Cleanup Workers' Contract: Don't Talk to Media

June 2, 2010–Workers in the "Vessels of Opportunity" Gulf spill cleanup program had to sign a contract prohibiting them from talking to the news media or disclosing "proprietary and confidential" information.

Dispersants Remain a Mystery to Public, Despite Fake "Disclosure"

June 2, 2010–Dispersant manufacturer Nalco failed to disclose the chemical identity of the ingredients to the news media or public, and ignored a US EPA order to stop using the product in the Gulf.

Media Access to Oil-Impacted Areas Disputed

June 2, 2010–The WatchDog's special Gulf oil spill issue includes stories on media access problems, withholding of information by US EPA and misleading statements by BP, mystery dispersant ingredients, BP's new ex-Cheney spokesperson, prohibiting cleanup workers talking to media, and detaining rig survivors till they sign two statements.

Rig Survivors Detained Until They Signed Statements

June 2, 2010–Deepwater Horizon explosion survivors were detained at sea for 36 to 40 hours and prevented from talking to families or going home until they signed two statements, one that they'd not been injured and the other that they'd not witnessed the explosion.

Top Kill Operation Succeeds in Killing Much of BP's Credibility

June 2, 2010–US EPA withheld information, and twice during the five-day operation BP cut off the mud pumps for long periods without letting the public know, making statements that left the impression the operation was ongoing.

June 8: World Oceans Day Brings Focus on Gulf Oil Spill

May 26, 2010–The nonprofit conservation group SeaWeb will host a news conference in Washington, DC on the state of the world's oceans and the most challenging ocean conservation issues, including the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and what to expect in the way of long-term consequences of this disaster.

Public Water Wells Often Contaminated

May 26, 2010–A new US Geological Survey report indicates about 105 million US residents drink water from contaminated systems, often at pollutant concentrations that potentially pose a human health risk.

Unidentified Wetlands Owners in 22 States Get USDA Funds

May 26, 2010–About 75,000 acres of wetlands in 22 states and Puerto Rico will split $175 million of Natural Resources Conservation Service's Wetlands Reserve Program funding, but recipient properties or owners will not be identified. 

EPA Makes Water Polluters A Little Easier To Track

May 12, 2010–A new Web tool summarizes by state the number of smaller dischargers whose actions have been reviewed, the number that had a serious violation of their permit, and the number against whom a state took enforcement action.

Russian Olives and Tamarisk Get A Little Federal Love

May 12, 2010–A new report by the US Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, US Forest Service, other federal agencies, and university experts says the water-hogging reputation of the two species has little merit, but found that effects on wildlife are mixed.