Searchable archives of the biweekly WatchDog TipSheet's 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 are posted here on the day of publication. Journalists are eligible for a free email subscription; send name and full contact information to the SEJ office. WatchDog TipSheet is also available via RSS feed. 
Latest WatchDog TipSheet Items
January 28, 2009
Whistleblower Bill Awaits Congressional Action
January 28, 2009–An amendment adding whistleblower protection to the economic stimulus bill before the House will be voted on soon.January 22, 2009
Obama Orders Rollback of Bush Secrecy on 1st Day
January 22, 2009–President Barack Obama signalled that open access to information will be a top priority for his administration, issuing two memos to all executive agencies and one executive order at a January 21, 2009, session open to reporters and cabinet members.January 14, 2009
Bush OMB Claims Public Health Endangerment As Secret
January 14, 2009–The White House Office of Management and Budget has denied a FOIA request by the online newsletter Greenwire to release EPA's public health "endangerment finding" on climate change.SEJ Urges Energy Department To Drop New Secrecy Rule
January 14, 2009–The Society of Environmental Journalists has urged the Energy Department to abandon a new rule making it easier for the agency to deny or resist Freedom of Information Act requests.SEJ Urges Prompt, Full EPA Release of Ash Spill Testing Data
January 14, 2009–SEJ urged EPA Region 4 to release promptly and fully any environmental monitoring data it collects related to the December 2008 spill of coal ash from an east Tennessee impoundment.December 31, 2008
CNN, Weather Channel Axe Environmental Units
December 31, 2008–At a time when public understanding of complex science and environmental issues grows critical, CNN laid off its entire science/enviro team and NBC's The Weather Channel fired the staff of the "Forecast Earth" environmental program.December 17, 2008
Energy Department Midnight Reg Seeks To Bind Obama To Keep Old Secrets
December 17, 2008–The Energy Department in December 2008 published an 11th-hour proposed amendment to the Bush administration's secrecy rules that shroud the policies that brought Americans Enron, California blackouts, and $4 gasoline.In a Pinch? On Deadline? Remember FOIA Friends
December 17, 2008–The Freedom of Information Act is still one of the most powerful tools in a reporter's toolbelt. Here's our short list of useful FOIA helpers.Industry Keeps Secret the Gas-Drilling Toxins Seeping into Drinking Wells
December 17, 2008–A series of drinking-water contamination incidents have raised doubts about EPA's safety claims regarding hydraulic fracturing in domestic gas wells. And it's hard for people to get to the bottom of those claims when the identity of the chemicals injected during the process is protected as a "trade secret."MSHA Publishes Long-Withheld (but Legally Required) FOIA Report
December 17, 2008–The Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration finally released its Freedom of Information Act annual reports — after fighting veteran FOIA requester Mike Ravnitsky for some 18 months.
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