The latest WatchDog TipSheet details an open-records case against U.S. EPA nominee Scott Pruitt (shown), the scoop on an Agriculture Department animal welfare database that vanished then returned, a reporter busted at Standing Rock, plus items on whistleblowers, coal-ash and more.
Senate votes on confirming Scott Pruitt to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could come as soon as Thursday and Friday this week. Pruitt's office in Oklahoma has stonewalled open-records requests from environmentalists for his emails with energy companies -- and the first court hearing seeking to compel disclosure is scheduled for Thursday.
"U.S. EPA wants its employees to be mindful about what they say in their official capacity."
"The state, and North Carolina, had trouble planning for damaging erosion after orders similar to White House moves".
"Doug Ericksen is trying to hold down two jobs in two different Washingtons. And it’s not going terribly well."
"A media watchdog group is suing to force U.S. President Donald Trump's pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency to release records detailing his communications with energy companies ahead of a Senate vote to confirm his nomination."
Dozens of renegade government Twitter accounts have sprung up, with claims they're run anonymously by employees of various agencies whose missions appear threatened by the Trump administration. TipSheet has the story, plus a list of more than 40 accounts of interest to environmental reporters.
Veteran journalists gathered in Washington, D.C. last Friday, Feb. 3, to share insights into how environment and energy policy may unfold in the year ahead — and to urge colleagues to prepare for possibly dramatic shifts ahead. Key takeaways, plus video, audio clips and a presentation by SEJ's president. Photo: Washington Post reporter Daryl Fears; courtesy of Schuyler Null/Wilson Center.
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday abruptly removed inspection reports and other information from its website about the treatment of animals at thousands of research laboratories, zoos, dog breeding operations and other facilities."
"The climate-denial camp has new ammunition: A widely refuted Daily Mail article that claims top U.S. climate scientists exaggerated their data for a 2015 study to 'dupe' world leaders into adopting the Paris Climate Agreement."
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