"The EPA administrator has said he “didn’t know” about unusual salary bumps given to a pair of trusted aides, but a message from one of those staffers claims otherwise."
"Two counties, dozens of first responders and hundreds of neighbors claim in court documents that the Arkema chemical manufacturing plans committed negligence. Environmental advocates say lax industry regulations exacerbated the disaster."
The EPA turns to friendly media to share its news, while limiting access to mainstream reporters. And the agency moves to “weaponize” transparency. Those stories, plus, a new way to map political influence on environmental policy, and key reports made public, in the latest WatchDog TipSheet.
Watch live! This half-day conference, hosted by World Resources Institute and National Geographic Society, features keynotes by former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and astronaut Mae Jemison; the launch of WRI's new data platform on the planet’s resources pulse to add to your reporting toolkit; and a data journalism panel.
"Indonesia, acting on a request from Interpol, has seized a fishing boat carrying 600 illegal gillnets that can stretch up to 30 km (18 miles) after it evaded capture in several countries, the Fisheries Ministry said."
"Get ready to batten down the hatches. Again. In a preseason forecast issued Thursday, Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project predicts the upcoming hurricane season that begins June 1 will again be busy, although not as bad as the brutal 2017 season."
"The vote, expected next week, could put Andrew Wheeler one step away from taking over the agency if embattled Administrator Scott Pruitt exits."
"The state announced Friday that the health of Flint's drinking water has been restored and state distribution of free bottled water in the city is ending, likely within a few days."
"The Keystone crude oil pipeline leak in November in rural South Dakota was nearly double the original estimate, making it one of the largest U.S. inland spills since 2010, a newspaper report on Saturday said."
"The #MeToo movement has brought to light the widespread incidence of sexual misconduct in many arenas of women’s lives — and it's spread to the US Forest Service, whose chief, Tony Tooke recently resigned amid allegations of sexual wrongdoing."
