Publication Items

Court Lifts Settlement Secrecy in Pennsylvania Fracking Case

The unsealed documents revealed that the potential plaintiffs had received $750,000 from frackers Range Resources, which has been accused of high-handed tactics. The case is important in several respects — even beyond the broader controversy over sealing of civil settlements.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations
Energy & Fuel
Region:
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV)
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Court Lifts Settlement Secrecy in Pennsylvania Fracking Case
New FOIA Bill Would Speed Federal Response, Ease Tracking

A bipartisan House bill was released March 12, 2013, marking Sunshine Week with proposed steps forward in implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The bill, sponsored by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee's Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Elijah Cummings (D-MD), was put out in draft form for discussion and has yet to be formally introduced.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations
Government
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about New FOIA Bill Would Speed Federal Response, Ease Tracking
AP Analysis: Feds Cite Security More Often As Reason for Withholding Information

An Associated Press analysis of data on Freedom of Information Act requests showed little increase in the number of FOIA requests from the public, a slight increase in rejection of such requests, and an increase in federal claims that such rejections were justified by security and internal deliberations.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations
Journalism & Media
Government
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about AP Analysis: Feds Cite Security More Often As Reason for Withholding Information
Effort To Reform Secret Federal Advisory Committees Soldiers On

Secret meetings and conflicts of interest for experts on federal advisory committees are still problems, openness advocates told Congress during Sunshine Week 2013. The searchable Federal Advisory Committee Act online database is a great aid for reporters in searching for this type of information on a particular beat.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations
Government
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Effort To Reform Secret Federal Advisory Committees Soldiers On
GOPers Call for Probe of Alleged EPA FOIA Blockage

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and David Vitter (R-LA) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) on March 7, 2013, released an e-mail exchange they suggest shows EPA lawyers delaying responses to requests for controversial information. They also charge EPA with incompetence and urge U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations
Government
Environmental Politics
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about GOPers Call for Probe of Alleged EPA FOIA Blockage
Judge Rules BLM Must Disclose Companies Nominating Drilling Tracts

A small chink appeared this month in the armor of nondisclosure that protects the oil and gas industry's relationship with federal leasing agencies. BLM had refused to disclose the nominating entities. Federal District Judge Matsch ruled that the Freedom of Information Act requires the disclosure.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations
Government
Energy & Fuel
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Judge Rules BLM Must Disclose Companies Nominating Drilling Tracts
Top Weather Service Official Fired for Talking to Press

According to the Washington Post, the National Weather Service is firing William Proenza, who once headed the National Hurricane Center, for revealing to the Post that looming budget cuts would harm forecasting effectiveness (something that can affect public safety and the profits of business).

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Policy
Laws & Regulations
Environmental Politics
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Top Weather Service Official Fired for Talking to Press
Does New Interior Draft Put Fracking Data Under Industry Thumb?

A leaked draft of the replacement rule suggested Interior would leave handling of fracking data to the industry-run "FracFocus" project, which has come under criticism by environmental and watchdog groups for being hard to use and incomplete.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations
Government
Energy & Fuel
Chemicals
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Does New Interior Draft Put Fracking Data Under Industry Thumb?
Group Sues California over Enforcement of Fracking Disclosure

The Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity filed suit in Alameda County Superior Court charging that the California Department of Conservation's Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources was not following the state's own law.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel
Chemicals
Laws & Regulations
Region:
California
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Group Sues California over Enforcement of Fracking Disclosure
Obama Signs Whistleblower Bill

President Obama on November 27, 2012, signed into law a bill beefing up previously flimsy protections for federal employee whistleblowers who disclose waste, fraud, and abuse. The legislation was supported by good-government watchdog groups.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Laws & Regulations
Government
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about Obama Signs Whistleblower Bill