public until political appointees without science credentials and press officers have approved it.

Feds Boost Lead-Reduction Effort in Houses

May 27, 2009–About $100 million in funding is earmarked for 53 projects in 20 states and the District of Columbia by the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

Toolbox: RMP*Comp Projects Chemical Disaster Scenarios

May 20, 2009–Use this free software tool, downloadable from EPA, to calculate how much injury a chemical spill could cause.

WV Reporter Uses FOIA To Probe Drilling Waste

May 20, 2009–Billy Wolfe, of the Clarksburg Exponent Telegram, learns more about the chemicals in the hydraulic fracturing fluid used by gas-drilling companies.

Public Risks from Chemical Facilities Aren't Just Theoretical

May 13, 2009–Accidents and criminal actions at private and government facilities continue to threaten millions of people. Find the accident history in counties you cover.

Congress Chiefs Want Probe into Secret Bayer Poison Gas

May 7, 2009–House Energy Chair Waxman and Senate Commerce Chair Rockefeller call for investigation of whether Bayer could use safer chemicals at its Institute WV plant.

RTK NET Relaunches Chemical Risk Data Site

May 7, 2009–RTK NET's powerful tools make it easy to see which cities face the worst chemical risks, and what chemicals are involved.

"Trade Secrets" — Largely Untested Grounds for Toxic Secrecy

April 22, 2009–Witnesses at a House Energy Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection hearing in February said excessive and unjustified claims of "confidential business information" dampen EPA's efforts to regulate commonly used chemicals.

After Secrecy Claims, Bayer's Own Lapses Revealed as Biggest Threat

April 22, 2009–A U.S. Chemical Safety Board public hearing, delayed for a month due to Bayer's pleas for secrecy, finds lack of safety to be contributing factors to the 'accident' that killed two at an Institute, WV, plant in August 2008.