Publication Items

Wastewater Ponds Often a Local Story Worth Stirring Up [1]

The tale of a toxic wastewater pit menacing a Florida community is a story that could be told in communities around the nation. As the latest TipSheet warns, these waste sites can turn into ticking time bombs. But in reporting the story locally, the first thing to know is which of the many kinds of wastewater ponds to look for. Here’s a rundown.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Chemicals [4]
Disasters [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [9]
Waste [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [12]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [13]
International [14]
Canada [15]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Wastewater Ponds Often a Local Story Worth Stirring Up [1]
Replacing the Nation’s Lead Lines Begins With Locating Them [17]

One especially ambitious element of the Biden infrastructure plan would swap out millions of lead pipes. It’s a massive, costly endeavor, but could remove from the country’s water supply a neurotoxin that harms human health, especially of kids and the poor. TipSheet looks at the new plan and offers ideas for reporting the story in your area.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Health [18]
Environmental Politics [19]
Government [20]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
People & Population [21]
Water & Oceans [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [23]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [12]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Replacing the Nation’s Lead Lines Begins With Locating Them [17]
Local Water, Sewer Projects May Flow From Infrastructure Funding [24]

The push for federal infrastructure legislation may mean money for local water and sewage projects under a long-standing and broadly bipartisan program called WIFIA. The new TipSheet explains how the program works and why the latest developments could spell news for local environmental reporters. Plus, story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [19]
Government [20]
Health [6]
Infrastructure [25]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Planning & Growth [26]
Policy [27]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Local Water, Sewer Projects May Flow From Infrastructure Funding [24]
Infrastructure Week All Year — But Will That Infrastructure Be Green? [28]

A much-anticipated infrastructure bill in Congress could help address the United States’ poorly rated roads, pipes and powerlines. But could the massive measure also do the heavy lifting for much-needed climate policy? The latest Backgrounder takes a deep dive into the context around climate-friendly infrastructure legislation, and looks ahead on what’s expected and how to report it.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [30]
Climate Change [31]
Consumer [32]
Energy & Fuel [33]
Environmental Politics [19]
Government [20]
Infrastructure [25]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Planning & Growth [26]
Policy [27]
Pollution [9]
Technology [34]
Transportation [35]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Infrastructure Week All Year — But Will That Infrastructure Be Green? [28]
Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [36]

From cardigans to orange tans, the history of presidential politics around energy efficiency has been an odd one. But the story of so-called nega-watts is actually a compelling one. And with new efficiency rules being eyed by the Biden administration, it’s also time for reporters to explore the local angle to energy savings. Our latest TipSheet explains how.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [31]
Consumer [32]
Energy & Fuel [33]
Environmental Politics [19]
Government [20]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Policy [27]
Science [37]
Technology [34]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Biden Rollbacks of Trump Energy-Efficiency Cuts Generate Local Stories [36]
Grid Data Can Guide Reporting on Power Disasters [38]

The power and water fiasco that followed a deep freeze in Texas was a predictable debacle and, thus, a warning signal to journalists covering disasters and climate-driven weather extremes. To help, the latest Reporter’s Toolbox provides a rundown of data sources about power grids, from local, regional and national entities, and recommends you start tracking the numbers and be prepared.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [31]
Consumer [32]
Disasters [5]
Energy & Fuel [33]
Government [20]
Infrastructure [25]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Planning & Growth [26]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [40]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [41]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Grid Data Can Guide Reporting on Power Disasters [38]
Could Hackers Poison Your Local Drinking Water? [42]

A computer hacker nearly succeeded recently in rendering a local Florida facility a source of poisonous drinking water. And the risk of other such hacks is real, even as the vulnerabilities are hidden behind stringent U.S. secrecy laws. The latest TipSheet explores dangers to our drinking water supply — which go well beyond future hacking.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [32]
Disasters [5]
Government [20]
Health [6]
Infrastructure [25]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
People & Population [21]
Pollution [9]
Technology [34]
Water & Oceans [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [23]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [13]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Could Hackers Poison Your Local Drinking Water? [42]
Top Biden Climate Advisor, Others Preview 2021 Energy and Enviro News [43]

President Biden’s national climate advisor Gina McCarthy joined an outspoken U.S. senator and a roundtable of elite journalists last week to preview dramatic changes possibly ahead in U.S. and international climate policy, environmental justice, clean energy and more. Get the upshot from the Society of Environmental Journalists’ 2021 Guide to Energy & Environment event. Plus, watch video of the full program [44].

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [31]
Energy & Fuel [33]
Environmental Politics [19]
Government [20]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
People & Population [21]
Policy [27]
Science [37]
Water & Oceans [22]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
California [46]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [47]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [48]
Northwest (OR WA) [49]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [41]
International [14]
Europe [50]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Top Biden Climate Advisor, Others Preview 2021 Energy and Enviro News [43]
Super-Heated Year Ahead on Energy & Environment News [51]

The Biden administration has moved rapidly to reset energy and environment policies dramatically shifted by the Trump White House. But how quickly can such a reversal occur, what are the priorities and what are the critical pathways for change? To help sort out the latest news and track larger trends, SEJournal offers this overview and analysis, part of our extensive “2021 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [52].”

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [53]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Air [54]
Biodiversity [55]
Chemicals [4]
Climate Change [31]
Consumer [32]
Disasters [5]
Economy & Business [56]
Energy & Fuel [33]
Environmental Politics [19]
Government [20]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Planning & Growth [26]
Policy [27]
Pollution [9]
Science [37]
Transportation [35]
Waste [10]
Water & Oceans [22]
Wildlife [57]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [14]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Super-Heated Year Ahead on Energy & Environment News [51]
Biden Nominees Foretell Aggressive Action on Climate, Environmental Justice [58]

Key picks for President Biden’s environment and energy team suggest top priorities, among them an aggressive, whole-government climate change agenda. The latest Backgrounder assesses choices to pursue Biden’s international and domestic climate policies, as well as historic selections for EPA and Interior, and more. Plus, dive into SEJournal’s expanding “2021 Journalists’ Guide to Energy & Environment [52]” special report.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [29]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [30]
Climate Change [31]
Energy & Fuel [33]
Environmental Politics [19]
Government [20]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Policy [27]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
California [46]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [23]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [47]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [40]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [41]
International [14]
Visibility:
Public [16]
- Read more about Biden Nominees Foretell Aggressive Action on Climate, Environmental Justice [58]

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