Your Right to KnowAbout Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy -- A First Amendment WatchBlog(Untitled)- August 17, 2004 Journalism Groups Join SEJ on Homeland Security Comments Eleven major journalism groups joined the Society of Environmental Journalists to voice concern over proposed secrecy on environmental impacts of actions by the Department of Homeland Security. SEJ filed official comments July 14, 2004, on a DHS proposal that allowed considerable secrecy in how it carries out the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). After the deadline for comments on the DHS proposal was extended, the...http://radio.weblogs.com/0131722/2004/08/16.html#a128 (Untitled)- August 16, 2004 Data Challenge Keeps Grass Off Endangered List The US Fish and Wildlife Service appears to have backed off of a proposal to put the Slickspot peppergrass, a rare plant with no specific use, because of a challenge under the "Data Quality Act," according to the OMB Watcher. Environmentalists and open-government groups have worried that the obscure data law would be used to suppress information or block regulatory action. As reported by OMB Watcher, this case raises interesting questions...http://radio.weblogs.com/0131722/2004/08/16.html#a127 (Untitled)- August 16, 2004 Washington Post: Industries Use Data Law To Evade Regulation The Washington Post published a 4,600-word feature on the "Data Quality Act," systematically analyzing all major complaints filed under the obscure law. The Post found that it was mostly used by industry groups to thwart government regulations, especially ones posing potential risk to environmental health and safety. -- "The Fine Print: A Policy Puts Science on Trial; 'Data Quality' Law Is Nemesis Of Regulation,"...http://radio.weblogs.com/0131722/2004/08/16.html#a126 |