Publication Items

AMA Calls for Disclosure, Monitoring of Chemicals in Fracking Fluid

The American Medical Association, the nation's largest professional association of medical doctors, advocates public policies that doctors believe will protect public health. On Jun 9, 2015, the organization said fracking operation information should go not only to doctors, but also to the public whose health may be at risk.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel
Health
Water & Oceans
Visibility:
Public
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"Cheap and Clean: How Americans Think About Energy in the Age of Global Warming"

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change
Consumer
Energy & Fuel
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about "Cheap and Clean: How Americans Think About Energy in the Age of Global Warming"
"Renewable: The World-Changing Power of Alternative Energy"

SEJ Publication Types:
BookShelf
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change
Energy & Fuel
Visibility:
Public
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E-Beat Explainers: For Congress' Eyes Only

The Congressional Research Service, a taxpayer-funded agency, produces a steady stream of fact-filled and objective background reports on many issues of interest to environment and energy reporters but refuses to share them with the public. But there are other ways to access them...

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture
Disasters
Energy & Fuel
Government
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about E-Beat Explainers: For Congress' Eyes Only
Need to Know? Eight Reports from the Congressional Research Service

Congress does not release reports done by the Congressional Research Service to the public, even though taxpayers fund them. Thanks to the Federation of American Scientists' Government Secrecy Project, you can read them anyway.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Economy & Business
Energy & Fuel
Natural Resources
Nuclear Power & Radiation
Science
Technology
Region:
Antarctica & Arctic
Visibility:
Public
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New Oil Train Regs Go Backward on Public's Right to Know Risks

Since U.S. oil production started booming, the news has been full of tanker trains blowing up. Under a May 2014 emergency order, the Federal Railway Administration increased requirements that railroads disclose oil train routes. But a new regulation issued May 1, 2015, leaves the public — and firefighters — with less information about the risks they face. Photo: The latest oil train derailment and explosion, today, in ND/Curt Bemson via AP.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Energy & Fuel
Laws & Regulations
People & Population
Planning & Growth
Transportation
Region:
Great Plains (IA KS ND NE MO SD)
Northwest (OR WA)
Visibility:
Public
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Fracking Chemicals: What We Know — and What We Don't

You have to give the U.S. EPA some credit. The agency has done quite a bit to let the public know about some of the toxic chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. EPA on March 27, 2015, published a database of nearly 700 of those chemicals, which is a good start and shows how open-source and non-governmental efforts can overcome industry efforts to hide data on toxics.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals
Energy & Fuel
Pollution
Water & Oceans
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Fracking Chemicals: What We Know — and What We Don't
BP Deepwater Horizon Anniversary: Follow the Science

In this, the second of two special SEJ TipSheets, the Advocate's Amy Wold provides you with a plethora of science-based information to cover the ongoing story of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, on the eve of the five-year anniversary. Photo: Officials assess sample processing and chain of custody protocol for handling specimens associated with the oil spill. Credit: NOAA.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Energy & Fuel
Environmental Health
Fish & Fisheries
Natural Resources
Science
Water & Oceans
Wildlife
Region:
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN)
Visibility:
Public
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BP Deepwater Horizon Anniversary: Follow the Money

April 20, 2015, marks the fifth anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history. The story is far from over. If you are covering the legacy of the spill, SEJ is offering two special TipSheets by the Advocate's Amy Wold that will help you get the facts and background. Photo: Oiled endangered Ridley's turtle. Credit: Carolyn Cole/ LA Times; courtesy NOAA.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Energy & Fuel
Environmental Health
Fish & Fisheries
Laws & Regulations
Natural Resources
Pollution
Water & Oceans
Wildlife
Region:
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about BP Deepwater Horizon Anniversary: Follow the Money
Coast Guard Spill Database Rendered Almost Useless for Reporters

There used to be a searchable, online database of oil and chemical spill reports that reporters could turn to in an emergency to get insight into important breaking news. But ham-handed security efforts have sabotaged the public's right to know. Right now, emergency responders are working on a spill of a cancer-causing fuel additive known as MTBE. But news reporters probably couldn't get much if any helpful information from the database today (we checked).

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters
Energy & Fuel
Government
Military
Region:
National (U.S.)
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Coast Guard Spill Database Rendered Almost Useless for Reporters