Environmental Politics

E-refugees grow in numbers, reflect threats to safety, security.

US Supreme Court to hear six cases with important environmental implications. Issues involved are: use of sonar in Naval training; logging in California; power plant operation; disposal of mining wastes; royalties paid to the Navajo Nation on coal leases; and liability under Superfund law.

EPA slightly strengthened its fine particulate standard in 2006. Since then, the agency has been working with states and tribes to determine which counties don't meet the new standard.

It's possible that the US Congress will give final approval during its lame duck session to an omnibus bill that contains more than 150 individual bills targeted at protecting, improving, or revising management of various public lands all over the country

On Dec. 2, the US Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could decide whether the Clean Water Act (CWA) allows EPA to weigh costs and benefits when determining the best technology available for the cooling water intake structures at existing power plants.

More details of White House efforts to silence science at EPA emerged at a September 18, 2008, hearing of a House Energy investigations panel.

Interference by the White House Office of Management and Budget has badly damaged the "credibility and timeliness" of IRIS.

The FOIA logs of agencies covered by environmental reporters offer fascinating insight into their workings — and some good story ideas.