Publication Items

Why Doesn't Congress Want You To Read These Reports? [1]

For decades, Congress has refused to release taxpayer-funded reports by the Congressional Research Service. Fortunately, the Federation of American Scientists' Government Secrecy Project gets them and releases them. Here are some new explainers that may be of use to environmental journalists.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Air [4]
Climate Change [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Natural Resources [7]
Pollution [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Why Doesn't Congress Want You To Read These Reports? [1]
Texas Punishes San Antonio COG for Disclosing Oil/Gas Pollution [10]

On April 4, 2014, the Alamo Area Council of Governments, the regional area which is supposed to control smog, released its study results — which suggested drilling in the Eagle Ford shale did indeed contribute a lot to smog. Days later, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which had funded the study, cut AACOG's budget by 25 percent.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [4]
Environmental Politics [11]
Pollution [8]
Region:
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [12]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Texas Punishes San Antonio COG for Disclosing Oil/Gas Pollution [10]
Are Data Behind Companies' Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trade Secrets? [13]

EPA's upcoming rulings on confidentiality for data going into the companies' GHG calculations will be important. Those determinations may impact whether companies' reporting is accurate — and whether they can ever be held accountable for their emissions.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Pollution [8]
Health [14]
Environmental Health [15]
Economy & Business [16]
Climate Change [5]
Air [4]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Are Data Behind Companies' Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trade Secrets? [13]
Consortium Launches Web Site on Feedlot Air Pollution [17]

The confidential National Air Quality Site Assessment Tool helps the livestock owner/operator figure out how changing on-site practices can reduce emissions of ammonia, methane, volatile organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, fine particulates, and odors. This may be useful for journalists; whether an owner/operator will discuss the details of their operation or not, there's a story.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Technology [19]
Pollution [8]
Air [4]
Agriculture [3]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Consortium Launches Web Site on Feedlot Air Pollution [17]
New Report Documents Power Plant Emissions in North America [20]

Shortly before EPA's deadline to finalize its new rules on toxic emissions from US power plants, the tri-national Commission for Environmental Cooperation released its report on emissions from 3,144 power plants in Canada, the US, and Mexico.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Pollution [8]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Air [4]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about New Report Documents Power Plant Emissions in North America [20]
Refrigerant Chemicals Can Be Good for Ozone Layer, Bad for Climate [21]

A new United Nations Environment Programme report offers recommendations to help make refrigerants less of a greenhouse gas problem, while still addressing ozone concerns. Get tips here on how your reporting on this issue can range from the local to the global scale.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Planning & Growth [22]
Climate Change [5]
Chemicals [23]
Air [4]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Refrigerant Chemicals Can Be Good for Ozone Layer, Bad for Climate [21]
Airborne Lead Violations Still Occur in 14 States [24]

The culprits often are one or more significant lead emitters such as smelters, iron or steel foundries, waste incinerators, utilities, or lead-acid battery manufacturers. Piston-engine planes using leaded aviation gasoline are another source.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [23]
Air [4]
Pollution [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Airborne Lead Violations Still Occur in 14 States [24]
Deadlines for Plans To Reduce Regional Haze Finally Established [25]

On Nov. 9, 2011, EPA signed a consent decree that requires the agency to receive from and approve a State Implementation Plan for DC, VI, and 43 states that don't have a fully approved one. Each state can determine how it wants to reduce haze. In some cases, the plan will rely on actions already taken, such as reductions in emissions from power plants or vehicles.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Health [15]
Air [4]
Health [14]
Laws & Regulations [26]
Pollution [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Deadlines for Plans To Reduce Regional Haze Finally Established [25]
Secret EPA Watchlist Yields Megastories for NPR, iWatch News, ... and You? [27]

There are 464 facilities on the list of Clean Air Act violators. The Center for Public Integrity's iWatch News and National Public Radio got the list using the FOIA and published a powerful feature package: "Poisoned Places: Toxic Air, Neglected Communities." But they did not tell all the stories. They left some for you.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Pollution [8]
Air [4]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Secret EPA Watchlist Yields Megastories for NPR, iWatch News, ... and You? [27]
Proposed Rule To Target Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mileage [28]

By Sept. 28, 2011, EPA and the US Dept. of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say they will jointly release proposed standards designed to significantly increase fuel mileage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars, light trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles in model years 2017-2025.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [5]
Air [4]
Laws & Regulations [26]
Pollution [8]
Transportation [29]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Proposed Rule To Target Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mileage [28]

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