PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

RTKnet: Science

Protection of the environment and public health depends on scientific information that is reliable and impartial. Citizens and policy makers rely on the most current scientific knowledge and technologies to make wise decisions.

Gulf Oil Spill Health Hazards

Learn more about the possible human health impacts of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with this factsheet.

(13 May 2010)

Cancer Panel: 'Grievous Harm' Posed By Unchecked Chemicals In U.S. (Washington Post)

According to the President's Cancer Panel, Americans are facing "grievous harm" from chemicals in the air, food and water that have largely gone unregulated and ignored. "With the growing body of evidence linking environmental exposures to cancer, the public is becoming increasingly aware of the unacceptable burden of cancer resulting from environmental and occupational exposures that could have been prevented through appropriate national action."

(06 May 2010)

Meeting the Information Demands of 21st Century Fisheries (Marine Fish Conservation Network)

"Sustainable fisheries management in the 21st century requires timely, reliable fisheries data and effective monitoring of fisheries in order to make informed, responsible decisions," but according to this new report, more funding is needed to increase the number of observers monitoring fishing vessels.

(05 May 2010)

EPA Staffers Were Forced to Ignore Science, Investigation Finds (Politics Daily)

"Environmental Protection Agency staffers have been forced to ignore relevant science, have lacked key monitoring data on human health and environmental impacts, and have worked without crucial information needed to protect the public, according to the preliminary findings of a scientific advisory board."

(30 Apr 2010)

EPA Issues Report on Indicators of Climate Change (U.S. EPA)

A new EPA report, "Climate Change Indicators in the United States," looks at 24 key indicators that show how climate change impacts the health and environment of the nation’s citizens. The information included in this report will help inform future policy decisions and will help evaluate the success of climate change efforts.

(27 Apr 2010)

EPA Calling for Abstracts for National TRI Conference (ECOS)

EPA is calling for abstracts for presentations at the National Training Conference on the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and Environmental Conditions in Communities, November 1–4, 2010, in Washington, DC.

(27 Apr 2010)

What Do YOU Want? (OMB Watch)

We’d like to hear your thoughts and priorities regarding improved access to environmental information. Please take this brief survey and let us know what is most important to YOU. You can access the survey at http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AGT9V3K2B.

(22 Apr 2010)

Panel Clears Researchers in 'Climategate' Controversy (LA Times)

An independent panel found "no evidence of any deliberate scientific malpractice" by the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit, which was accused of misrepresenting global warming data. The panel concluded the scientists instead were "slightly disorganised." The panel did criticize the UK government for charging for access to government data sets.

(16 Apr 2010)

How Sen. Vitter Delayed EPA Assessment of Formaldehyde (ProPublica)

ProPublica chronicles Sen. David Vitter's (R-LA) moves to delay action on the carcinogen formaldehyde. "The EPA has been trying since 1998 to update the formaldehyde assessment, which was first written in 1989. But the agency’s efforts have repeatedly been stalled by the industry and Congress."

(15 Apr 2010)

Toxic Chemical Reform Bill Now in Senate (Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ))

Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today announced legislation to overhaul the “Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976” (TSCA). The new legislation will give EPA more power to regulate the use of dangerous chemicals and require manufacturers to submit information proving the safety of every chemical. The bill creates open access to reliable chemical information and establishes a public database to catalog the information submitted.

(15 Apr 2010)