Publication Items

Can Environment Sustain Quest for Valuable "Rare Earth" Materials? [1]

A US Geological Survey report offers a perspective on the global situation and an assessment of known US deposits. There may be about 13 million metric tons available in 14 states — with the sites generally posing the usual environmental challenges associated with mining and refining.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Waste [3]
Natural Resources [4]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Economy & Business [6]
Visibility:
Public [7]
- Read more about Can Environment Sustain Quest for Valuable "Rare Earth" Materials? [1]
Global Study Shows Large Lakes Are Warming [8]

NASA researchers have found the 104 selected lakes are warming by an average of 0.81 degrees Fahrenheit each decade (with some lakes increasing by up to 1.8 degrees F), and the temperature increase tends to be larger as you work toward the North Pole.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [9]
Environmental Studies [10]
Climate Change [11]
Visibility:
Public [7]
- Read more about Global Study Shows Large Lakes Are Warming [8]
EPA Won't Disclose Alternative Study on Spruce Mine MTR Permit [12]

Despite promises of transparency, the US Environmental Protection Agency has denied a Freedom-of-Information request by Charleston Gazette reporter Ken Ward Jr. for the contractor study, which apparently outlines less harmful options for this West Virginia mountaintop-removal project.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [4]
Government [14]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [15]
Visibility:
Public [7]
- Read more about EPA Won't Disclose Alternative Study on Spruce Mine MTR Permit [12]
111th Congress Ending with Unfinished FOI To-Do List [16]

The open-government agenda made only a little progress in the session of Congress now waddling to a lame-duck close. Hope still remains for a few measures that would increase public access to government information — but it dwindles with every day that passes.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [14]
Visibility:
Public [7]
- Read more about 111th Congress Ending with Unfinished FOI To-Do List [16]
Enviropork: Reporting on the Secret Santas [17]

The Senate's Nov. 30 vote not to impose a moratorium on "earmarks" practically ensures that pork-barrel spending will live on as a subject for journalists — at least in fiscal 2011.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [13]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [18]
Government [14]
Visibility:
Public [7]
- Read more about Enviropork: Reporting on the Secret Santas [17]
Interest in High-Speed Rail Is Widespread [19]

The Department of Transportation awarded $2.4 billion for 54 projects in 23 states. The winners were selected from 132 applicants in 32 states, who had asked for a total of $8.8 billion for planning, construction, equipment purchases, and other closely related efforts.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Transportation [20]
Planning & Growth [21]
People & Population [22]
Visibility:
Public [7]
- Read more about Interest in High-Speed Rail Is Widespread [19]
Feds Funding Clean Energy Employment Efforts [23]

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal government is shoveling more than $32 billion to the states to develop what it considers less-polluting energy and to train, certify, recruit, and retain workers.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [14]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Economy & Business [6]
Visibility:
Public [7]
- Read more about Feds Funding Clean Energy Employment Efforts [23]
EPA Asks for Comment on School Siting Guidelines [24]

This guidance would provide insights and reduce threats when competing forces — such as land availability, cost, timing, vehicle and utility access, zoning, and developer cooperation — drive decision makers to build a school at a site that may pose a toxic threat to the children and staff.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Pollution [25]
People & Population [22]
Health [26]
Air [27]
Visibility:
Public [7]
- Read more about EPA Asks for Comment on School Siting Guidelines [24]
EPA Releases Reports on Toxics at Selected Schools [28]

Following a December 2008 USA Today report on outdoor air pollution at hundreds of schools, EPA began a monitoring process. Final reports for 21 (of the small number of schools selected) have now been released; the results are mixed.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Pollution [25]
People & Population [22]
Health [26]
Chemicals [29]
Air [27]
Visibility:
Public [7]
- Read more about EPA Releases Reports on Toxics at Selected Schools [28]
Private Landowners Increase Protected Wetland Acreage [30]

Land owners signed up to protect 272,762 acres, which in one year adds about 12% of the total acreage covered during the 15-year history of the voluntary Wetlands Reserve Program. Funding for the 1,414 contracts totaled $592,562,106.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [9]
Biodiversity [31]
Visibility:
Public [7]
- Read more about Private Landowners Increase Protected Wetland Acreage [30]

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