Publication Items

Toxics Database a Key Tool for Environmental Journalists [1]

The Toxics Release Inventory has long been a vital reporting tool, and now there's a new edition of the database, issued last month by the outgoing Obama administration. Reporter's Toolbox walks you through how to smartly mine TRI for stories, whether you're a newbie or a veteran. Plus, TRI caveats.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Disasters [4]
Economy & Business [5]
Environmental Health [6]
Health [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [9]
Waste [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Toxics Database a Key Tool for Environmental Journalists [1]
Veteran Reporters Say Ignore the Noise, and Localize [13]

Environmental journalists at a day-long event [14] urged colleagues to report on the real, local impacts of policy, more than on the buzz around the policy. On hand at the SEJ-sponsored program were representatives of administrations past and present, including Trump EPA transition team head Myron Ebell (shown).

Videos:

Tracy Mehan lll, American Water Works Association [15]
Myron Ebell, Competitive Enterprise Institute [16]
Ed Maibach, George Mason University [17]
Scott Segal, Policy Resolution Group and Bracewell LLP [18]
Bob Perciasepe, Center for Climate & Energy Solutions [19]
Environmental advocates [20]
Journalists panel [21]

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ News [22]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [23]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Health [6]
Environmental Politics [25]
Environmental Studies [26]
Government [27]
Health [7]
Journalism & Media [28]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Policy [29]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Veteran Reporters Say Ignore the Noise, and Localize [13]
WatchDog Group Sues for Records as Pruitt Confirmation Vote Nears & More [30]

The latest WatchDog TipSheet details an open-records case against U.S. EPA nominee Scott Pruitt (shown), the scoop on an Agriculture Department animal welfare database that vanished then returned, a reporter busted at Standing Rock, plus items on whistleblowers, coal-ash and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [31]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [32]
Agriculture [33]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Politics [25]
Government [27]
Journalism & Media [28]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [34]
Policy [29]
Pollution [9]
Waste [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [35]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [36]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [37]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about WatchDog Group Sues for Records as Pruitt Confirmation Vote Nears & More [30]
Turbulent Prospects on Environment-Energy Beat Likely in Trump Era [38]

While it's too soon to tell what the new Trump administration and 115th Congress will do, our special report suggests we may see a groundswell of environmental deregulation and massive energy development. Backgrounder looks at the top 10 energy-environment issues to watch in the President Trump era.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [39]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [40]
Climate Change [23]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Politics [25]
Government [27]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Natural Resources [41]
Policy [29]
Pollution [9]
Science [42]
Transportation [43]
Waste [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Turbulent Prospects on Environment-Energy Beat Likely in Trump Era [38]
Will 'Drill, Baby, Drill' Be Watchword in Trump Era? [44]

Conflict is brewing over the leasing of oil and gas drilling rights on millions of acres of federal land, now that the pro-oil-and-gas GOP controls Congress and the White House. And one especially big battle to come? The one over opening for drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a dispute that raged for decades.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [25]
Government [27]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Natural Resources [41]
Pollution [9]
Transportation [43]
Wildlife [46]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Alaska and Hawaii [47]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Will 'Drill, Baby, Drill' Be Watchword in Trump Era? [44]
Coal Leasing on Federal Lands [48]

While resurrecting the declining U.S. coal industry, as promised by the new administration, is probably not possible, it may not stop a lifting of the moratorium on coal leasing on federal lands. TipSheet looks at how the issue moved front and center, and whether the move would help coal country.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [23]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Politics [25]
Health [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Natural Resources [41]
Policy [29]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [49]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [50]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [51]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [37]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Coal Leasing on Federal Lands [48]
As EPA, Other Agencies Muzzle Staff, WatchDog Issues Leaker's Guide [52]

At a time when government information may be harder than ever to access, WatchDog offers a unique guide to leaks that reporters can offer potential whistleblowers. Also in the latest column, sealed records on a weedkiller-cancer connection, secret talks on coal-ash regs and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [31]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [33]
Chemicals [3]
Economy & Business [5]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Health [6]
Government [27]
Journalism & Media [28]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [9]
Waste [10]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about As EPA, Other Agencies Muzzle Staff, WatchDog Issues Leaker's Guide [52]
Tracking Committee Leaders for 115th Congress [53]

To help keep tabs on the newly seated 115th Congress and its gate-keepers of energy and environment law, the latest TipSheet offers a checklist of committee leadership. Plus, a closer look at three key Senate panels, likely agendas and new leadership, such as Senate Energy Committee Chair John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (shown in photo).

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [33]
Climate Change [23]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Politics [25]
Government [27]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Natural Resources [41]
Policy [29]
Pollution [9]
Waste [10]
Water & Oceans [54]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Tracking Committee Leaders for 115th Congress [53]
Congressional Regulatory Override — The Rulebook [55]

Regulations about toxic air pollution from oil refineries are among many Obama administration actions that may be targetted for reversal by Republicans in Congress. The key to such a move? The Congressional Review Act. TipSheet explains how it works — and doesn't.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [40]
Chemicals [3]
Energy & Fuel [24]
Environmental Politics [25]
Government [27]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Congressional Regulatory Override — The Rulebook [55]
Finding the Stories Beneath the Snow and Ice [56]

Drought, flooding, water pollution, road conditions, shipping, climate change, even recreational activities like skiing, skating and ice-fishing — these are all potential stories around the white stuff, some with big environmental consequences. This week's TipSheet offers resources for local coverage of ice and snow.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [23]
Economy & Business [5]
Journalism & Media [28]
Pollution [9]
Water & Oceans [54]
Region:
National (U.S.) [11]
Visibility:
Public [12]
- Read more about Finding the Stories Beneath the Snow and Ice [56]

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