April 22 Earth Day Sparks Local Stories

April 14, 2010–Here are several resources for localizing this 40th anniversary event.

1 in 7 Wildlife Refuges Has Genetically Engineered Crops

March 17, 2010–Three organizations file a lawsuit against the USFWS, a new study finds three strains of GE maize likely damaged organs of rats that ate the foods for just three months, pesticide use associated with GE crops may actually be greater than for traditional crops, and GE seed prices skyrocket.

Firearms Now Allowed in Parks; Rules Eased in Refuges

March 3, 2010–Educating your audience about the complicated new law will be a useful public service. It will also familiarize you with the people involved at your local facilities, what steps they are taking, and who you can contact if a shooting incident or other violation occurs.

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. 

Group Is Releasing Improved Conservation Lands Information

February 17, 2010–The Trust for Public Land's updated online database includes mapping and a finer level of detail, such as information at the county and parcel levels, for some but not all states as yet.

MIT Crowdsources "Landmen" Reports on Oil, Natural Gas Agents

February 3, 2010–Billed as "a resource to support citizens negotiating with big energy," this brand new Center for Future Civic Media service could become a useful tool for energy and environment reporting.

Creek Daylighting: A Stormwater Management Trend

October 28, 2009–Strenuous local battles sometimes erupt over "daylighting" (freeing streams from culverts and paved channels), an increasingly popular method for state, county, and local governments to improve stormwater management and water quality.

Groups Pinpoint Threats to Selected Canadian and US Rivers

October 28, 2009–The widespread perception of water abundance in Canada is a myth, according to a new report by the World Wildlife Fund-Canada. See details for the 10 selected rivers, most of which cross political boundaries within Canada or between Canada and the United States.

EPA Uses Online Forum To Address TRI Mining Changes

October 21, 2009–EPA seems to be making efforts to use social media to improve public participation in its decisions, says the watchdog group OMB Watch, citing the TRI forum as one example of several.

Disorder at the Borders: Photographers Aim To Document and Protect Borderland Environments

October 15, 2009–