Laws & Regulations

"Chemical Security Advocates See New Opening to Rework Bush-Era Rules"

Petrochemical companies like BP won a key battle in achieving unpoliced self-regulation early in the Bush administration -- when they got friends in Congress and the White House to shut EPA out of chemical safety and security oversight. As public health advocates point to possible disasters more lethal than the Gulf spill, there may be an opportunity to reverse the federal government's decisions not to protect the public from petrochemical disasters.

Source: Greenwire, 06/17/2010

Read more about "Chemical Security Advocates See New Opening to Rework Bush-Era Rules"

"The Spill, The Scandal and the President"

"The disaster in the Gulf was preceded by ample warnings – yet the administration had ignored them. Instead of cracking down on MMS, as he had vowed to do even before taking office, Obama left in place many of the top officials who oversaw the agency's culture of corruption."

Disasters

Laws & Regulations

Government

Environmental Politics

Public

National (U.S.)

Source: Rolling Stone, 06/10/2010

Read more about "The Spill, The Scandal and the President"

June 16, 2010 to June 17, 2010

Virtual Energy Forum

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff will join other leading policymakers and business executives to address the role of energy efficiency in light of pending climate and energy legislation at the 21st Annual Energy Efficiency Forum. Co-sponsored by Johnson Controls and the U.S. Energy Association.

Visibility:

Topics on the Beat:

Region:

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV)

June 21, 2010 to June 22, 2010

Chemical Toxicity Testing: The United States and Beyond

In Washington, DC: Day One at the National Press Club, "The Future of Chemical Toxicity Testing in the U.S.: Creating a Roadmap to Implement the NRC’s Vision and Strategy" and Day Two at Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies, "International Harmonization In Chemical Toxicity Testing: An EU Perspective on the Way Forward".

Professional Meetings

Visibility:

Topics on the Beat:

Region:

Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV)

June 17, 2010

New EPA Coal Ash Rules: Understanding the Options

An Environmental Law Institute event; a panel will discuss the background and features of the rule, possible benefits and drawbacks of each option, and the role of recycling.

Professional Meetings

Visibility:

Topics on the Beat:

Environmental Politics

Journalism & Media

Region:

National (U.S.)

TOOLBOX: A Compilation of State Lawyer Licensing Databases

One tool to help tell shady lawyers from shiny is the recently updated, free, searchable online compilation at llrx.com.

SEJ Publication Types:

Topics on the Beat:

Region:

Visibility:

Read more about TOOLBOX: A Compilation of State Lawyer Licensing Databases

Forest Service Gags Employees, Belies Obama Openness Vow

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility obtained and disclosed a USFS memo ordering its law enforcement personnel not to talk to reporters about anything without first getting clearance from its Washington director and press office.

SEJ Publication Types:

Topics on the Beat:

Region:

Visibility:

Read more about Forest Service Gags Employees, Belies Obama Openness Vow

Judge Backs Chevron's Grab for Documentary Out-takes in Ecuador Case

A federal district judge in New York ordered film-maker Joe Berlinger to turn over more than 600 hours of raw footage from his documentary "Crude," about a lawsuit by natives in Ecuador charging Chevron with polluting the Amazon rainforest there.

SEJ Publication Types:

Topics on the Beat:

Region:

Visibility:

Read more about Judge Backs Chevron's Grab for Documentary Out-takes in Ecuador Case

Air Pollution: EPA Proposes Tougher Industrial Boiler Regs

The proposed air toxics standards cover emissions from three types of combustion sources and address emissions of mercury, cadmium, dioxin, furans, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, and other pollutants.

SEJ Publication Types:

Topics on the Beat:

Region:

Visibility:

Read more about Air Pollution: EPA Proposes Tougher Industrial Boiler Regs

May 19, 2010

2010 National Wetlands Awards

Senator Benjamin Cardin (MD) will deliver the keynote address at the 2010 National Wetlands Award ceremony to be held on May 19 on Capitol Hill. In addition U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson will be on hand to present one of the six awards.

Visibility:

Topics on the Beat:

Environmental Studies