Government

The data, from hundreds of facilities in 35 states, provide reporters the raw material for hundreds of local stories.

A proposed rule for control of fluid-contaminated runoff at primary commercial airports would reduce the substantial threats to drinking water, surface water, air quality, wildlife, plants, and soils at airports and the surrounding areas.

This new resource can provide some good initial clues for important stories that in years past had to be deferred at least two more months, and sometimes far longer.

The rawness of the data, which will be analyzed and revised by EPA at a later date, means that, for now, reporters will need to do more of their own ground-truthing in order to use it.

This data tool shows promise, but it currently tracks only non-infectious conditions and not others tied to environmental causes, such as neurological, endocrine, and reproductive disorders.

The Bush Administration, through the OMB, pressured EPA to water down lead monitoring requirements it had tightened in October 2008. Now EPA may get more or all of the monitors it originally wanted, near facilities that emit about a half ton of lead per year.

The topic of weatherization might appear mundane, but the sheer magnitude of the current multi-billion-dollar program, and its relative importance in increasing energy efficiency and combating climate change, make it a story worth covering.