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. 

Appeals Court Nixes Permits for Free Speech in National Parks

August 11, 2010–A federal appeals court has ruled that the National Park Service is violating the First Amendment with its current rules requiring permits for demonstrations, gatherings, and public "expressions of views" on National Park System lands.

Forest Service Gags Employees, Belies Obama Openness Vow

May 19, 2010–Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility obtained and disclosed a USFS memo ordering its law enforcement personnel not to talk to reporters about anything without first getting clearance from its Washington director and press office.

Judge Backs Chevron's Grab for Documentary Out-takes in Ecuador Case

May 19, 2010–A federal district judge in New York ordered film-maker Joe Berlinger to turn over more than 600 hours of raw footage from his documentary "Crude," about a lawsuit by natives in Ecuador charging Chevron with polluting the Amazon rainforest there.

TOOLBOX: A Compilation of State Lawyer Licensing Databases

May 19, 2010–One tool to help tell shady lawyers from shiny is the recently updated, free, searchable online compilation at llrx.com.

Air Pollution: EPA Proposes Tougher Industrial Boiler Regs

May 12, 2010–The proposed air toxics standards cover emissions from three types of combustion sources and address emissions of mercury, cadmium, dioxin, furans, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, and other pollutants.

Supreme Court Tosses Overbroad Cruelty Video Law

April 21, 2010–SEJ and other journalism groups had urged the court to strike down the sweeping law that could criminalize ordinary journalistic investigations meant to expose and end animal cruelty.

Supreme Court Case Could Affect Many GE Foods

April 14, 2010–The case, Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms, focuses on genetically engineered alfalfa. One of the concerns is that GE alfalfa can cross-contaminate, rendering organic alfalfa noncompliant with federal standards, and precluding export.

Federal Anti-SLAPP Bill Could Help Bloggers, Freelancers

April 7, 2010–A bill to protect journalists and citizens against "Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation" suits has been introduced in Congress but is unlikely to go far unless more members get behind it.

Maryland Legislature Threatens Law Clinic For Defending Chesapeake Bay

April 7, 2010–In the face of public outrage (and press coverage), the legislature partially backed down — but kept a requirement that the law clinic report to the legislature on whom it represented.