Publication Items

15 States Get More Federal Recreational Trails [1]

The National Trails system, already stretching more than 12,500 miles, expands with the addition of 31 more trails totalling 716 miles.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Transportation [4]
Government [5]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [6]
Northwest (OR WA) [7]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [8]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [9]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [10]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [11]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about 15 States Get More Federal Recreational Trails [1]
Unidentified Wetlands Owners in 22 States Get USDA Funds [14]

About 75,000 acres of wetlands in 22 states and Puerto Rico will split $175 million of Natural Resources Conservation Service's Wetlands Reserve Program funding, but recipient properties or owners will not be identified.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Water & Oceans [15]
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Unidentified Wetlands Owners in 22 States Get USDA Funds [14]
J-Groups Seek Open MSHA Inquiry [17]

SEJ and eight other journalism organizations called on the Mine Safety and Health Administration to open to the public its investigation into the Massey mine disaster that killed 29 people.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Journalism & Media [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about J-Groups Seek Open MSHA Inquiry [17]
Mines in 21 States Outed for Habitual Safety Violations [20]

The 48 mines are also linked by the fact that most of their owners have been legally delaying action on the violations through appeals of the citations. The Mine Safety and Health Administration is faced with a backlog of approximately 16,000 appeals.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [21]
Natural Resources [3]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [6]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [22]
Northwest (OR WA) [7]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [8]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [9]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [10]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [11]
California [23]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [12]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Mines in 21 States Outed for Habitual Safety Violations [20]
Massey Mine Disaster Raises Openness Issues [24]

Several journalists have raised questions about why more was not known publicly about the safety defects that led to the deaths of 29 miners at Massey's Upper Big Branch Mine in April 2010.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [18]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [21]
Natural Resources [3]
People & Population [25]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Massey Mine Disaster Raises Openness Issues [24]
April 22 Earth Day Sparks Local Stories [26]

Here are several resources for localizing this 40th anniversary event.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
People & Population [25]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about April 22 Earth Day Sparks Local Stories [26]
1 in 7 Wildlife Refuges Has Genetically Engineered Crops [27]

Three organizations file a lawsuit against the USFWS, a new study finds three strains of GE maize likely damaged organs of rats that ate the foods for just three months, pesticide use associated with GE crops may actually be greater than for traditional crops, and GE seed prices skyrocket.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [28]
Natural Resources [3]
Biodiversity [29]
Policy [30]
Technology [31]
Wildlife [32]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about 1 in 7 Wildlife Refuges Has Genetically Engineered Crops [27]
USGS Minerals Report: A Tale of Economy and Environment [33]

Many story leads are tucked away in this 196-page report: recession impacts from drops in extraction and consumption, increases in importation of key materials, insights on stories related to climate change and air pollution, and much more.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [34]
Air [35]
Economy & Business [36]
Energy & Fuel [37]
Natural Resources [3]
Pollution [38]
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about USGS Minerals Report: A Tale of Economy and Environment [33]
Firearms Now Allowed in Parks; Rules Eased in Refuges [39]

Educating your audience about the complicated new law will be a useful public service. It will also familiarize you with the people involved at your local facilities, what steps they are taking, and who you can contact if a shooting incident or other violation occurs.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Laws & Regulations [40]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Firearms Now Allowed in Parks; Rules Eased in Refuges [39]
Group Is Releasing Improved Conservation Lands Information [41]

The Trust for Public Land's updated online database includes mapping and a finer level of detail, such as information at the county and parcel levels, for some but not all states as yet.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Planning & Growth [42]
Natural Resources [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [16]
Visibility:
Public [13]
- Read more about Group Is Releasing Improved Conservation Lands Information [41]

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