Publication Items

Three National Academies Reports Coming in October [1]

Three reports being released by the National Academies' National Research Council have strong environmental links. Reports concern water, biofuels and ongoing conflicts between national security and the open flow of scientific information.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [3]
Water & Oceans [4]
Government [5]
Technology [6]
Region:
National (U.S.) [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Three National Academies Reports Coming in October [1]
Terrorism Database Speaks of Environmental Secrecy [9]

For the past decade, federal and state officials have put an immense amount of environmental information behind a veil of secrecy, justifying it on the grounds that the information could help terrorists. A look at the most comprehensive open-source terrorism database offers strong evidence that such fears are ill-founded.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Terrorism Database Speaks of Environmental Secrecy [9]
PACER Turns 20 — Still a Workhorse for Reporters [11]

The PACER system puts many — but not all — federal court records on line. It's an easy-to-use information access tool for journalists.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about PACER Turns 20 — Still a Workhorse for Reporters [11]
Federal Workers Union Wants Burrowers Lists [12]

Federal employee unions want lists of political appointees whose status has been transferred to career civil service positions at the end of the Bush administration.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Federal Workers Union Wants Burrowers Lists [12]
Whistleblowers Might Be Your Best Sources [13]

Whistleblowers can be a reporter's best friend — although friends that must often be handled with care. If you know a federal agency employee who tells you "Call me on January 21" — be sure to do it.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Whistleblowers Might Be Your Best Sources [13]
League of Conservation Voters Releases Annual "Scorecard" [14]

Scorecard reports environmental records of US Representatives and Senators
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [5]
Policy [15]
Environmental Politics [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about League of Conservation Voters Releases Annual "Scorecard" [14]
Farm Bill Launches Sweeping New Secrecy Initiative [17]

New language added to the 2007/08 Farm Bill by conferees at the 11th hour could create a sweeping new secrecy mandate that would prohibit the Agriculture Department from disclosing almost any information about individual US farm operations.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [18]
Government [5]
Policy [15]
Region:
National (U.S.) [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Farm Bill Launches Sweeping New Secrecy Initiative [17]
Midnight Regs: Many Environmental Items on Final Bush Agenda (Part 1) [19]

As the Bush administration closes out its terms in office, a number of rules, policies, orders, and other actions related to the environment are expected by Jan. 19, 2009.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [20]
Government [5]
Environmental Politics [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Midnight Regs: Many Environmental Items on Final Bush Agenda (Part 1) [19]
Is EPA's Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Program Working? [21]

EPA and states may be cutting companies slack if they "audit" their own violations. Here's a database that will help you audit whether local polluters are abusing the program.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [20]
Government [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [7]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Is EPA's Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Program Working? [21]
Judge Rules City Can't Keep Ties With Utility Secret [22]

Great Falls, Montana, wouldn't let its citizens know details of its contracts with a utility. But a judge stopped that.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [10]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [5]
Region:
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [23]
Visibility:
Public [8]
- Read more about Judge Rules City Can't Keep Ties With Utility Secret [22]

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