Publication Items

Feds Provide Conservation Funds, But Won't Disclose Recipients [1]

USDA spokeswoman Isabel Benemelis declined to release the names or locations of the landowners who are likely to be participating in two new SAFE (State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement) efforts, saying journalists have to make such requests via FOIA.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Feds Provide Conservation Funds, But Won't Disclose Recipients [1]
New Data Site Maps "Dirty Energy Money" [6]

Oil Change International invites you to look up campaign donations from energy companies to members of Congress with data sourced from the Center for Responsive Politics and the Federal Elections Commission.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [7]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [4]
Energy & Fuel [8]
Economy & Business [9]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about New Data Site Maps "Dirty Energy Money" [6]
NASA Takes a Pass on Scientific Integrity Policy Improvement [10]

An Aug. 5, 2011, NASA memo says the agency's existing policies are so good they don't need improving — yet the policies do not offer any clear guarantee that reporters can talk to NASA scientists without permission and supervision from the public affairs office.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [7]
Topics on the Beat:
Science [11]
Policy [12]
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about NASA Takes a Pass on Scientific Integrity Policy Improvement [10]
SEJ Comments On NOAA Science Policy; Seeks More Openness [13]

In formal comments, SEJ stated that the section of NOAA guidance policy requiring advance public affairs approval of media interviews — and minders sitting in on those interviews — thwarts open communication between scientists and reporters, which is "unacceptable in a free society."
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [7]
Topics on the Beat:
Science [11]
Policy [12]
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about SEJ Comments On NOAA Science Policy; Seeks More Openness [13]
Interior Probe of Polar Bear Scientist Baffles, Looks Political [14]

Five years after writing about polar bears drowning, apparently from lack of sea ice, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement was suspended without a reason. Later he was told it was due to charges of "scientific misconduct" from a party or parties not identified.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [7]
Topics on the Beat:
Wildlife [15]
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Interior Probe of Polar Bear Scientist Baffles, Looks Political [14]
EPA Drafts Science Policy Codifying Minders, PIO Permissions for Media Interviews [16]

The draft "Scientific Integrity Policy" marks the first time that the EPA's previously unwritten minders-and-permissions policy for press interviews has been reduced to a publicly disclosed written policy applying to the entire agency. The Society of Environmental Journalists has previously opposed these restrictions and is likely to submit formal comments on this draft policy as well.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [7]
Topics on the Beat:
Science [11]
Policy [12]
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about EPA Drafts Science Policy Codifying Minders, PIO Permissions for Media Interviews [16]
NOAA Rule Aims To Silence Sea Grant Advocacy [17]

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility petitioned NOAA to reverse its no-advocacy policy, saying it's inconsistent with the agency's official scientific integrity policy and the Obama administration's much-vaunted advocacy of more openness in federal government.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [7]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [18]
Policy [12]
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about NOAA Rule Aims To Silence Sea Grant Advocacy [17]
Press Fotogs Sue DHS Over Laptop, Camera Seizures [19]

A U.S. District judge heard oral arguments July 8, 2011 on a DHS motion to dismiss the case, brought by the National Press Photographers Association, the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [7]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [20]
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Press Fotogs Sue DHS Over Laptop, Camera Seizures [19]
Feds and Private Sector Funding Major Solar Panel Projects [21]

Project Amp, expected to lead to the installation of photovoltaic solar panels on about 750 industrial buildings in 28 states, would feed enough energy to the grid to power 90,000-100,000 homes. Taking a different approach, Google and a company called SolarCity are teaming up to spur installation of solar panels to power individual homes, committing $280 million to the project.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [4]
Energy & Fuel [8]
Economy & Business [9]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about Feds and Private Sector Funding Major Solar Panel Projects [21]
New Environment-Related CRS Reports Available [22]

Congress still forbids the Congressional Research Service to release publicly reports that taxpayers have paid for. Thanks to groups like the Federation of American Scientists, however, taxpayers can read the reports online despite the charade.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [7]
Topics on the Beat:
Transportation [23]
Technology [24]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [25]
Government [4]
Disasters [26]
Climate Change [27]
Visibility:
Public [5]
- Read more about New Environment-Related CRS Reports Available [22]

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