PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

RTKnet: Internet Access

Guidance for EPA Staff on Using Social Media (Federal Computer Week)

EPA officials have issued interim policies on how the agency's employees should use social media to interact with members of the public in a memo published on the Internet.

(29 Jan 2010)

More Public Participation at EPA (OMB Watch)

The EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) is expanding public participation this month, launching a new online discussion forum on the EPA's blog and planning a "video town hall discussion" to discuss the Superfund.

(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)

Top Leaders Using New Media to Reshape Enviro Policy (Huffington Post)

The Huffington Post has ranked the top "Game Changers" using new media technology to reshape environmental policy and public awareness. Ken Cook of the Environmental Working Group was voted number one. Other leaders include Bill McKibben, the Story of Stuff's Annie Leonard, and Roger Doiron of the "Eat the View" web campaign, among others.

(20 Nov 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)

New Contractor Takes Over EPA Data Processing

CGI Federal, Inc. has taken over running the EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX), including the TRI Data Processing Center. The CDX is the entry point for environmental data exchanges to the EPA, allowing users to submit data online.

(22 Sep 2009)

EPA Pushing Data Out to the Public (OMB Watch)

Across a range of issues, the EPA is taking active steps to improve transparency. However, it is still too early to determine whether these information disclosures comprise an agency-wide commitment to openness and engagement with the public.

(15 Sep 2009)