Publication Items

EPA Enviro Justice Guidance Could Help Spotlight EJ Issues [1]

While thoroughly bureaucratic, the 55-page guidance document, as well as EPA's Environmental Justice Strategic Enforcement Assessment Tool, can be useful resources for reporters who seek to understand and highlight potential environmental justice issues unfolding at the national, regional, or state level.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
People & Population [4]
Environmental Health [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about EPA Enviro Justice Guidance Could Help Spotlight EJ Issues [1]
Pipelines Spill Millions of Toxic Gallons Each Year [7]

A round-up of resources: from the recent Enbridge spill in Michigan to multiple spills over time by Houston-based Plains All American Pipeline; hearings of the US House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials; availability of pipeline maps; Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration info on safety standards, inspections, stakeholder communications; and much more.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [8]
Energy & Fuel [9]
Disasters [10]
Chemicals [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Pipelines Spill Millions of Toxic Gallons Each Year [7]
EPA Gets TRI Data Out Quickly This Year [13]

The early release includes only about 80% of the total expected submissions. Updates should be available in August and September, and the agency will release its analysis later in 2010.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [11]
Government [3]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about EPA Gets TRI Data Out Quickly This Year [13]
EPA Offers Air, Water, Sediment, Waste Data from Gulf Oil Spill [15]

Reporters can find most of the environmental monitoring data EPA has collected on one webpage in a form that can be queried or downloaded.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [16]
Disasters [10]
Waste [17]
Water & Oceans [18]
Government [3]
Region:
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [19]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about EPA Offers Air, Water, Sediment, Waste Data from Gulf Oil Spill [15]
Obama Signs 'Libel Tourism' Bill [20]

The new bill protects U.S. journalists and citizens against harsh overseas libel judgments.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Journalism & Media [21]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Obama Signs 'Libel Tourism' Bill [20]
Appeals Court Nixes Permits for Free Speech in National Parks [22]

A federal appeals court has ruled that the National Park Service is violating the First Amendment with its current rules requiring permits for demonstrations, gatherings, and public "expressions of views" on National Park System lands.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [23]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Appeals Court Nixes Permits for Free Speech in National Parks [22]
Deep-Sixing the Facts? — Congress Blinds, Hamstrings Oil Spill Commission [24]

Before leaving town for its August vacation, Congress stripped $12 million for the commission from an appropriations bill and denied that panel the subpoena power it needs to find out what happened or what should be done to prevent another spill.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [10]
Water & Oceans [18]
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Deep-Sixing the Facts? — Congress Blinds, Hamstrings Oil Spill Commission [24]
Fla. Scientists Say Obama Admin Tried To Squelch Oil Plume Findings [25]

St. Petersburg Times' Craig Pittman reports the scientists' announcement in May that research boats had discovered a 6-mile long underwater oil plume was greeted with shushing from the Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [14]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [18]
Government [3]
Disasters [10]
Region:
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [19]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Fla. Scientists Say Obama Admin Tried To Squelch Oil Plume Findings [25]
Managing Stormwater: Key in Water Pollution, Beach Closures [26]

Here's a roundup of recent developments and resources that can help you cover how local stormwater management fits into the regional and national picture, including the Natural Resources Defense Council's 20th annual beach report and the proposed Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2010.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Planning & Growth [27]
Pollution [28]
Water & Oceans [18]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Managing Stormwater: Key in Water Pollution, Beach Closures [26]
Studies: Lighten Up on Roof and Pavement Color [29]

While not a stand-alone climate change-fighting measure, converting roofs and pavements in tropical and temperate cities of one million or more people to light-colored materials would provide the equivalent one-time benefit of eliminating two years' worth of global CO2 emissions, or eliminating the emissions of 300 million vehicles for 20 years.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [30]
Planning & Growth [27]
Environmental Studies [31]
People & Population [4]
Science [32]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Studies: Lighten Up on Roof and Pavement Color [29]

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