Pipelines Spill Millions of Toxic Gallons Each Year

August 18, 2010–A round-up of resources: from the recent Enbridge spill in Michigan to multiple spills over time by Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline; hearings of the US House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials; availability of pipeline maps; Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration info on safety standards, inspections, stakeholder communications; and much more. 

Enviros File FOIA Suit for Salazar Contacts with Oil Lobbyists

July 14, 2010–The Center for Biological Diversity requested documents from the Department of the Interior on May 18, 2010, but received no response.

Whistleblower Switches Sides, Spills Story on BP Press Blockade

July 14, 2010–An ex-BP security contractor hired to shoo reporters off of public beaches claims he was fired by BP after he took pictures of equations showing how dispersants were being used in the Gulf.

Many Petroleum Companies Routinely Emit Significant Toxics

July 7, 2010–The University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute's "Toxic 100 Air Polluters" indicates 4 of the worst 12 air polluters are petroleum companies. You can use this resource to look at other groupings of companies, such as utilities, or drug, chemical, or metals manufacturers, or to look at any of the individual companies.

Natural Gas Hazards Drawing Federal Attention

July 7, 2010–After hearing for years about public concern over the adverse health and environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing used to increase production of natural gas, US EPA has begun a process (including 4 public meetings in July; CO, NY, PA, TX) to decide what the issues are and how to address them.

TOOLBOX: Database May Reveal an Oil Spill Near You

June 30, 2010–Every spill report coming in to the NRC goes into a database which is, for the most part, publicly accessible. You can query the database online, or download it for use in your own computer-assisted reporting project.

TOOLBOX: Denver Post Finds Thousands of Drilling Spills in Colorado

June 30, 2010–A big fraction of the leaks and spills involved not merely oil, but produced water containing hydraulic fracturing fluid. You'll find lots of useful data on the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission website.

Rooftop Solar Leasing Deals: Better Business for Renewables?

June 23, 2010–Driving this trend is mounting time pressure in many states for utilities to meet deadlines and quotas for renewable energy production, as well as the recession and federal tax incentives.

Understanding Oil; Publishers Tout 60+ Books

June 23, 2010–There will be scores of angles to cover as the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster continues to unfold. One of the books compiled by the Association of American University Presses may provide you insight on an oil-related issue, in fields such as economics, politics, international relations, sociology, environment, and technology.

BP Contractors, Feds Continue to Bar Media from Public Property

June 16, 2010–WDSU, the NBC affiliate in New Orleans (Channel 6), found that BP's highly publicized statement that it is not barring news media from witnessing the cleanup, or its failure, is in fact not true. See video of this and other examples, and get contact info for the Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint Information Center if you've been denied access.