Bat losses can have major impacts on ecosystems, as they routinely consume large quantities of insects and themselves provide food and nutrients for other plants and animals. There also are economic impacts as caves close to recreational use, in an effort to combat the spread of the disease.

The 48 mines are also linked by the fact that most of their owners have been legally delaying action on the violations through appeals of the citations. The Mine Safety and Health Administration is faced with a backlog of approximately 16,000 appeals.

Here are several resources for localizing this 40th anniversary event.

NOAA's new tool makes it easy to identify and find basic information about the 1,637 US marine protected areas.

Six public listening sessions in April and May will provide input for the agency's draft national policy on marine aquaculture products.

The case, Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms, focuses on genetically engineered alfalfa. One of the concerns is that GE alfalfa can cross-contaminate, rendering organic alfalfa noncompliant with federal standards, and precluding export.

Environmental reporters covering health risks from chemical exposure have another searchable, free tool  in the Health & Environmental Research Online database, which catalogs scientific articles and studies the agency uses to make its decisions based on risk to health and environment.

A University of Alberta researcher publishes his findings online March 15, 2010, in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Search and sort 84,000 selected chemicals manufactured, used, or imported into the US — minus 17,000 still hidden from the public due to claims of business confidentiality.

The newly upgraded and expanded MAPLight.org will help you make connections between lobbying and campaign contributions and the actions of members of the US House and Senate, including their votes on specific bills and issues.