Maryland Trying To Cope With Backlog of Pollution Violation Cases
Maryland is struggling with a backlog of water pollution violations.
Source: Baltimore Sun, 11/30/2011
Government
"MSHA Not Catching 'Scofflaw Violators,' Report Says"
"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Investigators from the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General have found that federal regulators are not identifying 'scofflaw violators' who don't pay mine safety and health fines, allowing those mine operators to avoid debt-collection lawsuits or other enforcement actions."
Source: Charleston Gazette, 11/29/2011
Idaho Environmental Programs Fall Victim To Budget Cuts
"BOISE, Idaho -- When lightning ignited a wildfire near Idaho's Sun Valley in 2007, environmental regulators used monitoring gear to gauge the health effects for those breathing in the Sawtooth Mountains' smoky, mile-high air.
That equipment sits idle today after the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality was hit by $4 million in spending cuts, a quarter of its budget, since the recession began. Water testing on selenium-laced streams in Idaho's phosphate mining country also has been cut back, as have mercury monitoring and hazardous waste inspections.
Source: Idaho Press, 11/28/2011
At Last: Study Confirms EPA 'Friday Surprise' Press Release Trend
Researchers at the nonprofit and nonpartisan think tank Resources for the Future fed into their computers some 21,493 press releases issued by EPA between 1994 and 2009, confirming reporters' long-time suspicions.
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Terrified CIA Urged To Shed Secrecy About Climate Threats
The Central Intelligence Agency is spending untold millions to study the national security threats presented by climate change. Now the Pentagon's Defense Science Board (DSB) is urging that another, new office be created to do the same job, for more untold millions.
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White House Gives House Inquisitors Only Some of Subpoenaed Documents
The White House rejected the House Energy Committee's subpoena for "all internal communications" related to federal loan guarantees for the now-bankrupt Solyndra solar panel company.
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French State Nuclear Firm EDF Fined €1.5M for Spying on Greenpeace
"France's state energy firm EDF has been fined €1.5m by a Paris court for spying on Greenpeace."
Source: Guardian, 11/11/2011
'EPA: Agency Lags By Years on Dozens of IG Recommendations'
'U.S. EPA has still not implemented recommendations from the agency's inspector general that stretch as far back as 2001, according to a recent IG review.'
Source: Greenwire, 11/08/2011
Other Information Access News in Brief
Climate scientist Michael Mann wins bid to join emails lawsuit; BP and other Gulf oil spill CEOs won't testify before House committee; Republican House freshmen disappointed by Supercommittee's secrecy; Obama admin to issue disclosure rules for fracking on federal lands; WRI/Transparency Int'l panel on climate policy corruption, Nov. 3, 2011, in DC; proposed FOIA rule would let gov't deny existence of records; and bill to improve pipeline safety and increase access to info passes Senate.
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