Oil Fracking Poses Similar Concerns As Gas Fracking

March 2, 2011–EPA is conducting a study of fracking, no matter where it is used (e.g., gas shale, oil shale, coalbed methane, tight sands). Public comment is being allowed as the agency's Science Advisory Board meets March 7-8, 2011, to review the draft study plan. Initial study and research results are possible by the end of 2012, and a report may be published some time in 2014.

Proposed Rule for Power Plant Toxics Due March 16

March 2, 2011–The consent decree that established the March 16 release date also mandates that a final rule be published by Nov. 16, 2011 (nine years later than the deadline dictated by the Clean Air Act). Here are several tools you can use to get a handle on the power plants and their emissions in your audience area prior to release of the rule.

First of Many Potential Offshore Wind Power Sites Identified

February 16, 2011–After participating in an 8-year struggle to get offshore wind development approved in Massachusetts waters, federal officials are pushing for expedited reviews and approvals in a rapidly growing number of other US coastal areas.

Enviros Claim "Secret Plan" To Use Weapons Plutonium in Reactors

February 9, 2011–The environmental group Friends of the Earth got the information that an electric utility wants to use surplus weapons plutonium in a commercial power reactor through a Freedom of Information Act request to the Energy Department.

Meetings Set for Getting Public Feedback on Solar Sites

February 2, 2011–The federal government has released its draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for identifying and evaluating the best areas on public lands for building utility-scale solar plants. A 90-day public comment period ends March 17, 2011, preceded by 14 meetings in 6 Western states and Washington, D.C.

House GOP Staff Meet with Energy Lobbyists Behind Closed Doors

January 26, 2011–Politico broke the story of a January 18, 2011, meeting between House and Senate GOP aides and energy industry lobbyists to map out strategy for handcuffing President Obama and EPA on climate regulations.

A Smear Campaign Against Jane Mayer After Koch Exposé?

January 12, 2011–The media blog Gawker thinks it has uncovered a campaign to discredit the New Yorker writer after her August 2010 story on billionaires Charles and David H. Koch, who have secretly funded attacks on government regulations and bankrolled efforts to discredit settled climate science.

Feds Publish Secret Oil Spill Calculator

January 12, 2011–Now that you have long since published your story about the disappearance of BP's oil from the Gulf, you may want to check the math that story was based on using newly released technical information.

Can Environment Sustain Quest for Valuable "Rare Earth" Materials?

December 8, 2010–A US Geological Survey report offers a perspective on the global situation and an assessment of known US deposits. There may be about 13 million metric tons available in 14 states — with the sites generally posing the usual environmental challenges associated with mining and refining.

Feds Document Core Areas for Decimated Sage-Grouse

December 8, 2010–The map and report on known greater sage grouse high-density breeding populations is a starting point that can be refined with the input of state fish and wildlife agencies. But you can use it right away as you cover various land use and environmental issues.