Publication Items

Sunshine Events, Standing Rock, FERC and Pruitt [1]

It's Sunshine Week, and open government events are scheduled around the United States. This month's WatchDog TipSheet has a rundown, plus news on SEJ concerns over restrictions to press access at FERC meetings, on a 7,564-page FOIA email dump on EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and more.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet [2]
Topics on the Beat:
Activism [3]
Climate Change [4]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Environmental Politics [6]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Sunshine Events, Standing Rock, FERC and Pruitt [1]
EPA Budget Cuts Threaten a Program Near You [11]

As the Trump administration proposes big cuts at environmental agencies like the U.S. EPA, the latest TipSheet explores how to dig up local angles from the budget action. Examples: Tracking changes at EPA regional offices and labs, at Superfund or at state revolving funds for clean water and safe drinking water programs.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [12]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Health [13]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [14]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Natural Resources [16]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [17]
Pollution [18]
Waste [19]
Water & Oceans [20]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
California [21]
Great Lakes (IL IN MI MN OH WI) [22]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [23]
Northwest (OR WA) [24]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [25]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about EPA Budget Cuts Threaten a Program Near You [11]
Get Wise on Water Rule [26]

Wondering what WOTUS is? Or how the Clean Water Rule relates to the Clean Water Act and to the Section 404 permitting program meant to prevent the destruction of U.S. wetlands? Our Beat Basics column explains the history and background of the rule to help you cover White House, EPA and court action likely ahead.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [27]
Topics on the Beat:
Economy & Business [28]
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [14]
Government [7]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Natural Resources [16]
Planning & Growth [29]
Water & Oceans [20]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Get Wise on Water Rule [26]
Draining a Different Kind of Swamp [30]

As the Trump administration last week began its rollback of the Clean Water Rule, reporters are likely to see many more stories about wetlands permitting — especially on the local level. The latest TipSheet walks you through the Section 404 permitting maze and helps you find out what's happening in your locale and state.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [12]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [6]
Fish & Fisheries [14]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Natural Resources [16]
Water & Oceans [20]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [23]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Draining a Different Kind of Swamp [30]
Under Pruitt, Watch Enforcement Data [31]

As questions arise about how thoroughly the U.S. EPA's new administrator Scott Pruitt (left) will enforce environmental regulations, reporters can get at the story through EPA’s own exhaustive enforcement database. TipSheet provides a step-by-step on how to use data resources to follow trends and find bad actors.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [12]
Topics on the Beat:
Government [7]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Under Pruitt, Watch Enforcement Data [31]
More Controversy in Pipeline for Pipelines [32]

Keystone XL and Dakota Access may be the biggest pipeline stories so far, but they're far from the last, as dozens of other pipeline proposals come into play. Track this developing beat with our latest Issue Backgrounder, which provides a walkthrough of legal and regulatory challenges, and a case-by-case rundown.

SEJ Publication Types:
Backgrounders [27]
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel [5]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about More Controversy in Pipeline for Pipelines [32]
Reporting Science, Side-by-Side with the Scientists [33]

An award-winning radio series takes us along for the ride as reporter and editor work to cover the cutting edge of climate change research. Inside Story interviews the pair to explore not only how they pulled the package together, but also how you can advance your own reporting, working directly with scientists in the field.

SEJ Publication Types:
Inside Story [34]
Topics on the Beat:
Climate Change [4]
Region:
Antarctica & Arctic [35]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Reporting Science, Side-by-Side with the Scientists [33]
As Fight Flares Over Public Lands, Summoning Power of Past Bond [36]

Bobby Magill, in his most recent SEJ President's Report, recalls his time traversing federal wilderness areas that are now increasingly the subject of dispute. How are they to be used? Who is to hold them? Will these vast Western lands remain in the public domain? And what is the role of journalists in covering this story?

SEJ Publication Types:
SEJ Presidents Report [37]
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Politics [6]
Forests [38]
Government [7]
Journalism & Media [8]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Natural Resources [16]
Wildlife [39]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about As Fight Flares Over Public Lands, Summoning Power of Past Bond [36]
Oroville Crisis Points to Dam Stories in Many States [40]

California's Oroville Dam has been in the news this month, as it threatened to fail, flooding nearby communities. But worsening dam safety is a national story with local angles throughout the United States. TipSheet runs down the risks and the resources, plus offers upcoming news hooks for dam stories in your community.

SEJ Publication Types:
TipSheet [12]
Topics on the Beat:
Disasters [41]
Energy & Fuel [5]
Fish & Fisheries [14]
Natural Resources [16]
Water & Oceans [20]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Oroville Crisis Points to Dam Stories in Many States [40]
Toxics Database a Key Tool for Environmental Journalists [42]

The Toxics Release Inventory has long been a vital reporting tool, and now there's a new edition of the database, issued last month by the outgoing Obama administration. Reporter's Toolbox walks you through how to smartly mine TRI for stories, whether you're a newbie or a veteran. Plus, TRI caveats.

SEJ Publication Types:
Reporters Toolbox [43]
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals [44]
Disasters [41]
Economy & Business [28]
Environmental Health [13]
Health [45]
Laws & Regulations [15]
Pollution [18]
Waste [19]
Region:
National (U.S.) [9]
Visibility:
Public [10]
- Read more about Toxics Database a Key Tool for Environmental Journalists [42]

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