Publication Items

Feds Provide Conservation Funds, But Won't Disclose Recipients [1]

USDA spokeswoman Isabel Benemelis declined to release the names or locations of the landowners who are likely to be participating in two new SAFE (State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement) efforts, saying journalists have to make such requests via FOIA.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Feds Provide Conservation Funds, But Won't Disclose Recipients [1]
Annual Land & Water Conservation Fund Dollars Announced [6]

The states, territories, and Washington, DC, will share $37.4 million doled out through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. The grants, administered by the National Park Service, match funding provided by states and local entities, and are supposed to be used for local parks, recreation, and conservation projects.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [7]
Natural Resources [3]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Annual Land & Water Conservation Fund Dollars Announced [6]
SEJ Offers Resources for Covering Summer Stories [8]

Wildfire, hurricanes, recreation, extreme heat, drought, electric brownouts, UV rays and sunscreen, insect-borne disease like West Nile virus, fishing, dead zones, and algal blooms — TipSheet can help you cover these local environmental stories.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Health [9]
Disasters [10]
Natural Resources [3]
Water & Oceans [7]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about SEJ Offers Resources for Covering Summer Stories [8]
Feds Award Millions for Environmental Projects [11]

There is local news in these USDA and USFWS grants. These on-the-ground projects involve specific groups and individuals, offering prime examples of programs you can investigate to see whether federal tax dollars are being effectively and efficiently spent.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [12]
Agriculture [13]
Climate Change [14]
Natural Resources [3]
Wildlife [15]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Feds Award Millions for Environmental Projects [11]
Wildfire a Key to Local Environmental Stories [16]

Rarely will you learn from national fire coverage the names of people whose homes the fire has destroyed or threatened. Or what flooding and wildlife loss may follow a fire. That is covered by local media or not at all. Be prepared with these resources to help you.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Disasters [10]
Region:
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [17]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Wildfire a Key to Local Environmental Stories [16]
41 New Trails Span About 650 Miles [18]

Just in time for summer, 41 new segments of the US National Recreation Trails system in AL, AR, CT, FL, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, NJ, NM, OK, PA, TN, and WV, covering about 650 land and water miles in 17 states, are open for business. These are part of a much larger system of about 1,100 trails spanning 13,000 miles.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Region:
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [19]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [20]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [21]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [22]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [23]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [17]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about 41 New Trails Span About 650 Miles [18]
BLM Invites More Public Comment for New Oil Shale PEIS [24]

Public meetings in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming from April 26 to May 5, 2011 will likely be newsy events, with advocates and critics representing industry, environmentalists, local governments, and other interested groups and individuals voicing their opinions.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [25]
Energy & Fuel [26]
Natural Resources [3]
Region:
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [27]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about BLM Invites More Public Comment for New Oil Shale PEIS [24]
Judge Orders National Park Service To Release FOIA'd Documents [28]

A former employee of a restaurant in Acadia National Park won a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit over records the National Park Service had refused to release, about a 2008 incident when he was among those detained by Park Service police.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Judge Orders National Park Service To Release FOIA'd Documents [28]
Fed Report: Most Oil and Gas Leases Unused [30]

According to a Dept. of Interior report requested by Obama and released March 29, 2011, 70% of existing federal oil and gas offshore lease acres and 57% of all federal onshore leased acres are inactive, with no production, exploration or development.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Energy & Fuel [26]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Fed Report: Most Oil and Gas Leases Unused [30]
Spy Agency To Release Trove of Satellite Photos — But Can Public See Them? [31]

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is about to release millions of feet of film containing aerial images that have been declassified. Such images have in the past been a boon to environmental research. It remains to be seen whether the contractors will charge prices that effectively prevent use by journalists and the public.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Spy Agency To Release Trove of Satellite Photos — But Can Public See Them? [31]

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