Publication Items

Group Wins Suit To Disclose Fracking in Gulf of Mexico

The Center for Biological Diversity filed a Freedom of Information Act request for documents on offshore Gulf fracking, and was refused by two Interior Department offshore drilling agencies, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. CBD sued, and the lawsuit was settled June 2, 2015.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Chemicals
Energy & Fuel
Fish & Fisheries
Laws & Regulations
Pollution
Water & Oceans
Region:
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN)
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX)
International
Mexico
Visibility:
Public
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Yes, the "Oligopoly" of For-Profit Science Journals is Growing

Some environmental reporters find or research stories by browsing science journals. But difficulty of access to those journals is a common barrier to robust, science-based journalism. The barriers have been getting worse, says a new study — in a science journal.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Consumer
Science
Visibility:
Public
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Journalist Booted from Denial-Palooza for "Advocacy"

Not all journalists were welcome at the Heartland Institute's annual conference messaging doubt about climate change June 11, 2015. Brendan Montague, editor of DeSmog UK, was denied a press pass for the event and escorted from the meeting site by hotel security.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Activism
Climate Change
Visibility:
Public
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AMA Calls for Disclosure, Monitoring of Chemicals in Fracking Fluid

The American Medical Association, the nation's largest professional association of medical doctors, advocates public policies that doctors believe will protect public health. On Jun 9, 2015, the organization said fracking operation information should go not only to doctors, but also to the public whose health may be at risk.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Energy & Fuel
Health
Water & Oceans
Visibility:
Public
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Obama Administration Flunks Test at House FOIAPalooza

Journalists, think tanks, and advocacy groups all gave low marks to the Obama administration's performance under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) at a House hearing June 2 and 3, 2015. Some GOP members used the occasion to score partisan points; see the video and document archives.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Government
Visibility:
Public
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E-Beat Explainers: For Congress' Eyes Only

The Congressional Research Service, a taxpayer-funded agency, produces a steady stream of fact-filled and objective background reports on many issues of interest to environment and energy reporters but refuses to share them with the public. But there are other ways to access them...

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Agriculture
Disasters
Energy & Fuel
Government
Visibility:
Public
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SPJ, SEJ Seek Meet with White House Spox on Minders, Permissions

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and SEJ sent a letter to Josh Earnest (pictured), White House Press Secretary, May 29, 2015, asking for a meeting to discuss restrictions that infringe on journalists' abilities to report on the federal government. The letter follows up on earlier pleas from some 38 journalism groups to the White House for more openness.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Government
Journalism & Media
Visibility:
Public
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Did EPA Press Office Retaliate for Unfavorable NY Times Article?

It appears to an outside observer that NYT reporter Coral Davenport was uninvited to EPA's "Waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) rule announcement phone call as retaliation for an unfavorable story she had written about the agency's public affairs operation the week before. EPA says not.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Journalism & Media
Laws & Regulations
Water & Oceans
Visibility:
Public
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House Insists Congressional Research Service Reports Be Secret

It's not a mistake. Congress really doesn't want you to read those excellent explainers on public issues produced by experts at the Congressional Research Service (CRS). We know this because a House Appropriations subcommittee specifically restated that CRS was not to publish its reports.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Government
Visibility:
Public
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What You're Not Supposed To Know About Secret Environmental Treaty

The public is not allowed to know the terms of the draft Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact likely to come up for a Senate vote this year. Yet the Senate has already begun voting on terms for considering the treaty, which may allow other nations to override U.S. health, safety, and environmental protection laws. Fortunately, WikiLeaks has already published a leaked version of the environmental chapter of the TPP treaty.

SEJ Publication Types:
WatchDog TipSheet
Topics on the Beat:
Environmental Health
Environmental Politics
Health
Laws & Regulations
Natural Resources
Visibility:
Public
- Read more about What You're Not Supposed To Know About Secret Environmental Treaty

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