Commerce Seeks Wildlife Leakers

March 11, 2009–A Bush-appointed holdover inspector general has teamed up with an ultraconservative Senator in a "plumber" operation aimed at punishing agency employees who revealed attempts to gut the Endangered Species Act via "midnight regulations."

Groups Call On EPA To Settle Suit, Restore TRI

March 11, 2009–Hundreds of civic groups and individuals called on EPA March 1, 2009, to restore the Toxics Release Inventory to its former usefulness for informing people of what toxic chemicals companies are releasing into their air, water, and land.

SEJ Backs Free Publication of Tax-Funded Research

March 11, 2009–SEJ and science journalism groups expressed opposition to a bill that would reverse current policy of free publication of scientific results coming from federal agencies.

Many Tools Available For Following the Stimulus Money

March 4, 2009–The massive $787 billion economic stimulus package signed into law by President Obama Feb. 17, 2009, contains extensive funding for projects with direct and indirect environmental ties — all of which can be covered from numerous angles of interest to your audience.

March 30 Climate Summit Previews Coming Battles

March 4, 2009–At the request of Congress, the National Academy of Sciences is hosting the two-day "America's Climate Choices" in Washington, DC.

"Show Us The Data"

February 25, 2009–A new online project by two longstanding open-government groups allows people and groups to vote for the government information they would most like disclosed.

Environment Canada Gags Scientists At Conference

February 25, 2009–SEJ member Janet Pelley writes about her experience with EC scientists, policy and a press 'minder' at the recent Central Canadian Symposium on Water Quality Research.

FOIA Requests in 120-Day Limbo — Or Are They?

February 25, 2009–In January 2009, President Obama reversed Bush administration policy and ordered most federal agencies to err on the side of disclosure when responding to FOIA requests. Why, then, are a number of agencies still operating under the old policies?

Obscure Farm Bill Provision Blacks Out Agricultural Data

February 25, 2009–The USDA is interpreting a provision in the 2008 Farm Bill so broadly that it may amount to a FOIA exemption for most information about individual agricultural operations.

Cement Kiln Rule Proposal Possible in March

February 18, 2009–EPA proposes a new rule addressing emissions of toxic chemicals from kilns that are fueled by coal or other typical fuels, or allegedly nonhazardous waste. You'll find this, as well as other environmental story ideas, in the latest issue of TipSheet.