Fed Report: Most Oil and Gas Leases Unused

April 13, 2011–According to a Dept. of Interior report requested by Obama and released March 29, 2011, 70% of existing federal oil and gas offshore lease acres and 57% of all federal onshore leased acres are inactive, with no production, exploration or development.

Spy Agency To Release Trove of Satellite Photos — But Can Public See Them?

March 9, 2011–The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is about to release millions of feet of film containing aerial images that have been declassified. Such images have in the past been a boon to environmental research. It remains to be seen whether the contractors will charge prices that effectively prevent use by journalists and the public.

Local Hunting, Fishing, and Recreation Projects Get Funded

March 2, 2011–States and territories have just been allocated about three-quarters of a billion dollars for their use in building facilities, providing services, and conducting planning and research related to fishing, hunting, wildlife conservation, and recreational opportunities. This is a gold mine for local environmental stories.

Photojournalist Asks Court for Access to Wild Horse Operations

February 23, 2011–A wild horse journalist, photojournalist and correspondent for Horseback Magazine is petitioning the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to redress the inaction of a federal district court in Nevada on her request that restrictions on her access to the roundups and warehouses be lifted.

Minerals Extraction Affects Many Beats

February 16, 2011–With the US now 99-100% dependent on foreign countries for 20 of the 90 or so mineral commodities covered in a new USGS report, there are plenty of opportunities for you to concurrently cover the environment, business, national security, and crime.

NPS Offers Deal for Public at National Parks

January 19, 2011–Take advantage of the National Park Service's free admission days during National Park Week in April, first day of summer (June 21), National Public Lands Day (September 24) and the November 11-13 Veterans Day weekend.

Chambers Reinstated; Talking to Reporters No Longer a Federal Firing Offense?

January 12, 2011–Teresa Chambers, who was fired by the Bush administration in 2004 for talking to the news media, has been reinstated by the Merit Systems Protection Board as chief of police for the National Park Service.

Can Environment Sustain Quest for Valuable "Rare Earth" Materials?

December 8, 2010–A US Geological Survey report offers a perspective on the global situation and an assessment of known US deposits. There may be about 13 million metric tons available in 14 states — with the sites generally posing the usual environmental challenges associated with mining and refining.

EPA Won't Disclose Alternative Study on Spruce Mine MTR Permit

December 1, 2010–Despite promises of transparency, the US Environmental Protection Agency has denied a Freedom-of-Information request by Charleston Gazette reporter Ken Ward Jr. for the contractor study, which apparently outlines less harmful options for this West Virginia mountaintop-removal project.

25,000 Abandoned Mines Are Just the Beginning

October 27, 2010–The BLM is documenting where the mines are, and ramping up efforts to mitigate threats from them, such as water contamination, traps for people and animals, and deteriorating old explosives lurking in some dark corners.