SEJ TipSheet

SEJ TipSheet http://www.sej.org/pub/index1.htm Biweekly news tips from the Society of Environmental Journalists and the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation. en-us Copyright 2008 Society of Environmental Journalists Thu, 3 Jul 2008 17:27:13 CST rssFeeds http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss PHP sej@sej.org (webmaster) sej@sej.org (webmaster) MANY EYES: TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT DRINKING WATER REPORTS http://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2303&viewt=tipsheethttp://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2303&viewt=tipsheetThe trouble with drinking water quality stories is that they're often unbearably dry. But now a convergence of tools and information could create a "perfect storm" of intriguing drinking water news.If it hasn't done so already, your local water utility is supposed to publish its annual consumer confidence report (CCR) by July 1. This summary of local drinking water quality can be a key resource for a variety of environmental, health, and consumer stories year-round.Many utilities post their CCRs online (through their own site, or through <a href="http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccr/whereyoulive.html?OpenView" target="_blank">EPA's</a>). Others only publish them in print. It might be worth calling your water utility this week if you haven't seen yours yet, to request an advance copy. It's probably finalized by now.Also, dig into your files to pull out the CCRs from the past few years. (If you don't have them, you can get them from your local water utility, too.) It's time to turn this data into something more useful — and interactive.You're probably already aware of ongoing or new local drinking water quality issues. But rather than simply report the latest data (a sure recipe for reader eye-glaze), you can now easily show your readers what those numbers might mean with a data visualization tool called <a href="http://services.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/app" target="_blank">Many Eyes</a> — provided free by the <a href="http://www.research.ibm.com/visual" target="_blank">Visual Communication Lab</a> of IBM's Collaborative User Experience project.Many Eyes allows you to <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-17.htm" target="_blank">upload your own data sets</a> (in common formats like an Excel spreadsheet) and then present that data in a variety of "visualizations" that are not only more intuitive than mere numbers, but also interactive. Even better, you can embed them in your own site.<a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-18.htm" target="_blank">Examples of Many Eyes visualizations</a> on all kinds of topics.For instance, a reporter in Washington, DC might upload a spreadsheet showing reported lead and copper levels in local drinking water for the last 5-10 years — and compare that in a "stack chart" against the <a href="http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lcrmr/index.html" target="_blank">lead and copper rule</a> that EPA updated in October 2007. Or have fun creating other visualizations, such as a bubble chart, scatterplot, line graph, matrix chart, and more.Once you create your visualization, you can define how users can interact with it (such as viewing subsets of the data, changing views, or making their own comparisons). Then you can <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-19.htm" target="_blank">embed it on your own web site.</a>Obviously, Many Eyes can create engaging additions to any news story backed by a data set. But the forthcoming CCRs provide a perfect opportunity to start, since they report data in a fairly consistent format from year to year.<A href="mailto:contact@many-eyes.com">Many Eyes contact.</a>Wed, 2 Jul 2008 17:22:40 CST MIDNIGHT REGS: MANY ENVIRONMENTAL ITEMS ON FINAL BUSH AGENDA (Part 1)http://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2302&viewt=tipsheethttp://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2302&viewt=tipsheetAs the Bush administration closes out its terms in office, a number of rules, policies, orders, and other actions related to the environment are expected by Jan. 19, 2009. We've highlighted some of these, and provided a few general resources for tracking various issues. Other moves by the administration will turn up in coming months.The Bush administration criticized the "midnight regulations" of the outgoing Clinton administration in 2001. While the ostensible purpose of a <a href="http://www.ombwatch.org/regs/PDFs/BoltenMemo050908.pdf" target="_blank">May 9, 2008, memo</a> by White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten is to avoid midnight regs, some critics say it's an exhortation to get them done early.One thing's likely: regulations and their timing over the next seven months could impact — or be impacted by — the presidential election. Bolten's memo gave agencies a deadline of June 1 to propose regs and a deadline of Nov. 1 to finalize them.Since there are so many forthcoming regulatory and administrative actions related to the environment, this edition of the TipSheet will publish a selected list of those likely to be acted on first. A fuller list of actions, almost twice as many, will be published here July 9, 2008.<ul><li><a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-1.htm" target="_blank">"Bush Wants Sun to Set on Midnight Regulations,"</a> Washington Post, June 3, 2008, by Cindy Skrzycki.<li><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/31/washington/31regulate.htm" target="_blank">"Administration Moves to Avert a Late Rules Rush,"</a> New York Times, May 31, 2008, by Charlie Savage and Robert Pear.<li><a href="http://www.ombwatch.org/article/blogs/entry/5057/38" target="_blank">"Analysis of White House Memo on Midnight Regulations,"</a> OMB Watch, June 2, 2008.</ul>GENERAL RESOURCES<ul><li>The federal government's <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaMain" target="_blank">"Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions"</a> is a good tracking tool.Select a department, agency, commission, etc. to peruse (e.g., Dept. of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Nuclear Regulatory Commission). You'll get a list of many actions in various stages. Those in the "Final Rule Stage" are among those that could wrap up before Bush leaves office, but so are some in the "Proposed Rule Stage." You can then click on a link associated with any item to find out more, including a target date for when the rule may be finalized. Or if you know what you're looking for, you can search by key word(s). However, you have to know exactly what you're looking for. If you search for the words "gun" or "weapon," you won't turn up any hits if the only term used to describe it in the Agenda is "firearm."<li>Some federal organizations maintain their own list of upcoming actions that may turn up other, or additional, information. For instance, EPA maintains an <a href="http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/search/ail.html" target="_blank">Action Initiation List,</a> which describes processes that have begun in the past two months, and provides a link to similar actions begun in earlier months.</ul>The Bush administration has put into place many policies, procedures, and directives that have significantly altered how environmental issues are handled, and will strongly influence how the next administration can deal with these issues (unless the new administration takes the initiative and time to revise them). Similar actions may be enacted in the next few months, though they often stay under the radar. To get a sense of past actions:<ul><li>Union of Concerned Scientists, February 2008, <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-2.htm" target="_blank">"Federal Science and the Public Good,"</a> <A href="mailto:lnurnberger@ucsusa.org">Lisa Nurnberger,</a> 202-331-6959.<li>A list of organizations and expert sources who can comment on many of these subjects can be found in the final section of this article.</ul>MIDNIGHT REGS: POTENTIAL FINAL ACTIONSSMALL ENGINE EMISSIONS STANDARDEmissions from small engines, such as those in lawn mowers and some boats, can be important contributors to an area's smog problems. An EPA rule that could reduce such emissions has been in the works for many years. Final approval of the rule could come at any time, though the many political machinations that have been part of the process so far could again influence the timing.<ul><li><a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-3.htm" target="_blank">EPA Rule.</a><li>Example of previous media coverage: New York Times, April 24, 2006, by Felicity Barringer, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/24/us/24lawn.html" target="_blank">"A Greener Way to Cut the Grass Runs Afoul of a Powerful Lobby."</a></ul>DISCHARGES FROM SHIPSIn response to a US District Court ruling that is under appeal, EPA is in the process of adopting new procedures and requirements for issuing permits for discharges from ships and boats. The action could affect up to 91,000 commercial vessels, 13 million recreational boats, and 8,000 foreign-flagged vessels. The new permits are expected to be in place by Sept. 30, 2008, but are supposed to be only temporary until the agency and Congress agree on a long-term solution. According to EPA, its current proposal will provide a "practical," and "common sense" approach "without imposing new permits on millions of boaters."The last of three public meetings in the field will be held June 26, 2008, in Chicago. There will be a public Webcast July 2, and a hearing July 21 in Washington, DC.<ul><li><a href="http://www.epa.gov/npdes/vessels" target="_blank">EPA Web site;</a> <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-20.htm" target="_blank">June 16, 2008, press release.</a></ul>Many potential sources are noted in TipSheets of <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-21.htm">Feb. 18, 2004;</a> and <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-22.htm">Nov. 1, 2000.</a> Groups that represent owners and operators of smaller boats will also be sources.FEEDLOTS AND CLEAN WATER ACT PERMITSIf a feedlot's operators declare that they aren't discharging any pollutants into their watershed, they won't be required to get a Clean Water Act permit, under a new rule being developed by EPA. Such reliance on an industrial operator's self-assessment could result in no monitoring, inspections, reporting, or other regulatory actions, says the Sierra Club's <A href="mailto:Ed.Hopkins@sierraclub.org">Ed Hopkins,</a> 202-675-7908. The rule, which has been revised following a US Court of Appeals rejection of an earlier rule, is scheduled to be finalized in July 2008.<ul><li><a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-4.htm" target="_blank">EPA Rule</a> and March 7, 2008, Federal Register, <a href="http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-4504.pdf" target="_blank">Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking.</a></ul>MINING ON USFS LANDSThe US Forest Service is developing a rule that would revise how mining could occur on the lands it manages. Critics say the changes would allow easier approval for smaller mining operations, transfer the costs for environmental impacts from mining companies to the public, and reduce the ability of the public to comment on proposed mines. Timing for finalization of the rule is unknown, but it could occur before Bush leaves office. The public comment period ended in late May 2008, and an anticipated extension of the comment period was canceled at the last minute.<ul><li><a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-5.htm" target="_blank">USFS Rule.</a></ul>FIREARMS IN PARKSLoaded, concealed weapons could be carried by visitors to some National Parks, under a rule being developed by the National Park Service. Under current law, firearms are allowed if they are unloaded and safely stored. NPS says the new rule would allow loaded weapons where a park is in a state that allows loaded firearms in its parks. Critics, including many park rangers and former directors of the NPS, say the change could increase the potential for dangerous conflicts, and would create a confusing situation for visitors, since policies differ from state to state. In addition, some states have variable policies that allow loaded weapons in some parks or under certain conditions, but not others. Supporters of the new rule include groups such as the National Rifle Association. The date for finalization of the new rule is uncertain, but it could occur this summer, or around early November.<ul><li><a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-6.htm" target="_blank">NPS Rule.</a><li>EJToday, May 1, 2008, <a href="http://members.sej.org/sej/enews.php?ID=12361" target="_blank">"Kempthorne Proposal Would Ease Ban on Guns in National Parks."</a></ul>ENDANGERED SPECIES: CHANGING THE RULESThe BLM is revising its Special Status Species Manual in ways that may lessen protection of endangered and threatened species. The altered policy directives could lead to reduced protection of critical habitat, reduced or eliminated protection for species declared endangered or threatened by states (but not BLM), reduced protection for species awaiting listing as endangered or threatened, and deletion of some species reviews by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Timing for completion of the revisions is uncertain.<ul><li>Center for Native Ecosystems, <A href="mailto:lbelenky@biologicaldiversity.org">Lisa Belenky</a> (attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity), 415-436-9682 x307; <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-7.htm" target="_blank">June 4, 2008, release</a> (includes a link to a draft of the BLM manual).</ul>ENDANGERED SPECIES: CANADA LYNX (US HABITAT)The US Fish and Wildlife Service is revising its definition of critical habitat for the US range of the Canada lynx. This could affect the states of ME, MN, MT, WA, and WY. Critics say it should also include states such as CO and ID. In some cases, private landowners are asking that their properties be excluded from being designated as critical habitat, which could drastically reduce the amount of protected land. By court order, FWS must issue its determination by Feb. 15, 2009, but the decision could come before Bush leaves office. A supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking is expected in July 2008.The decision on Canada lynx is one of seven endangered species findings that FWS is reviewing after the agency acknowledged excessive political interference from former Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald, who resigned in 2007. Findings on several dozen other species are also under investigation.<ul><li><a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-8.htm" target="_blank">FWS Rule.</a></ul>ENDANGERED SPECIES: NORTHERN SPOTTED OWLA decision on the designation of critical habitat in CA, OR, and WA for the northern spotted owl is expected at any time.<ul><li><a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-9.htm" target="_blank">FWS Rule.</a></ul>NEPA REVISIONSThroughout this administration's years in office, agencies and departments have been revising their National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA) processes (with BLM being a recent example). One common thread has been reductions in the public participation process. Agencies and offices that are working on NEPA revisions that may come out in the next few months include the <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-10.htm" target="_blank">Dept. of the Interior,</a> the <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-11.htm" target="_blank">US Forest Service,</a> USDA's <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-12.htm" target="_blank">Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,</a> and the White House's Council on Environmental Quality, which is looking at how NEPA and the National Historic Preservation Act interact.<ul><li><a href="http://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?ID=1020">TipSheet of May 25, 2005.</a></ul>MIDNIGHT REGS: ONE-STATE ISSUES THAT COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS ELSEWHERE<ul><li>Exemption allowing importation of PCB-contaminated waste in Port Arthur, TX, by a waste incineration company called Veolia ES Technical Solutions.<li>Allowing use of US Forest Service roads to access large-scale residential development on privately-held timber company lands in MT. Example of media coverage: The Missoulian, June 9, 2008, by Michael Jamison, <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-13.htm" target="_blank">"Rey to Explain Plum Creek Deal."</a><li>Designation of areas where the Preble's meadow jumping mouse is threatened. This decision, which would affect Colorado, and possibly WY and other states, could come at any time. It follows numerous controversies, including court action, over whether these animals represent a distinct subspecies, and whether and where their existence is threatened. The mouse is another of the species whose status was influenced by alleged political interference by the now-resigned Julie MacDonald with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-14.htm" target="_blank">FWS Rule.</a></ul>MIDNIGHT REGS: OTHER POTENTIALLY NEWSWORTHY ACTIONSCATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS<ul><li>For <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-15.htm" target="_blank">environmental review of some ski area development,</a> scheduled to be finalized in July 2008.<li>For <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080625-16.htm" target="_blank">environmental review of selected Dept. of Transportation projects,</a> scheduled to be finalized in June 2008.</ul>SOME KEY SOURCES<ul><li>Air Issues: Clean Air Watch, <A href="mailto:cleanairfrank@cleanairwatch.org">Frank O'Donnell,</a> 202-302-2065.<li>Parks: <a href="http://www.npca.org/darkhorizons/" target="_blank">National Parks Conservation Association,</a> <A href="mailto:mwenzler@npca.org">Mark Wenzler,</a> 202-223-6722 x101.<li>Parks: Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, <A href="mailto:jwbillwade@earthlink.net">Bill Wade,</a> 520-615-9417.<li>Endangered Species and EPA Issues: Earthjustice, <A href="mailto:jmulhern@earthjustice.org">Joan Mulhern,</a> 202-667-4500 x223.<li>Forest, Wildlife, Land Issues: Sierra Club, <A href="mailto:Ed.Hopkins@sierraclub.org">Ed Hopkins,</a> 202-675-7908.<li>Mining Issues: Earthworks, <A href="mailto:lpagel@earthworksaction.org">Lauren Pagel,</a> 202-887-1872 x207.<li>Mining Issues: National Mining Association, <A href="mailto:lpopovich@nma.org">Luke Popovich,</a> 202-463-2620.<li>Agriculture Issues: American Farm Bureau Federation, media, 202-406-3642.<li>Air Pollution Issues: National Assn. of Manufacturers, 202-637-3134.<li>Business Issues: US Chamber of Commerce, Bill Kovacs, 202-463-5533.Wed, 2 Jul 2008 17:19:03 CST TOOLBOX: EPA SITE POSTS STATE-BY-STATE IMPAIRED WATERS DATAhttp://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2296&viewt=tipsheethttp://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2296&viewt=tipsheetReporters who want to cover water pollution in their home region — or nationwide — will find a useful tool in EPA's online portal to impaired waters information. With a click or two, you can get to all the data about your state's waters which are too impaired for their designated uses. Site also has Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) information. It's <a href="http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/" target="_blank">here.</a>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:32:09 CST TEFLON WOES STILL STICKING TO FOOD PACKAGING http://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2295&viewt=tipsheethttp://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2295&viewt=tipsheetPerfluorocarbons (PFCs, including DuPont's Teflon product) are once again making headlines for their potentially toxic role in food packaging.Currently before the Calif. State Senate is <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080611-2.htm" target="_blank">SB 1313,</a> sponsored by Sen. Ellen Corbett, which seeks to "prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of any food contact substance, as defined, that contains perfluorinated compounds, as defined, in any concentration exceeding 10 parts per billion." This bill was apparently triggered in part by DuPont whistleblower Glen Evers.<ul><li>Sen. Corbett press: Darby Kernan, 916-651-4010. <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080611-3.htm" target="_blank">Release.</a></ul>PFCs have been popular in food packaging for their ability to deter grease and stains. But PFCs can leach into food (especially, but not exclusively, when heated) and break down into perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) — both of which EPA has classified as "likely carcinogens." These substances have been found in microwave popcorn, fast food packaging, candy wrappers, and pizza boxes.California's SB 1313 requires the "removal of perfluorinated chemicals in food packaging by 2010, and directs manufacturers to use safe alternatives that are not known-or-likely carcinogens, or cause developmental, neural, or reproductive problems."This would put Calif. five years ahead of <a href="http://www.epa.gov/oppt/pfoa/pubs/pfoastewardship.htm" target="_blank">EPA's planned voluntary phaseout</a> ("stewardship program") of PFCs in food packaging, currently slated for completion by 2015. The first <a href="http://www.epa.gov/oppt/pfoa/pubs/preports.htm" target="_blank">company progress reports</a> under this program were released Oct. 31,2007.<ul><li>EPA program contact: Toni Krasnic, 202-564-0984.</ul>At DuPont (which does not publicly list any press contact info), VP of Risk Management <A href="mailto:Kathryn-Karnins.mccord@usa.dupont.com">Kathryn K. McCord,</a> 302-999-5303, is listed as the contact in that company's 2007 progress report. Contact info for the other seven companies involved in the program is listed in each company's report to EPA.The goal of EPA's program is to encourage manufacturers to replace PFCs with safer, greener alternatives. On June 9, the Environmental Working Group released a new research report on PFCs in foodpackaging: "Credibility Gap: Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging and DuPont's Greenwashing." EWG contends that "green chemicals the industry is pushing as a replacement may be no safer."<ul><li><a href="http://www.ewg.org/reports/teflongreenwash" target="_blank">EWG Report.</a> <a href="http://www.ewg.org/node/26670" target="_blank">Release.</a> Press: Bill Walker, 510-444-0973 x301.<li><a href="http://wvgazette.com/News/200806091185" target="_blank">"Safety of C8 Substitutes Questioned,"</a> Charleston Gazette, June 10, 2008, by Ken Ward Jr.Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:30:51 CST BLM AND DOE ANALYZING WESTERN SOLAR http://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2294&viewt=tipsheethttp://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2294&viewt=tipsheetAs part of the federal effort to explore renewable energy sources, the BLM and Dept. of Energy are beginning to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for solar energy on BLM lands in six western states — AZ, CA, CO, NM, NV, and UT.Part of the PEIS will address 125 applications the BLM has received for solar development. BLM says the potential projects cover about 1 million acres, and could generate 70 billion watts of energy, enough to power about 20 million typical US homes.Eight meetings to solicit public feedback on the initial stages of the PEIS are scheduled for June 2008:<ul><li>June 16: Riverside, CA<li>June 17: Barstow, CA<li>June 18: Las Vegas, NV<li>June 19: Sacramento, CA<li>June 23: Denver, CO<li>June 24: Phoenix, AZ<li>June 25: Salt Lake City, UT<li>June 26: Albuquerque, NM</ul>For details on the meetings, contact either <A href="mailto:lisa.jorgensen@go.doe.gov">Lisa Jorgensen,</a> 303-275-4906; or <A href="mailto:linda_resseguie@blm.gov">Linda Resseguie,</a> 202-452-7774.<ul><li><a href="http://solareis.anl.gov" target="_blank">Solar PEIS;</a> <a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080611-4.htm" target="_blank">May 29, 2008, press release.</a>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:24:53 CST SPECIES DISCOVERIES ARE PART OF THE BIODIVERSITY STORY http://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2293&viewt=tipsheethttp://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2293&viewt=tipsheetThe headline-grabbing news about species tends to be gloomy, usually focusing on a few charismatic creatures on the verge of extinction. But another trend is occurring, as scientists beat the bushes looking for species not yet recognized. The tally for 2007? It's 16,969. That's according to the International Institute of Species Exploration at Arizona State University and its collaborators.Among the newbies are colorful, strangely-shaped, or deadly snakes, rays, bats, frogs, millipedes, beetles, and mushrooms. A few of these discoveries might make a good story for a general audience, and specialized audiences might enjoy hearing about many more.Along with the newly recognized species themselves, the members of the Institute emphasize many threads related to biodiversity. As part of that effort, they've made a YouTube video designed to make biodiversity accessible to a wider audience.The Institute assembled the 2007 inventory in collaboration with the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, the International Plant Names Index, and Thompson Scientific, publisher of Zoological Record.<ul><li><a href="http://species.asu.edu/" target="_blank">State of Observed Species Report Card;</a> <a href="http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/541093/" target="_blank">May 23, 2008, press release</a> (many taxonomy experts are mentioned at the end of the press release).<li>YouTube video, <a href="http://www.PlanetBob.asu.edu" target="_blank">"Planet Bob."</a></ul>Two related sites include:<ul><li><a href="http://www.eol.org/" target="_blank">Encyclopedia of Life.</a><li><a href="http://www.coml.org/" target="_blank">Census of Marine Life.</a>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:18:45 CST EPA BEACH CONTAMINATION DATA ONLINE http://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2292&viewt=tipsheethttp://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?rssID=2292&viewt=tipsheetEPA announced May 29, 2008, that its assembled data on beach closings in 2007 is available online. The Web site also contains a link ("Find your beach") that, after you work your way through the pages, provides quite a bit of detail about the beaches of interest to your audience in the Great Lakes, along the Pacific, Gulf, and Atlantic coasts, and for five US territories.<ul><li><a href="http://www.sej.org/go/080611-1.htm" target="_blank">EPA 2007 Swimming Season National Summary.</a></ul>Overall, 32% of 3,602 monitored beaches had to be closed at least once due to detected contamination or for precautionary reasons. That's the same percentage as the year before, remaining at an all-time high since the program began in 1997. All 30 states and 4 territories had at least one closing. The Virgin Islands didn't report its data to EPA.The Natural Resources Defense Council expects to release its annual report on beaches in late July or early August 2008. NRDC bases its report on EPA information, but analyzes it in different ways. The new report should be posted <a href="http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/titinx.asp" target="_blank">here,</a> where last year's report is still available.For more information, see the <a href="http://members.sej.org/sej/tipsheet.php?ID=1580"]TipSheet of Aug. 1, 2007.</a>Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:18:01 CST