House Passes Bill To Open Up Federal Advisory Committees

July 3, 2008–The House passed a bill that would do more to ensure open records and meetings of federal advisory committees.

Midnight Regs: Many Environmental Items on Final Bush Agenda (Part 1)

June 25, 2008–As the Bush administration closes out its terms in office, a number of rules, policies, orders, and other actions related to the environment are expected by Jan. 19, 2009.

Spin War Looms on Eve of Senate Climate Debate

May 28, 2008–The battle to control news media and public perceptions of the climate change issue will heat up this week as the Senate prepares to start debate on the first major US legislation to address the problem of global climate change.

SEJ Joins in Suit on Officials' E-mails

May 7, 2008–The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) joined other journalism groups May 6, 2008, in filing a "friend of the court" brief in a Washington state lawsuit seeking access to public officials' e-mails under state law.

States Have Major Differences in "Net Metering" Policies

February 20, 2008–"Net metering" for selling excess wind or solar energy to utilities shows great variability among states.

ARTIST SUES LOCAL COPS OVER RIGHT TO PHOTOGRAPH POWER LINES

November 28, 2007–Shirley E. Scheier, a University of Washington fine-arts professor, was handcuffed, frisked, and detained for 44 minutes when she took some art photos of powerlines against the sky in Snohomish County, Washington.

FERC SLIGHTLY EASES SOME SECRECY REQUIREMENTS

November 28, 2007–The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has slightly relaxed some requirements for secrecy on decisions it makes on "critical energy infrastructure."

PENNSYLVANIA FORBIDS LABELING OF MILK PRODUCED WITHOUT ARTIFICIAL HORMONES

November 28, 2007–Consumers who want to choose milk produced without the use of artificial hormones are out of luck - if they live in Pennsylvania. That is not a choice the state will allow them.

Senate Committee Finishes Hearings, Plans Markup Start

November 14, 2007–After years of wrangling, and little significant action, federal legislative efforts addressing greenhouse gases and climate change are beginning to crystallize.

Congress Pushing Mining Law Update

November 7, 2007–Another effort to revamp the US General Mining Act of 1872 is under way. The House on Nov. 1, 2007, passed by a 244-166 margin a bill that for the first time would collect for the U.S. Treasury royalties for mining "hard rock" minerals on federally owned lands.