"Fifty-seven former government scientists and public health officials of both parties called on Monday for a science-based approach to the coronavirus pandemic and criticized the Trump administration for marginalizing science and expertise in its response."
When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a press release with favorable industry response to changes in a rule protecting migratory birds — before actually proposing the new rule — a group of former agency officials cried foul. Plus, why encrypted police scanners are a problem and an ag-gag ruling, all in the latest WatchDog opinion column.
Emergency evacuations are hard to plan under normal circumstances. Now the coronavirus pandemic makes them even more complicated and risky. With the summer disaster season upon us, the latest TipSheet explores how environmental journalists can report on emergency planning under COVID-19, with suggested questions to help you dig up stories.
"The EPA’s biggest union will enter into bargaining with the agency July 13 for a week of talks about rapidly developing plans to reopen offices, according to the American Federation of Government Employees."
"U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley said on Tuesday he supported a plan by one of his Senate colleagues to block the nomination of an Environmental Protection Agency official until the agency makes clear how it would handle requests from oil refiners for retroactive exemptions from their biofuel blending mandates."
"An internal watchdog said Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hasn’t provided a good explanation for its decision not to recover travel expenses from former Administrator Scott Pruitt that were found to be improper."
"A federal fisheries management agency has barred some of its employees from making formal references to the COVID-19 pandemic without preapproval from leadership, according to an internal agency document."
"The U.S. public health system has been starved for decades and lacks the resources to confront the worst health crisis in a century."
"William Perry Pendley's views on racial inequality and social justice could prove a bigger obstacle to the Senate's confirming him as director of the Bureau of Land Management than his controversial statements on public lands."
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