Media Access to Oil-Impacted Areas Disputed

June 2, 2010–The WatchDog's special Gulf oil spill issue includes stories on media access problems, withholding of information by US EPA and misleading statements by BP, mystery dispersant ingredients, BP's new ex-Cheney spokesperson, prohibiting cleanup workers talking to media, and detaining rig survivors till they sign two statements.

Rig Survivors Detained Until They Signed Statements

June 2, 2010–Deepwater Horizon explosion survivors were detained at sea for 36 to 40 hours and prevented from talking to families or going home until they signed two statements, one that they'd not been injured and the other that they'd not witnessed the explosion.

Top Kill Operation Succeeds in Killing Much of BP's Credibility

June 2, 2010–US EPA withheld information, and twice during the five-day operation BP cut off the mud pumps for long periods without letting the public know, making statements that left the impression the operation was ongoing.

Gulf Dispersants Called Trade Secret

May 5, 2010–The exact ingredients of the chemical mixture being sprayed on and pumped into the spreading BP oil spill are secret, even though some are rated toxic and may endanger the health of Gulf residents and ecosystems.

Mines in 21 States Outed for Habitual Safety Violations

April 28, 2010–The 48 mines are also linked by the fact that most of their owners have been legally delaying action on the violations through appeals of the citations. The Mine Safety and Health Administration is faced with a backlog of approximately 16,000 appeals.

Local Officials, Residents, in Dark on Nearby Hazardous Rail Cargoes

April 21, 2010–Sixty-two U.S. urban areas are threatened by hazardous rail cargoes, but federal agencies still refuse to let many firefighters, governments, and citizens know the rail routes used to transport cargoes that could kill tens or hundreds of thousands.

Massey Mine Disaster Raises Openness Issues

April 21, 2010–Several journalists have raised questions about why more was not known publicly about the safety defects that led to the deaths of 29 miners at Massey's Upper Big Branch Mine in April 2010.

More Than 550 Utilities Now Using Potentially Safer Chemicals

March 17, 2010–The plants, ranging from very large to very small, are now using chemicals and processes such as liquid chlorine bleach, calcium hypochlorite, or ultraviolet light — allegedly making ~40 million people living nearby safer.

Coal Ash Data Waiting for Local Reporters

September 23, 2009–Use this roundup of sources to write a probing story about the ash, slag, and sludge from coal-burning electric utilities — which containins heavy metals that can pollute water, and even bury people's houses.

SEJ Joins Amicus Brief on Dangerously Expanded FOIA Exemption

September 23, 2009–Several media organizations have joined the case of a Puget Sound resident denied information, under the "law enforcement" exemption to FOIA, that would identify the locations and potential blast ranges of explosive ordnance stored in the area.