RTKnet: Databases

PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

EPA Seeks to Enhance Public Access to Chemical Data (OMB Watch)

The EPA has proposed several changes to its regulation of chemicals that should improve the public's access to crucial information. The improved data collected under the proposed rule will help the agency and the public identify potential chemical risks and take action to manage those risks.

(20 Aug 2010)

EPA Pushing TRI Data Out to Public with New Tools, Earliest Data Release Ever (OMB Watch)

The EPA has released the preliminary 2009 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data, the earliest data release in the history of the program. In addition, new tools help the public use the data: a mobile device application, myRight-to-Know, and a searchable database of chemical hazard data, TRI-CHIP.

(30 Jul 2010)

Release of North American Pollution Data Reveals Significant Reporting Gaps (CEC)

The CEC released Taking Stock Online, which contains the latest integrated data set from North America's pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) with a database of over 500 toxic substances and nearly 100 major industrial sectors. The data reveal gaps in the tracking of industrial pollution, such as the exemption of the oil and gas extraction sector and the public water wastewater treatment sector and deficiencies in pollution reporting from mining.

(22 Jul 2010)

New Online Mapping Tool for Oil Spill Data (Unified Command for the BP Oil Spill)

Described as a "one-stop shop for detailed near-real-time information about the response to the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill," NOAA has launched a new website: www.geoplatform.gov/gulfresponse/, that provides an interactive map incorporating data from the various agencies responding to the spill.

(16 Jun 2010)

Open Health Data and Electronic Innovation As A Means to Healthier Communities (O'Reilly Radar)

The National Association of Counties (NACO), GE, Bing, Healthways, and Google have created internet applications to reveal health information to the public. The goal of this initiative, which is driven by Health and Human Services (HHS), is to enable "...citizens to make better health decisions and providers to make data-driven policy." If successful, this project will "'make our community data as useful to the world as weather data or other types of data is to other parts of American life,'" said HHS's chief technology officer Todd Park.

(07 Jun 2010)

Farm Income Data Debunks Subsidy Myths (Environmental Working Group)

EWG's updated Farm Subsidy Database chronicles where federal farm subsidy dollars have gone, revealing the true impact of farm programs and who benefits from the billions in farm subsidies. The data confirm that current farm programs are "a taxpayer giveaway to big and already profitable farming businesses. Moreover, these payments are likely exacerbating, rather than solving, the problems of rural communities."

(13 May 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)

EPA's New HERO Defends the Public's Right to Know (OMB Watch)

The EPA recently launched a new online database that provides access to the scientific studies used in making key regulatory decisions. The EPA released the Health and Environmental Research Online (HERO) database on March 24.

(09 Apr 2010)

New Report Lists 50 Worst Power Plants for Mercury Pollution (Environmental Integrity Project)

A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project identifies the top fifty mercury-polluting power plants. The report shows that more than half of the top fifty actually increased their mercury emissions from 2007 to 2008. The report uses Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data to analyze mercury releases.

(25 Mar 2010)

EPA Moves to Expand Greenhouse Gas Registry (OMB Watch)

The EPA has proposed several changes to its greenhouse gas (GHG) registry, a new mandatory program requiring thousands of facilities economy-wide to monitor and report their emissions of global warming gases. EPA is proposing to add oil and natural gas facilities and facilities that inject carbon dioxide (CO2) underground for storage, along with other facilities.

(25 Mar 2010)