The score came from the Center for Effective Government, which now awards the scores annually. Much of the score is based on the agency's performance under the Freedom of Information Act. EPA was one of the few agencies whose grade actually went down since 2014.
A bill to strengthen the Freedom of Information Act awaits Senate floor action. But the Obama administration, which once pledged to be the most open in history, has so far been strangely silent. Crickets. "Worries from the agencies are whispered into lawmakers' ears," wrote E&E Publishing's Kevin Bogardus.
After opposing gag and sealing orders in the trial of former Massey coal CEO Don Blankenship on charges of conspiracy to violate federal mine safety and health standards — and cover-up — a news media coalition led by Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press won access to the trial from a federal appeals court March 5, 2015.
"A bipartisan pair of senators introduced legislation on Tuesday that would overhaul U.S. chemical regulations."
"Climate denier Fred Singer lobbied fellow sceptics to create a backlash, and proposed legal action, against the film that exposes industry’s role in manipulating US debate on climate change"
"A U.S. government agency that manages West Coast fisheries approved a prohibition on Tuesday on fishing seven categories of forage fish in a groundbreaking decision that signals a shift toward an ecosystem-based management."
"A Vatican official who helped write a first draft of Pope Francis' upcoming encyclical on climate change acknowledged disagreement over the causes of global warming but said 'what is not contested is that our planet is getting warmer' and Christians have a duty rooted in 'ancient biblical teaching' to address the problem."
"A new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration ... finds that the electricity generated from wind and solar grew a lot faster than electricity generated by fossil fuels last year."
"Did Florida Gov. Rick Scott's administration ban state environmental scientists from using the terms 'climate change' and 'global warming' in their work? ... Now, an environmental group is asking for a state investigation to get to the bottom of it."
"The industrial conglomerate run by the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch is refusing to provide Democratic lawmakers with information on whether it has paid for climate change research."
