Public

"As Ozone Decision Looms, EPA Finds Stronger Science" [1]

"Recent studies suggest that smog-filled air kills more people and causes more breathing problems than previously thought, U.S. EPA scientists say in a new draft paper, but due to a procedural twist, the findings can't be taken into account as Administrator Lisa Jackson decides whether to set stricter limits than the George W. Bush administration chose in 2008."

Air [2]

Environmental Health [3]

Environmental Politics [4]

Pollution [5]

Science [6]

Public [7]

National (U.S.) [8]

Source: Greenwire [9], 03/10/2011

Read more about "As Ozone Decision Looms, EPA Finds Stronger Science" [1]

PA Gov Gives Energy Exec Supremacy Over Environmental Permitting [10]

"Pennsylvania has come under fire lately as pollution from drilling in the Marcellus Shale threatens water resources across the state. But instead of ratcheting up oversight, Gov. Tom Corbett wants to hand authority over some of the state’s most critical environmental decisions to C. Alan Walker, a Pennsylvania energy executive with his own track record of running up against the state’s environmental regulations."

Environmental Politics [4]

Public [7]

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [11]

Source: ProPublica [12], 03/10/2011

Read more about PA Gov Gives Energy Exec Supremacy Over Environmental Permitting [10]

Spy Agency To Release Trove of Satellite Photos — But Can Public See Them? [13]

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is about to release millions of feet of film containing aerial images that have been declassified. Such images have in the past been a boon to environmental research. It remains to be seen whether the contractors will charge prices that effectively prevent use by journalists and the public.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [14]

Topics on the Beat:

Natural Resources [15]

Visibility:

Public [7]

Read more about Spy Agency To Release Trove of Satellite Photos — But Can Public See Them? [13]

Safety Board Objects to Shutdown of Gulf Rig Tests [16]

According to the AP, the Chemical Safety Board, which has been monitoring the testing, wanted further tests to confirm whether a fundamental design flaw may have contributed to failure of the blowout preventer's control pods

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [14]

Topics on the Beat:

Disasters [17]

Visibility:

Public [7]

Read more about Safety Board Objects to Shutdown of Gulf Rig Tests [16]

Sunshine Week Focuses on Freedom of Information and "Local Heroes" [18]

Sunshine Week is spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Gridiron Club — with collaboration by a large number of coalition member groups.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [14]

Topics on the Beat:

Government [19]

Visibility:

Public [7]

Read more about Sunshine Week Focuses on Freedom of Information and "Local Heroes" [18]

Is Corporate Ghostwriting of Journal Articles a Threat to Environmental Information? [20]

Before picking up stories based on journals in the environmental sciences, reporters might pause to ask about those journals' policies on transparency and potential conflict of interest. And then ask about enforcement, and any relevant conflict declarations on the article in question.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [14]

Topics on the Beat:

Health [21]

Economy & Business [22]

Visibility:

Public [7]

Read more about Is Corporate Ghostwriting of Journal Articles a Threat to Environmental Information? [20]

Utah Governor Signs Controversial Bill Cutting Public Access to Info [23]

Former National Freedom of Information director Coalition Charles N. Davis said the bill "puts Utah in a class of one, alone in an anti-democratic zone in which the governors enjoy almost carte blanche over what information they deign to share with the rabble.”

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [14]

Topics on the Beat:

Government [19]

Region:

Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [24]

Visibility:

Public [7]

Read more about Utah Governor Signs Controversial Bill Cutting Public Access to Info [23]

Supreme Court Strikes Down Misuse of FOIA 'Personnel' Exemption [25]

In the case of Milner v. Department of the Navy, the court rejected an expansive interpretation of the FOIA exemption on personnel matters. And in another FOIA case decided March 1, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations do not have a right of personal privacy that can prevent the federal government from disclosing records about them.

SEJ Publication Types:

WatchDog TipSheet [14]

Topics on the Beat:

Laws & Regulations [26]

Government [19]

Visibility:

Public [7]

Read more about Supreme Court Strikes Down Misuse of FOIA 'Personnel' Exemption [25]

"Wyoming Plagued by Big-City Problem: Smog" [27]

"Wyoming, famous for its crisp mountain air and breathtaking, far-as-the-eye-can-see vistas, is looking a little bit like smoggy Los Angeles these days because of a boom in natural gas drilling."

Pollution [5]

Energy & Fuel [28]

Air [2]

Public [7]

Mountain West (CO ID MT NV UT WY) [24]

Source: Wash Post [29], 03/09/2011

Read more about "Wyoming Plagued by Big-City Problem: Smog" [27]

"Stiffer Pollution Regulations Expected for Great Lakes Ships" [30]

"The federal government has agreed to step up its efforts to force freighters sailing on the Great Lakes to begin treating their biologically contaminated ballast water discharges like any other industrial pollutant."

Biodiversity [31]

Pollution [5]

Water & Oceans [32]

Public [7]

Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [33]

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [34], 03/09/2011

Read more about "Stiffer Pollution Regulations Expected for Great Lakes Ships" [30]

Pages