The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) is challenging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to supply information on environmental disasters to reporters . Most recently, the EPA refused to grant an interview with a Charleston, West Virginia reporter over the January 9 chemical spill in Elk River that fouled the drinking water of over 300,000 people. (Society for Environmental Journalists, March 18, 2014, by Beth Parke and Joseph Davis)
The SEJ considers the Elk River spill to be a “tipping point” for environmental reporters in highlighting the EPA’s lack of responsiveness and has asked the agency to improve its performance by providing 24-hour access to public information officers; avoiding generalized and vague comments; making EPA experts accessible; releasing more data; and granting more free questioning during press conferences. (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, March 19, 2014, by Emily Grannis)
The Washington Times reported that the agency favors Democratic researchers in granting Freedom of Information Act requests. The EPA denied that they took politics into account in processing requests. (The Washington Times, March 18, 2014, by Jim McElhatton)