Cheers and Jeers

PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

Things to applaud...and things to condemn.

EPA Chief Tweets

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson recently signed up on Twitter. Some open government advocates view such new technologies as a boon for openness. Others view this as a waste of time that provides no meaningful accountability.

(09 Mar 2010)

End of an Error

R.I.P. HUMMER 1992-2010
Admittedly this is not an RTK issue, but still...
According to the AP, "Unless a last-minute buyer steps forward, General Motors Co.’s Hummer brand is fading into history."

(26 Feb 2010)

New Website Improves Rulemaking Transparency

The EPA launched a new "Rulemaking Gateway" to improve the public's ability to search, understand, and comment on the rules being considered by the agency. This new website complements the government-wide www.regulations.gov, which recently was redesigned.

(19 Feb 2010)

Dow Chemical Leak Went Undetected 2 Weeks

A leak of more than 3,500 pounds of toxic ammonia gas from the Dow Chemical Co. facility in Institute, WV went undetected for nearly two weeks.

(18 Feb 2010)

One Year Later - Coal Ash Info Still Secret

One year after the enormous disaster at Tennessee's Kingston Power Plant, EPA continues to allow six power companies to hide vital information from the public on the safety of toxic coal ash impoundments. The companies refusing to disclose are Alabama Power Company, Duke Energy Corporation, First Energy Generation Corporation, Georgia Power Company, Gulf Power Company, and Mississippi Power Company.

(23 Dec 2009)

Big Coal Not Disclosing "Grassroots" Lobbying

The coal industry is not disclosing the full extent of its lobbying expenses on federal disclosure forms, instead exploiting a legal loophole by failing to report "AstroTurf" campaigns. Big Coal's actions highlight the need for greater lobbying disclosure.

(29 Oct 2009)

EPA Disloses More Toxic Coal Ash Dump Sites

It took a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to get it, but EPA released a more complete list of locations and other data on toxic coal ash dump sites nationwide.

(01 Sep 2009)

Beach Monitoring Given Boost by House

The U.S. House passed the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act to speed up public notification of dangerous beach water pollution. A similar bill passed a Senate committee in June. The bill also authorizes more grant money for states to improve water quality.

(30 Jul 2009)

EPA Discloses "High Hazard Potential" Coal Ash Sites

EPA has disclosed the locations of 44 "high hazard potential" coal ash dumps at 26 different power plants (canceling the earlier "Jeer" received by EPA for concealing these locations).

(03 Jul 2009)

EPA Hiding Locations of Coal Ash Dumps

[UPDATED] EPA won't disclose the locations of the 44 potentially hazardous coal ash dumps it has identified.

(17 Jun 2009)

USDA to Track Pesticides Again

The USDA will restart some of its agricultural chemical usage surveys after the Bush administration cut their funding. A good step, but the public needs much more information about how much of these chemicals are used by farms (and others). Learn more here.

(20 May 2009)

It's Official - TRI Reporting is Restored

With the publication in the Federal Register of the newly restored rules for reporting pollution, the battle to undo the Bush-era rollback is officially over.

(27 Apr 2009)

Less Monitoring, Less Data, Worse Decisions

A report released in November 2008 by the NRDC Health Program documents many examples of Bush Administration budget cuts to key data collection programs that monitor hazardous pollutants in our air, water, food, and even our bodies.

(04 Dec 2008)

Michigan Sugar Company: Bay City, Michigan

For agreeing to pay $13 million to settle a lawsuit with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Clear Air Act violations. It had increased operations without following through with a New Source Review which would have required increased pollution control. It is in the process of replacing its old equipment.

(19 May 2008)

Great Basin Mine Watch

For helping close the Jarrett Canyon Mine in March 17, 2008 for excessive mercury pollution. Though the U.S.

(08 Apr 2008)