Publication Items

Why Doesn't Congress Want You To Read These Reports? [1]

For decades, Congress has refused to release taxpayer-funded reports by the Congressional Research Service. Fortunately, the Federation of American Scientists' Government Secrecy Project gets them and releases them. Here are some new explainers that may be of use to environmental journalists.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [3]
Air [4]
Climate Change [5]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Natural Resources [7]
Pollution [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Why Doesn't Congress Want You To Read These Reports? [1]
Getting Past Park Service PIO Harder Than 13-Mile Hike [10]

It's true — some public information officers are really paranoid. High Country News reporter Tristan Baurick, trying to report on preservation of a historic chalet in Olympic National Park, found "a bizarre blockade on press freedom, the likes of which I’d never experienced outside a military base or murder scene."

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [11]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Natural Resources [7]
Transportation [13]
Region:
Northwest (OR WA) [14]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Getting Past Park Service PIO Harder Than 13-Mile Hike [10]
Interior IG Releases Few Investigative Reports [15]

Of the 457 investigations closed by the Interior Department's Inspector General's office last year, the office released public reports on only three. Not only were many of the reports withheld or redacted, but even the list of investigations was redacted before it was released.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [11]
Government [16]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Interior IG Releases Few Investigative Reports [15]
Toxics: Find Kids at Risk in Your Congressional District [17]

The Center for Effective Government has compiled an interactive mapping database of some of the most dangerous chemical facilities in the U.S., showing their proximity to schools. The group also mapped which Congressional districts contain the most schoolkids at risk.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [18]
Disasters [19]
People & Population [20]
Technology [21]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Toxics: Find Kids at Risk in Your Congressional District [17]
Chemical Accident Data Won't Be Bottled Up [22]

While the idea that government neglect and public ignorance are the right approach to chemical safety and security has lost some credence, information on chemical accidents is still hard to come by. Here are tips as well as news about the National Response Center's database of oil and chemical spills.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [18]
Disasters [19]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Chemical Accident Data Won't Be Bottled Up [22]
Will Fracking Disclosure Decisions Put Profits Above Health? [23]

Federal agencies are still grinding forward on decisions about disclosure of often-toxic ingredients pumped into the ground during "fracking" to produce gas and oil. Significant decisions may come eventually from the Interior Department, the EPA, and the Obama White House. But don't bet on any courageous decisions until after the November election.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [18]
Economy & Business [24]
Energy & Fuel [6]
Health [25]
Pollution [8]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Will Fracking Disclosure Decisions Put Profits Above Health? [23]
Lame-Duck Congress Could Pass Freedom-of-Information Bill [26]

The coming lame-duck session is the last opportunity for Congress to enact a bipartisan bill that would make modest improvements in the Freedom of Information Act. Will transparency trump gridlock when Congress returns after the November 4, 2014, midterm elections? That remains to be seen.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [16]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about Lame-Duck Congress Could Pass Freedom-of-Information Bill [26]
17 J-Groups Join SEJ in Letter on Wildlands Photo Regs [27]

Eighteen journalism, photography, and First Amendment groups on October 1, 2014, wrote U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell opposing the proposal to finalize a directive requiring permits for "commercial filming" in Forest Service Wilderness areas. Tidwell has already said the USFS does not want to restrict journalism on wilderness lands, but the groups seek changes to regulatory language that would make this clear. SEJ is one of the groups.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Forests [28]
Journalism & Media [29]
Region:
National (U.S.) [30]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about 17 J-Groups Join SEJ in Letter on Wildlands Photo Regs [27]
SEJ FOI Chair Talks to Forest Service Chief Tidwell [31]

After proposing a directive that seemed to require permits and fees for journalists working in U.S. Forest Service wilderness lands, the USFS announced that it had never intended the restrictions to apply to journalists. Tim Wheeler, chairman of the Society of Environmental Journalists' Freedom of Information Task Force, talked with USFS Chief TomTidwell to clarify the USFS position. Here's his report. [32]

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Forests [28]
Journalism & Media [29]
Laws & Regulations [12]
Region:
National (U.S.) [30]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about SEJ FOI Chair Talks to Forest Service Chief Tidwell [31]
How Does Obama Block Open Info? AP Counts the Ways [33]

Three major journalism groups held a joint convention in Chicago September 15-17, 2014, which included a panel discussion on Obama administration secrecy. News industry leaders used the occasion to point out that the Obama administration's deeds and practices did not match its claims of transparency.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [16]
Journalism & Media [29]
Visibility:
Public [9]
- Read more about How Does Obama Block Open Info? AP Counts the Ways [33]

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