Publication Items

Local Officials, Residents, in Dark on Nearby Hazardous Rail Cargoes

Sixty-two U.S. urban areas are threatened by hazardous rail cargoes, but federal agencies still refuse to let many firefighters, governments, and citizens know the rail routes used to transport cargoes that could kill tens or hundreds of thousands.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals
Disasters
Transportation
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Local Officials, Residents, in Dark on Nearby Hazardous Rail Cargoes
More Than 550 Utilities Now Using Potentially Safer Chemicals

The plants, ranging from very large to very small, are now using chemicals and processes such as liquid chlorine bleach, calcium hypochlorite, or ultraviolet light — allegedly making ~40 million people living nearby safer.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business
Chemicals
Disasters
Laws & Regulations
Region:
National (U.S.)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about More Than 550 Utilities Now Using Potentially Safer Chemicals
Coal Ash Data Waiting for Local Reporters

Use this roundup of sources to write a probing story about the ash, slag, and sludge from coal-burning electric utilities — which containins heavy metals that can pollute water, and even bury people's houses.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals
Disasters
Energy & Fuel
Pollution
Government
Region:
National (U.S.)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Coal Ash Data Waiting for Local Reporters
SEJ Joins Amicus Brief on Dangerously Expanded FOIA Exemption

Several media organizations have joined the case of a Puget Sound resident denied information, under the "law enforcement" exemption to FOIA, that would identify the locations and potential blast ranges of explosive ordnance stored in the area.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Laws & Regulations
Government
Region:
Northwest (OR WA)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about SEJ Joins Amicus Brief on Dangerously Expanded FOIA Exemption
EPA Releases All Responses to Coal Ash Survey

The data, from hundreds of facilities in 35 states, provide reporters the raw material for hundreds of local stories.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Energy & Fuel
Government
Region:
National (U.S.)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about EPA Releases All Responses to Coal Ash Survey
Is Your Community Ready for Hurricane Season?

SEJ has prepared a list of resources which may be helpful to reporters doing before, during and after-hurricane stories.
SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Science
Region:
National (U.S.)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Is Your Community Ready for Hurricane Season?
Without Warning System, Communities Blind to Toxic Disaster

A July 26 McClatchy story about an ammonia spill that killed one in South Carolina is similar to others that could be told in other U.S. states.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals
Disasters
Region:
National (U.S.)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Without Warning System, Communities Blind to Toxic Disaster
TVA IG Says Agency Let Lawyers Stifle $3 Million Study on Coal-Ash Spill Causes

An investigation by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee indicates the Tennessee Valley Authority opted not to make changes that could have prevented the massive December 2008 spill.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Energy & Fuel
Region:
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about TVA IG Says Agency Let Lawyers Stifle $3 Million Study on Coal-Ash Spill Causes
Toolbox: Homeland Security Daily Infrastructure Report

Reporters interested in following the hazards of dams, refineries, chemical plants, pipelines, and other infrastructure may find story leads in DHS reports.
SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture
Chemicals
Disasters
Energy & Fuel
Health
Natural Resources
Nuclear Power & Radiation
Region:
National (U.S.)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Toolbox: Homeland Security Daily Infrastructure Report
The Devastation Ran Clear Down to Plaquemines

By Amy Wold

Two days after Hurricane Katrina, my editor called me over to his desk and pointed to a place on the map below New Orleans. He said, "Try to get somewhere in this area."

At the time there were four adults, two dogs and two children (some of whom were New Orleans evacuees) staying in my onebedroom home so getting "somewhere in this area" sounded like a really good idea.
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Region:
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about The Devastation Ran Clear Down to Plaquemines

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