Publication Items

Court: BLM Must Release Names of Grazing Permit Holders [1]

The decision could eventually force disclosure for holders of some 18,000 permits across 160 million acres in the West.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Laws & Regulations [4]
Agriculture [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Court: BLM Must Release Names of Grazing Permit Holders [1]
BLM Paper on National Monuments, Other Conservation Units Unveiled [7]

A leaked "internal draft, not for release" discussion paper contains thoughts on a possible shift toward more conservation — and moving away from BLM's historic pattern of generally emphasizing extraction of natural resources and de-emphasizing conservation of those resources.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [8]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Government [9]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about BLM Paper on National Monuments, Other Conservation Units Unveiled [7]
Appeals Court Nixes Permits for Free Speech in National Parks [10]

A federal appeals court has ruled that the National Park Service is violating the First Amendment with its current rules requiring permits for demonstrations, gatherings, and public "expressions of views" on National Park System lands.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Laws & Regulations [4]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Appeals Court Nixes Permits for Free Speech in National Parks [10]
Pollution Is Significant in National Parks [12]

Both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (primarily from combustion sources) and pesticides are pervasive in 8 diverse US national parks, according to two Environmental Science & Technology studies by international teams of university and government agency researchers.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [8]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [13]
Chemicals [14]
Natural Resources [3]
Pollution [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Pollution Is Significant in National Parks [12]
15 States Get More Federal Recreational Trails [16]

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 [8]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Transportation [17]
Government [9]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [18]
Northwest (OR WA) [19]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [20]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [21]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [22]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [23]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [24]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about 15 States Get More Federal Recreational Trails [16]
Unidentified Wetlands Owners in 22 States Get USDA Funds [25]

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 [8]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Water & Oceans [26]
Government [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Unidentified Wetlands Owners in 22 States Get USDA Funds [25]
J-Groups Seek Open MSHA Inquiry [27]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Journalism & Media [28]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about J-Groups Seek Open MSHA Inquiry [27]
Mines in 21 States Outed for Habitual Safety Violations [29]

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 [8]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [30]
Natural Resources [3]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [18]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [31]
Northwest (OR WA) [19]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [20]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [21]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [22]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [23]
California [32]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [24]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Mines in 21 States Outed for Habitual Safety Violations [29]
Massey Mine Disaster Raises Openness Issues [33]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [30]
Natural Resources [3]
People & Population [34]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Massey Mine Disaster Raises Openness Issues [33]
April 22 Earth Day Sparks Local Stories [35]

Here are several resources for localizing this 40th anniversary event.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [8]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
People & Population [34]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about April 22 Earth Day Sparks Local Stories [35]

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