Publication Items

Experts Say Geothermal Can Work in Much of U.S. [1]

Researchers at Southern Methodist University, funded by Google, have estimated relative geothermal potential in the US with a new map based in part on oil and gas drilling data. Google says the newer geothermal technologies that are being explored in the US and other countries suggest there may be decent geothermal prospects in all 50 states.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [3]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Experts Say Geothermal Can Work in Much of U.S. [1]
USFS Fire Retardant EIS May Result in Few Changes [5]

The agency would add slightly more acreage to the lists of sensitive land and water areas where fire retardant could be dropped only in cases where human life or public safety is threatened. There would be no significant changes in the formula of the retardant, or the general strategy used to determine when and where it's appropriate to drop retardant.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Forests [6]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about USFS Fire Retardant EIS May Result in Few Changes [5]
Other Information Access News in Brief [7]

Climate scientist Michael Mann wins bid to join emails lawsuit; BP and other Gulf oil spill CEOs won't testify before House committee; Republican House freshmen disappointed by Supercommittee's secrecy; Obama admin to issue disclosure rules for fracking on federal lands; WRI/Transparency Int'l panel on climate policy corruption, Nov. 3, 2011, in DC; proposed FOIA rule would let gov't deny existence of records; and bill to improve pipeline safety and increase access to info passes Senate.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [8]
Topics on the Beat:
Policy [9]
Government [10]
Energy & Fuel [3]
Disasters [11]
Climate Change [12]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Other Information Access News in Brief [7]
DocumentCloud: New Tool for Gumshoe Reporting [13]

If you do investigative reporting, you probably rely often on large numbers of documents to make your case. This new, free tool can help you manage the evidence in a way that supports your story and helps you move seamlessly from research to publication.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [8]
Topics on the Beat:
Technology [14]
Journalism & Media [15]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about DocumentCloud: New Tool for Gumshoe Reporting [13]
Corps Puts Searchable National Levee Database Online [16]

Levees have huge environmental and human impacts, but are often neglected by news media until disaster strikes. The NLD should make reporting both routine and crisis stories a lot easier. The bad news is that after several years of work by the Corps, only a small fraction of all the levees in the US have been entered into the database.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [8]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [17]
Disasters [11]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Corps Puts Searchable National Levee Database Online [16]
Erionite, Like Asbestos, Can Cause Cancer [18]

The naturally-occurring erionite causes malignant mesothelioma and evidence suggests it is much more toxic than asbestos. Concern is rising as development that disturbs erionite deposits occurs in 12 western states.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Health [19]
Chemicals [20]
Natural Resources [21]
Region:
California [22]
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [23]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [24]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [25]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Erionite, Like Asbestos, Can Cause Cancer [18]
Major Wetland Losses Still Occurring in Forests and Estuaries [26]

Wetland acreage in the US declined during 2004-2009, reversing a slightly positive trend of net wetland gains during 1998-2004, according to the latest assessment from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, released Oct. 6, 2011.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [17]
Forests [6]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Major Wetland Losses Still Occurring in Forests and Estuaries [26]
Obama Administration Trying To Speed up Transmission Line Approvals [27]

As part of its push to improve the nation's power system, the Obama administration is trying to expedite construction of 7 transmission lines, in various stages of planning and design, spanning 3,100 miles in 12 states.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations [28]
Environmental Politics [29]
Energy & Fuel [3]
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [30]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [31]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [24]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [32]
Northwest (OR WA) [33]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [25]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Obama Administration Trying To Speed up Transmission Line Approvals [27]
Controversial Pesticide Rule Might Protect Waterways [34]

US EPA, under a court-ordered deadline of Oct. 31, 2011, is to release a final rule establishing a Pesticides General Permit process, which would establish ways to reduce certain pesticide applications on or near waterways for control of mosquitoes, other flying insects, weeds, algae, animals, and forest canopy pests.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Water & Oceans [17]
Laws & Regulations [28]
Chemicals [20]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Controversial Pesticide Rule Might Protect Waterways [34]
Texas Censors Climate Science; Sparks Scientists' Revolt [35]

After officials appointed by presidential candidate Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) deleted references to climate change from a report on Galveston Bay, other scientists asked that their names be disassociated from the report.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [8]
Topics on the Beat:
Science [36]
Climate Change [12]
Region:
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [25]
Visibility:
Public [4]
- Read more about Texas Censors Climate Science; Sparks Scientists' Revolt [35]

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