Publication Items

EPA Leak on Problem Coal Ash Sites Could Yield Local Drinking Water Stories [1]

Closure plans for more than 160 coal ash facilities crisscrossing the United States are under renewed scrutiny by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a newly leaked list. The latest TipSheet credits that leak with offering local environmental reporters story leads on potential drinking water pollution in their communities. Get the details, plus story ideas and reporting resources.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Politics [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Pollution [9]
Waste [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [13]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about EPA Leak on Problem Coal Ash Sites Could Yield Local Drinking Water Stories [1]
Covering Climate Solutions [15]

As part of an initiative by the Society of Environmental Journalists on covering climate solutions, this special report offers a series of tipsheets and toolboxes focused on business-based solutions, nature-based solutions, ocean-based solutions and methane/energy-based solutions. Explore the special report and related webinars.

SEJ Publication Types:
Special Reports [16]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [17]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [18]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Covering Climate Solutions [15]
Unpacking Bipartisan Infrastructure Law With Data … But Not Databases [19]

As funding from the U.S. government’s massive infrastructure bill starts to get spent, big swaths of it on environmental-related concerns, Reporter’s Toolbox points to a problem for journalists covering it — there appears to be no single database to help track the money. But for intrepid reporters, various data sources are out there to help tell the story.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [17]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [21]
Infrastructure [22]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Policy [23]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Unpacking Bipartisan Infrastructure Law With Data … But Not Databases [19]
Supreme Court Winds Up for Another Swing at Clean Water Act [24]

In a second Issue Backgrounder looking at major environmental questions before the U.S. Supreme Court, SEJournal considers the long-standing controversy about the definition of “waters of the United States.” The Clean Water Act case, which the high court could (re)decide during its next term, would have profound environmental and economic implications. The latest Backgrounder wades into the issue.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [25]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [26]
Environmental Politics [5]
Fish & Fisheries [27]
Government [21]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Natural Resources [28]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Supreme Court Winds Up for Another Swing at Clean Water Act [24]
‘Big Fish’ Report Hooks Prize With Look at Aquaculture and Environment [29]

The challenges of sustainable aquaculture are at the heart of an extensive reporting project recognized in the Society of Environmental Journalists’ most recent round of reporting awards. In this Inside Story Q&A, Hakai Magazine’s founding editor, Jude Isabella (pictured at left), and author Brian Payton share insights into the series, which looks closely at the industry and its environmental costs.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [30]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [31]
Environmental Health [32]
Environmental Justice [33]
Fish & Fisheries [27]
Food [34]
Journalism & Media [7]
Natural Resources [28]
People & Population [35]
Water & Oceans [11]
Wildlife [36]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
International [18]
Asia [37]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about ‘Big Fish’ Report Hooks Prize With Look at Aquaculture and Environment [29]
Fine Particle Pollution Will Soon Spawn a Stormcloud of News [38]

New rules on soot may soon be on the way and will likely stir up the long-standing controversy over air pollution from particulate matter. The latest TipSheet has the backstory on the pending regulations, reviews human health impacts and offers a range of story ideas and reporting resources for environmental journalists to tell the story on a local and regional basis.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [39]
Chemicals [3]
Environmental Justice [33]
Environmental Politics [5]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Policy [23]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Fine Particle Pollution Will Soon Spawn a Stormcloud of News [38]
Dam Secrecy Exposes Public to Dam Disasters [40]

A growing number of U.S. dams are in poor condition — with potentially lethal results. But the latest WatchDog Opinion argues that equally troubling is that that information is kept secret from the public and journalists in a national database.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog [41]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [42]
Environmental Politics [5]
Government [21]
Infrastructure [22]
Journalism & Media [7]
Planning & Growth [43]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Dam Secrecy Exposes Public to Dam Disasters [40]
Going Beyond Sensational Drought Headlines Gives Local Audiences News They Need [44]

As drought continues to afflict the southwestern United States, New Mexico PBS correspondent and producer Laura Paskus writes that environmental journalists must bring home its impact on local communities, while translating the science, making the connection with climate change and holding public officials accountable. Plus, reporting resources and a reminder that the story is too big for any one journalist.

SEJ Publication Types:
Features [45]
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture [26]
Climate Change [17]
Disasters [42]
Environmental Health [32]
Environmental Politics [5]
Journalism & Media [7]
People & Population [35]
Planning & Growth [43]
Policy [23]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
California [46]
Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [47]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [48]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Going Beyond Sensational Drought Headlines Gives Local Audiences News They Need [44]
Massive Drilling Database Helps Track Threats From Local Oil, Gas Wells [49]

A new data tool that captures information on 1.5 million-plus active U.S. oil and gas production facilities can be a powerful tool for journalists looking to report on potential pollutants, especially when overlaid with local census data, school locations and the like. Reporter’s Toolbox takes a closer look at the new Oil & Gas Threat Map, shares caveats and offers story ideas.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [20]
Topics on the Beat:
Air [39]
Chemicals [3]
Energy & Fuel [4]
Environmental Health [32]
Health [6]
Journalism & Media [7]
Pollution [9]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Massive Drilling Database Helps Track Threats From Local Oil, Gas Wells [49]
Septic Systems Often Hide Neglected Local Stories [50]

Millions of Americans rely on their own onsite wastewater treatment, commonly known as septic systems. And many of those systems are connected to private wells. But unless they are properly sited, designed, built and maintained, they can contaminate drinking water, bringing dangerous waterborne illnesses. The latest TipSheet explains how to turn this often ignored issue into a local story.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [3]
Consumer [51]
Environmental Justice [33]
Health [6]
Infrastructure [22]
Journalism & Media [7]
Laws & Regulations [8]
Planning & Growth [43]
Pollution [9]
Waste [10]
Water & Oceans [11]
Region:
National (U.S.) [12]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [52]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [13]
Visibility:
Public [14]
- Read more about Septic Systems Often Hide Neglected Local Stories [50]

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