PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

RTK Spotlight

White House Seeks More Transparent Environmental Reviews (OMB Watch)

The Obama administration has proposed new guidance intended to increase transparency and public involvement in the implementation of one of the nation's oldest and most important environmental laws, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

(09 Mar 2010)

Slow Death by Rubber Duck (Washington Post)

"Provocative and groundbreaking, Slow Death by Rubber Duck reveals how the living of daily life creates a toxic soup inside each of us."

(02 Mar 2010)

Public Speaks on Ideas to Open Up Environmental Agencies (OMB Watch)

Environmental agencies are seeking ideas on how to improve transparency, public participation, collaboration, and innovation, and the agencies are receiving numerous suggestions. The challenge for individual agencies is to shape the diverse ideas into the strategies and goals that will comprise their Open Government Plans.

(01 Mar 2010)

EPA Considers Requiring Reporting of Toxic Hydrogen Sulfide (U.S. EPA)

After a 16-year review, EPA is recommending that it begin requiring polluters to report their releases of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide can be released from factory farms, wastewater treatment plants, oil and gas operations, and other human activities. The public may comment on the proposal here.

(01 Mar 2010)

EPA Inspector Faults Excessive Trade Secret Protections (U.S. EPA)

EPA's IG found in a new report that EPA’s procedures for handling confidential business information (CBI) requests "are predisposed to protect industry information rather than to provide public access to health and safety studies," and the EPA should "develop CBI classification criteria to improve EPA’s transparency."

(24 Feb 2010)

Obama Admin Launches Agency Web Sites to Boost Transparency (NY Times)

As part of the Obama administration's Open Government Directive, the EPA, Interior Department, Energy Department, and Department of Agriculture have launched new websites to serve as hubs for each agency's open government actions, and to encourage public involvement in creating their open government plans.

(12 Feb 2010)

TAKE ACTION - Tell EPA to Strengthen Monitoring of Lead Pollution in Air (NRDC)

Urge the EPA to protect children’s health by strengthening monitoring requirements for airborne lead pollution. Exposure to lead endangers children, but the EPA does not require monitoring near all industrial sources that emit unsafe amounts of airborne lead.

(05 Feb 2010)

Tell EPA How to Clean Up Closed Auto Industry Sites (U.S. EPA)

COMMENT NOW on EPA's blog: What can EPA do to help communities understand the environmental conditions at former auto sector sites? And what can EPA do to help communities revitalize those sites?

(05 Feb 2010)

Public Hearings on Stricter Smog Rule (U.S. EPA)

Three public hearings are scheduled to gather comments on EPA's proposed tighter standards for ground-level ozone - a main component of smog. The hearings are:

  • Feb. 2: Arlington, Va.
  • Feb. 2: Houston, Texas.
  • Feb. 4: Sacramento, Calif.
(29 Jan 2010)

TIPLINE - Report Suspicious Drilling Activities (U.S. EPA)

A new "Eyes on Drilling" tipline created by EPA lets citizens report suspicious activity related to oil and gas development. Call 1-877-919-4EPA or email eyesondrilling@epa.gov. EPA is counting on concerned citizens to report unusual activities related to drilling operations.

(27 Jan 2010)

EPA Releases Analysis of 2008 TRI Data (U.S. EPA)

The EPA released its "National Analysis" of Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data. This is the earliest release and analysis of the data in the history of the TRI program. The "National Analysis" replaces what used to be known as the Public Data Release (PDR). Both the number of facilities reporting and the amount of releases declined in 2008.

(08 Dec 2009)

"Split Estate" Exposes Damage From Gas Drilling (Split Estate)

The new documentary, Split Estate, maps a tragedy in the making, as citizens in the path of a new drilling boom in the Rocky Mountain West struggle against the erosion of their civil liberties, their communities, and their health. The film will air again on Planet Green on January 16 and 17, 2010.

(08 Dec 2009)

New Standard of Openness Set by Obama's Open Government Directive (OMB Watch)

The Obama administration announced its latest effort to create a more open and accountable government: the release of the Open Government Directive. The directive has been in development since the first day of the Obama administration, when the president issued a memo ordering it.

(08 Dec 2009)

Lessons of Bhopal: 25 Years Later, U.S. Chemical Laws Need Strengthening (OMB Watch)

Dec. 3 marks the 25th anniversary of the most catastrophic industrial accident in history: the leak of poisonous gas from a pesticide plant in the Indian city of Bhopal. Twenty-five years after the tragedy, much progress has been made, but much remains to be done to provide a minimum level of protection against chemical releases.

(01 Dec 2009)

New Web Tools Help Public Track Pollution (OMB Watch)

The EPA has launched a new feature on its website that uses several new interactive Web technologies that let users track the emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from coal-fired power plants. SO2 is a pollutant that causes acid rain and harm to public health.

(20 Nov 2009)

RMP Database Updated

OMB Watch today posted updated information about the risks of serious public harm posed by thousands of chemical facilities nationwide. RTK NET's RMP database is available here.

(29 Oct 2009)

American Waters Still Toxic Dumping Ground (Environment Minnesota)

An analysis of TRI data shows industrial facilities dumped 232 million pounds of toxic chemicals into more than 1,900 American waterways in all 50 states during 2007. The report ranks the Ohio River first for toxic discharges, followed by the New River and the Mississippi River.

(21 Oct 2009)

EPA Launches Online Forum on Metal Mining and TRI (U.S. EPA)

EPA has opened a new public forum on the agency's blog to gather ideas for a new TRI reporting rule for metal mines. Comments will be received through November 25, 2009.

(06 Oct 2009)

2008 TRI Data Available - National Analysis Expected in December

The EPA has completed its "Early Release" of raw TRI data for 2008. With this latest update, the data set is complete. The agency plans to release its National Analysis of the data sometime in December 2009.

(06 Oct 2009)

Greenhouse Gas Registry Finalized (OMB Watch)

The EPA finalized its mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting rule Sept. 22, creating the nation's first mandatory GHG registry, with facilities to begin emissions monitoring January 2010.

(22 Sep 2009)