Publication Items

Coal Ash Ruling Will Generate Piles of State-level News [1]

Now that a top court has tossed out parts of coal ash disposal rules, also in question is a planned loosening under the Trump EPA. That means potential state-level stories on how this coal combustion byproduct may threaten environmental health and water supplies. This week’s TipSheet runs down the issue and suggests resources and questions to ask.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [3]
Disasters [4]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [12]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [13]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [14]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [15]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [16]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Coal Ash Ruling Will Generate Piles of State-level News [1]
Taking Office as EPA Acting Administrator, Wheeler Gets Realer [18]

The presence of a new acting administrator at EPA in the wake of Scott Pruitt’s resignation may mean a change in tone and a renewed openness for journalists covering the agency. But it doesn’t appear to mean different policy approaches. This week’s TipSheet reports on the early days of former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler’s command, with a roundup of coverage and angles to watch.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [19]
Climate Change [20]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [22]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Policy [24]
Pollution [9]
Waste [25]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Taking Office as EPA Acting Administrator, Wheeler Gets Realer [18]
Will State, Local Pesticide Bans Make More News? [26]

When EPA falls short on regulation of pesticides, might states step into the breach? That’s exactly what happened in June when Hawaii banned toxic organophosphate chlorpyrifos. To take a closer look, this week’s TipSheet reports on how federal regulation opens the door for state, or even local, preemption and offers angles and resources for environmental reporters.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [27]
Air [19]
Chemicals [28]
Economy & Business [29]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Politics [21]
Environmental Studies [30]
Food [31]
Government [22]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Policy [24]
Science [32]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
International [33]
Canada [34]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Will State, Local Pesticide Bans Make More News? [26]
Breaking the ‘Cycle’ on Chemical Safety Story [35]

Chemical plant explosions make for fiery headlines, but then the reporting tends to flame out. The latest Backgrounder spells out why environmental journalists should stay vigilant on chemical safety coverage, with news hooks and ingredients for a potent mix of advance stories.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [36]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [27]
Chemicals [28]
Disasters [4]
Economy & Business [29]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [22]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
People & Population [37]
Policy [24]
Pollution [9]
Transportation [38]
Water & Oceans [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [16]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Breaking the ‘Cycle’ on Chemical Safety Story [35]
EPA Inaction Leaves Smog an Endless Summer Story [39]

It’s summer smog season, with all its unpleasant environmental and health impacts. But if you’re reporting on this perpetual problem, you may not be able to rely on the EPA to help you figure out where it is worst. This week’s TipSheet explains, then helps get you started on your own smog coverage.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [19]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [22]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [9]
Transportation [38]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
California [40]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [12]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [13]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [41]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [16]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about EPA Inaction Leaves Smog an Endless Summer Story [39]
Media Object as EPA Bars Reporters from Drinking Water ‘Summit’ [42]

Is EPA antipathy toward news media hiding inaction on a toxic drinking water contaminant? That’s the question asked by the latest WatchDog, which looks at a recent incident in which media access to a public meeting was limited, and then explores what may be behind it.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [44]
Chemicals [28]
Consumer [3]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [22]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
People & Population [37]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Media Object as EPA Bars Reporters from Drinking Water ‘Summit’ [42]
Environmental Protections in Play Amid Farm Bill Furor [45]

Big environmental issues such as the use of pesticides, labelling of organic foods and the preservation of farmland and water are central to a huge farm bill lurching its way through the nation’s legislature, hamstrung by partisan politics. Our latest Backgrounder sets up the landscape for your coverage.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [36]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [27]
Air [19]
Chemicals [28]
Consumer [3]
Economy & Business [29]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Politics [21]
Food [31]
Forests [46]
Government [22]
Health [23]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Policy [24]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Environmental Protections in Play Amid Farm Bill Furor [45]
Disappearing ‘Climate,’ EPA FOIA Surge, Pipeline Docs Ruling and More [47]

A reporter reveals that the National Park Service is deleting references to climate change in an upcoming study of sea level rise, and FOIA requesters are behind a record surge in information lawsuits involving Pruitt EPA. That, plus Keystone XL Pipeline documents and more, in the latest WatchDog.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [44]
Climate Change [20]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Politics [21]
Environmental Studies [30]
Government [22]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Policy [24]
Science [32]
Water & Oceans [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [12]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [48]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [14]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [16]
International [33]
Canada [34]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Disappearing ‘Climate,’ EPA FOIA Surge, Pipeline Docs Ruling and More [47]
Are Fluorinated Chemicals Contaminating Your Local Drinking Water? [49]

A family of widely used fluorinated chemicals may be contaminating local drinking water supplies, causing uncertain health effects and with little clarity over federal regulations. But some states are starting to step in. This week’s TipSheet unwinds the confusion over PFAS, with some backstory and plenty of resources for your local coverage.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [44]
Chemicals [28]
Consumer [3]
Environmental Health [6]
Health [23]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [9]
Science [32]
Water & Oceans [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [41]
Northwest (OR WA) [50]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Are Fluorinated Chemicals Contaminating Your Local Drinking Water? [49]
Small Market Beat Reporter Delves Where ‘Few Have Looked’ [51]

A local beat reporter with an unusual background seeks hidden corners of local environmental policy and is rewarded with top honors for her work. An interview with Texas Observer reporter Naveena Sadasivam about her learning curve, her award-winning reporting and what she thinks the profession must do to build its future. The latest “Inside Story.”

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [52]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [27]
Climate Change [20]
Economy & Business [29]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Politics [21]
Government [22]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [9]
Waste [25]
Region:
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [16]
Visibility:
Public [17]
- Read more about Small Market Beat Reporter Delves Where ‘Few Have Looked’ [51]

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