Environmental Studies

Environmental Health [6]

Policy [12]

Science [13]

Water & Oceans [14]

Region:

Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [16]

Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD) [17]

Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [18]

Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [19]

International [20]

Canada [21]

Visibility:

Public [22]

Read more about Disappearing ‘Climate,’ EPA FOIA Surge, Pipeline Docs Ruling and More [1]

Selective Media Tour on EPA Scandal, ‘Weaponizing’ Transparency and More [23]

The EPA turns to friendly media to share its news, while limiting access to mainstream reporters. And the agency moves to “weaponize” transparency. Those stories, plus, a new way to map political influence on environmental policy, and key reports made public, in the latest WatchDog TipSheet.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [2]

Topics on the Beat:

Activism [3]

Air [24]

Consumer [25]

Economy & Business [26]

Health [27]

Policy [12]

Pollution [28]

Science [13]

Region:

Visibility:

Public [22]

Read more about Selective Media Tour on EPA Scandal, ‘Weaponizing’ Transparency and More [23]

EPA Mapping App Helps Find, Deepen Environmental Justice Stories [29]

As new research reminds us that pollution often disproportionately affects poor and minority communities in the United States, a long-standing mapping tool from the EPA can help reporters explore and discover those environmental justice stories nearest them. The latest TipSheet explains the problem, and walks you through the mapping app.

SEJ Publication Types:

TipSheet [30]

Topics on the Beat:

Activism [3]

Air [24]

Environmental Health [6]

Health [27]

People & Population [31]

Pollution [28]

Technology [32]

Region:

California [33]

Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [16]

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [34]

Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [18]

Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [19]

Visibility:

Public [22]

Read more about EPA Mapping App Helps Find, Deepen Environmental Justice Stories [29]

"Regulations: Contradicting Trump, OMB Report Highlights Rule Benefits" [35]

"The White House Office of Management and Budget on Friday evening released its annual report on the costs and benefits of federal regulations, showing that the benefits of major Obama-era rules far exceeded the costs."

Policy [12]

Public [22]

Source: E&E News PM [36], 02/27/2018

Read more about "Regulations: Contradicting Trump, OMB Report Highlights Rule Benefits" [35]

Environmental Impact Statements a Key Tool for Reporters, But for How Long? [37]

For decades, federal law has required environmental impact statements for big federal actions, like the building of dams, highways and more. Those impact statements, a valued reporting tool, may now be under threat. This week’s TipSheet explains how journalists can find them and use them, and why they could be at risk.

SEJ Publication Types:

TipSheet [30]

Topics on the Beat:

Planning & Growth [38]

Policy [12]

Region:

Visibility:

Public [22]

Read more about Environmental Impact Statements a Key Tool for Reporters, But for How Long? [37]

Most EPA Pollution Estimates Are Unreliable. Why Use Them? [39]

"Emission factors used to paint a broad picture of air quality often underestimate pollution, evidence shows".

Pollution [28]

Public [22]

Source: Center for Public Integrity [40], 01/29/2018

Read more about Most EPA Pollution Estimates Are Unreliable. Why Use Them? [39]

Battle Builds Over Science Integrity in Environmental Policy [41]

Purges of EPA science panels by Administrator Scott Pruitt are just one among many moves in an ongoing dispute over the integrity of the environmental sciences in government policymaking. The latest Issue Backgrounder takes a deep dive with a briefing on five likely battles ahead for the coming year.

SEJ Publication Types:

Backgrounders [42]

Topics on the Beat:

Agriculture [43]

Air [24]

Chemicals [44]

Health [27]

Policy [12]

Pollution [28]

Science [13]

Technology [32]

Region:

Visibility:

Public [22]

Read more about Battle Builds Over Science Integrity in Environmental Policy [41]

"Judge Deals Blow to Tribes in Dakota Access Pipeline Ruling" [45]

"The judge refused to shut down the oil pipeline during an environmental review. Lawyers pointed to a ‘historic pattern of putting all the risk and harm on tribes.’"

Public [22]

Source: InsideClimate News [46], 10/12/2017

Read more about "Judge Deals Blow to Tribes in Dakota Access Pipeline Ruling" [45]

EPA Document Reveals Sharply Lower Estimate Of Cost Of Climate Change [47]

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday released a detailed 198-page proposed analysis of the costs and benefits of its move to repeal the Clean Power Plan, suggesting the administration plans to greatly decrease the government’s estimates of the cost of climate change."

Public [22]

Source: Washington Post [48], 10/12/2017

Read more about EPA Document Reveals Sharply Lower Estimate Of Cost Of Climate Change [47]

New Enbridge Pipeline Across Northern Minnesota Not Needed, State Says [49]

"Enbridge's proposed new crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota isn't needed, and moreover the aging line it's supposed to replace should be shut down, the Minnesota Department of Commerce said in an analysis released Monday."