Publication Items

EPA Won't Disclose Alternative Study on Spruce Mine MTR Permit [1]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Natural Resources [3]
Government [4]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about EPA Won't Disclose Alternative Study on Spruce Mine MTR Permit [1]
111th Congress Ending with Unfinished FOI To-Do List [7]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about 111th Congress Ending with Unfinished FOI To-Do List [7]
Enviropork: Reporting on the Secret Santas [8]

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 [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [9]
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Enviropork: Reporting on the Secret Santas [8]
Journo Groups File Brief in Corporate Privacy Case [10]

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 22 other news media groups intervened in a case where AT&T had challenged the Federal Communications Commission's ruling that exemption 7c of the Freedom of Information Act did not apply to AT&T.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media [11]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Journo Groups File Brief in Corporate Privacy Case [10]
More Cool Data Tools from EPA [12]

TRI-CHIP assembles a great deal of toxicity and hazard information from many sources and makes it easy to search. TRI.NET allows you to construct complex queries into the Toxics Release Inventory database, and to map the results in ways that can be used for publishable graphics or layered on maps with other environmental and demographic information.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Technology [13]
Government [4]
Chemicals [14]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about More Cool Data Tools from EPA [12]
Cool Tool: Labor Department Database Shows Promise [15]

The website offers access to several kinds of data sometimes sought by reporters doing environmental stories. Searches can be narrowed down by state and by industry.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Cool Tool: Labor Department Database Shows Promise [15]
Obama Announces Revamp of 'Controlled Unclassified' Info Stamp [16]

The order gives agencies 120 days to review their existing secrecy designations and to come up with standardized ones "in a timely manner." When there is doubt, Obama's order states, agencies are to err on the side of disclosure.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Policy [17]
Government [4]
Disasters [18]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Obama Announces Revamp of 'Controlled Unclassified' Info Stamp [16]
White House Under the Gun on Science Integrity, Openness [19]

The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility is suing the administration under the Freedom of Information Act for documents that would explain the delay in issuing a long overdue, government-wide integrity policy.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Policy [17]
Government [4]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about White House Under the Gun on Science Integrity, Openness [19]
Got TMDLs? Sneak Peek of New Pollutant Loading Tool Could Raise Ruckus [20]

EPA in-house tool may be released to public within months. It will give reporters themselves the ability to estimate the cumulative impacts of pollution on water bodies.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [21]
Technology [13]
Pollution [22]
Government [4]
Chemicals [14]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Got TMDLs? Sneak Peek of New Pollutant Loading Tool Could Raise Ruckus [20]
MY-RTK Lets Users Probe Toxic Emissions from Their Smartphones [23]

myRTK lets you thumb in an address or ZIP code and get back a map or list of Toxics Release Inventory facilities on your feature phone or smart phone.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Technology [13]
Pollution [22]
Government [4]
Chemicals [14]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about MY-RTK Lets Users Probe Toxic Emissions from Their Smartphones [23]

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