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.

SECRECY ON ANIMAL ID SYSTEM CHALLENGED, WRITTEN INTO FARM BILL

October 31, 2007–The Senate Agriculture Committee has written an exemption from the Freedom of Information Act for records in the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The language, which is in the draft version of the Farm Bill and would prevent American meat eaters from knowing about any problems with their meat was introduced by farmers and members of the food industry.

SEJ, J-GROUPS URGE INTERIOR TO LOOSEN LIMITS ON FILMING

October 31, 2007–SEJ and 18 other journalism groups urged the Department of the Interior Oct. 19, 2007, to revise a proposed rule that would keep freelancers and documentarians from covering news in National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and other DOI lands.

IPCC To Release Climate Change Synthesis Report Nov. 16

October 24, 2007–The final installment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's "Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change" is expected to be released Nov. 16, 2007, during a Nov. 12-17 gathering in Valencia, Spain.

REPORT: Clean Water Act Violations Occur Routinely

October 24, 2007–In 2005, at least 3,600 facilities violated their water discharge permits more than 24,000 times, according to a US Public Interest Research Group report released Oct. 11, 2007.

INTERIOR PROPOSES FEE/PERMIT RULE FOR FILMING IN PARKS, REFUGES

October 17, 2007–The Interior Department has proposed codifying its rules on photography, filming, and sound-recording on public lands it administers. Some newsgatherers are worried that the rules would hurt their ability to do their jobs.

Ten Key Stories for 2002 That May Be Overlooked

December 26, 2001–Stories that we think will have great impact on the lives of Americans, but which we suspect will slip "under the radar" because of war-related media inattention.