TipSheet provides news tips, source leads and reporting tools for journalists for potential environmental stories. Journalists are eligible for a free email subscription for future editions, to be produced on an occasional basis. To join the list, send name and full contact information to the SEJ office. TipSheet is also available via RSS feed.
Archives: Searchable TipSheet issues, published biweekly from February 14, 2012 back to Jan. 3, 2007, and from Dec. 26, 2001 to Jan 3, 2001, are available below. Or browse all TipSheet archives previous to May 2009 on SEJ's old website.
(See also searchable archives of SEJ's ongoing biweekly WatchDog TipSheet, with story ideas, articles, updates, events and other information with a focus on freedom-of-information issues of concern to environmental journalists in both the U.S. and Canada.)
NOTE: SEJ regrets to announce that biweekly publication of the TipSheet was suspended after the February 29, 2012, issue. SEJ hopes to return to publication of TipSheet in the future, pending receipt of adequate funding. We welcome your help in identifying potential underwriters. Contact Executive Director Beth Parke.
Latest TipSheet Items
October 12, 2011
Many Are Claiming Health Problems Caused by Smart Meters
October 12, 2011–Numerous allegations of health damage from people in the US and around the globe, the common threads in the descriptions of health damage (often appearing to involve the neurological, immune, and/or endocrine systems), and the evidence from thousands of published studies that address a wide range of electrical, magnetic field, and radio-frequency impacts suggest this could be a major public health issue that warrants coverage.NOAA Releases First Fishing Bycatch Report
October 12, 2011–Current fishing methods are rather destructive, with 17% of the fish caught commercially being unintended bycatch, according to NOAA's first national assessment of bycatch. That damages the environment, and costs those who fish time and money.Watchdog Alert: Tracking Energy Loan Guarantees
October 12, 2011–The topic of federal loan guarantees for energy projects has become prime media territory with the bankruptcy of the solar company Solyndra after it received one of these loans. As of September 30, 2011, DoE has issued about $40 billion for solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels, nuclear, energy efficiency, energy storage, battery storage, or transmission projects.September 28, 2011
Advocates Push for and Against Crop Insurance
September 28, 2011–As the federal budget battle continues, President Obama outlined on Sept. 19, 2011, a package of ideas designed to cut costs and increase income over the next decade. One element of the $3 trillion package is an $8.5 billion reduction in costs for crop insurance.EPA Finalizes 15 Additional Superfund Sites, Proposes 11 More
September 28, 2011–Sites in CA, GA, IL, IN, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OR, SC, TN, and TX received a final designation of Superfund status, meaning they are among the most toxic in the country, due to contamination from industrial operations, mining, military activities, landfills, and other sources.NOAA Seafood Report Released
September 28, 2011–Use the data to report for communities directly affected by fishing or, at a larger scale, as a hook to report on several other related issues. Also, research another hot topic drawing attention — mislabeling of fish species.Report: Canada Has Hot Geothermal Prospects
September 28, 2011–The Geological Survey of Canada states the best prospects are in British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, and the westernmost portion of the Northwest Territories, with some good potential also in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, and modest prospects in many other parts of the country.September 14, 2011
Drinking-Water Wells Often Pose a Health Risk
September 14, 2011–Based on extensive sampling of drinking water wells around the country by USGS, 19% of all tested wells were contaminated with a substance such as arsenic, uranium, or radon at a concentration that poses a health risk, and about 10% of all wells have more than one such substance.
Groups Suggest Ways To Help Environment While Cutting Federal Deficit
September 14, 2011–The Green Scissors 2011 report was developed by an unlikely coalition of right- and left-leaning advocacy groups: Heartland Institute, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Friends of the Earth, and Public Citizen. They suggest it's possible to save about $380 billion over 2012-2016 while helping the environment.La Niña Resurfaces; More Extreme Weather?
September 14, 2011–NOAA said on Sept. 8, 2011, that the La Niña weather pattern has returned already, after the last La Niña cycle ran from June 2010-May 2011, causing extraordinarily frequent and damaging extreme weather. If typical patterns pan out in the new cycle, that could lead to more drought and fires in the south, and blizzards and flooding in the north.
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