Publication Items

Tapping the "Fishbowl" — Is EPA Doing Some Things Right on FOI? [1]

OMB Watch, a fierce FOI advocacy group, says EPA has been working hard to push hitherto restricted data out to the public, citing the earliest-ever release of TRI data, monitoring data on atrazine in water, and more.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [3]
Journalism & Media [4]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Tapping the "Fishbowl" — Is EPA Doing Some Things Right on FOI? [1]
SEJ Joins Amicus Brief on Dangerously Expanded FOIA Exemption [7]

Several media organizations have joined the case of a Puget Sound resident denied information, under the "law enforcement" exemption to FOIA, that would identify the locations and potential blast ranges of explosive ordnance stored in the area.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [8]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Government [3]
Region:
Northwest (OR WA) [10]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about SEJ Joins Amicus Brief on Dangerously Expanded FOIA Exemption [7]
Could Smart Meters Allow Privacy Invasion? [11]

The Philadelphia Inquirer explores the implications of an electric meter that knows when you are sleeping, when you are awake, and a lot more besides.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [12]
Government [3]
People & Population [13]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Could Smart Meters Allow Privacy Invasion? [11]
Government Clinical Trials Database Is Missing Data [14]

The Sunlight Foundation's Real Time Investigations blog explains the problems with a registry containing information on more than 78,000 clinical trials.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Health [15]
Government [3]
Policy [16]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Government Clinical Trials Database Is Missing Data [14]
Law Allows Astroturf Roots Cover-Up [17]

Current law has no disclosure requirements for fake grass-roots lobbying — such as that of a coal industry campaign to stop climate legislation which sent forged letters to members of Congress, pretending to be from minority and community organizations.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [18]
Energy & Fuel [12]
Laws & Regulations [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Law Allows Astroturf Roots Cover-Up [17]
Did EPA Hide Atrazine Risks? [19]

The Huffington Post Investigative Fund uncovers EPA's failure to warn people in at least four states about unsafe levels of the weedkiller atrazine in their wellwater.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [20]
Health [15]
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Did EPA Hide Atrazine Risks? [19]
EPA Releases All Responses to Coal Ash Survey [21]

The data, from hundreds of facilities in 35 states, provide reporters the raw material for hundreds of local stories.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [8]
Energy & Fuel [12]
Government [3]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about EPA Releases All Responses to Coal Ash Survey [21]
Data Deficit Hampers Consumer Product Safety Commission [22]

A new GAO report says Customs has refused to give the CPSC shipping-manifest information it has been requesting for years. The manifests are a way to track products imported into the U.S. which may have been recalled due to toxicity and/or safety issues.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [5]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Data Deficit Hampers Consumer Product Safety Commission [22]
Judge Orders USDA To Release Data on Wolf Program [24]

The locations of conflicts in New Mexico and Arizona between livestock and Mexican gray wolves, which were reintroduced in 1998, will now be made public in hopes of identifying problem areas and taking preventive steps.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [25]
Biodiversity [26]
Region:
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [27]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Judge Orders USDA To Release Data on Wolf Program [24]
Info on Rare Orchid Handled Like Nuclear Secret [28]

The Canby's bog orchid, not seen in Maryland for 20 years, has reappeared at the Nassawango Nature Preserve. A Washington Post reporter was allowed to see and write about it, but with unusual restrictions.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Biodiversity [26]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [29]
Visibility:
Public [6]
- Read more about Info on Rare Orchid Handled Like Nuclear Secret [28]

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