RTKnet: Advocacy Center

PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

Citizens have a right to participate in government decision making about public information access policies and strategies. Citizens also have a right to hold the government accountable for enforcing policies requiring public dissemination of information. This section of RTK NET provides citizens with additional tools with which to influence decisions made by the government regarding your health and safety.

Sign Up: Webinar on Communications Strategies to Change Chemical Policy (Reproductive Health Technologies Project)

The Reproductive Health Technologies Project will conduct a webinar to discuss ways to communicate the health risks of toxics and move individuals and organizations from awareness to activism.

(22 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)

Bill Requires Listing of All Ingredients in Household Products (Minnesota Public Radio)

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) introduced a bill (S. 1697) that would require household cleaning product labels to list all ingredients. "Moms and dads have a right to know whether harmful chemicals are present in their kitchen cupboards," said Franken. A similar bill is in the House.

(24 Sep 2009)

TAKE ACTION – Tell Congress to Force Disclosure of Toxic Drilling Chemicals

A controversial natural gas drilling technique is suspected of contaminating drinking water across the country, but more research cannot be done because the drilling companies won't disclose what toxic chemicals they are pumping into the ground. Congress is now considering legislation that would force drillers to disclose what chemicals they are using, but it needs our support against Big Oil and Gas.

(17 Sep 2009)

EPA Asking the Public to Help Set Enforcement Priorities (OMB Watch)

The EPA is collecting ideas from the public on what its enforcement and compliance priorities should be for the next three years (FY 2011-2013). These priorities address the most pressing environmental problems. The public may comment on an online forum on the EPA's blog until Sept. 30.

(17 Sep 2009)

Oil, Gas, and Mining Oversight Lacking - GAO

A series of reports from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) describe numerous problems with the way the Department of the Interior, particularly the troubled Minerals Management Service, has overseen resource extraction on federal lands. The reports include:

(17 Sep 2009)

Secrecy Report Card Released (OpenTheGovernment.org)

The annual Secrecy Report Card was released Sept. 8 by a coalition of open government groups. The report covers whistleblowers, transparency in advisory committee meetings, Freedom of Information Act requests, and other topics, plus a section on President Obama's first months.

(08 Sep 2009)

2008 TRI Data Now Available (U.S. EPA)

EPA has released preliminary 2008 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data, the earliest release of data in the program's history. EPA has not yet analyzed the data, which are in "raw" form and about 85% complete.

(19 Aug 2009)

Coalition Calls for Sweeping Changes in Chemical Law (Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families)

Environmental health groups outlined their requirements for a new chemical safety law, while awaiting a new reform bill from Congress.

(07 Aug 2009)