Case Studies in Earth & Environmental Science Journalism
What are some of the most pressing scientific questions that you found had been addressed satisfactorily?
Which scientific questions do you think were not investigated thoroughly enough?
Were there any scientific issues that were either not reported, under-reported or misreported?
How could you handle reporting a GE contracted report? How were they reported to the press?
What are some of the issues that come up when the remediation of sediments are considered?
How many different interests are involved in the remediation of the Hudson River? Did any group(s) get left out of the debate?
Which governing body did you find has the greatest influence on the environmental questions that get addressed in the Hudson?
Did the media (NY Times) come down on one side or the other in the debate?
What is the importance of having a clean river? What governing bodies really care if the river is clean or note? How does this influence their policy?
What role do editorials play in situations like this?
Were you able to gauge the effectiveness of the GE PR machine? What did you think?
What did you think of the Nun?
Are there any facets of the overall debate that you feel could have been covered more completely in the press?
Can you anticipate what the next story headline might be?
Environmental Protection Agency. National Priority Site Fact Sheet; Hudson River PCBs., Revised March, 1999. Spring 2000. http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfnd/site_sum/0202229c.htm
McNulty, A. K. , 1997. In-situ Anaerobic Dechlorination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Hudson River Sediment. M. Sc. Thesis Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
Quantitative Environmental Analysis (QEA), May, 1999. PCBs in the Upper Hudson River. Albany, NY, Prepared for General Electric. Volume 1: Historical Perspective and Model Overview: Sec. 3 History of PCBs in the Upper Hudson River p. (3) 1 - (3) 10, Albany, New York. Job number: GENhud:131.
GENERAL ELECTRIC WEBSITE INFORMATION
General Electric. 2000. General Electric Website Information, GE. www.hudsonwatch.com
Quantitative Environmental Analysis (QEA), May, 1999. PCBs in the Upper Hudson River. Albany, NY, Prepared for General Electric. Volume 1: Historical Perspective and Model Overview: Sec. 3 History of PCBs in the Upper Hudson River p. (3) 1 - (3) 10, Albany, New York. Job number: GENhud:131.
Quantitative Environmental Analysis (QEA), May, 1999 (Amended July, 1999). PCBs in the Upper Hudson River. Albany, NY, Prepared for General Electric. Volume 3: Predictions of Natural Recovery and the Effectiveness of Active Remediation: Sections 1, 4-10. Albany, New York. Job number: GENhud:131.
EPA WEBSITE INFORMATION
Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) 2000. EPA Region 2 Hudson River Topics, Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfnd/hudson/welcome.htm
Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA). Dec. 2000. Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site, New York, Proposed Plan. New York, Environmental Protection Agency: 30 pages.
Faber, H. Board's Vote Reflects Split on PCB Cleanup Project. New York Times, sec, 1, p.2, May 16, 1982.
Faber, H. State to Fight US Rejection of Cleanup of Hudson PCBs. New York Times, January 23, 1983.
Faber, H. Plan to Purify Hudson Waters. New York Times, sec. 1, p. 30, Oct. 1, 1983.
Faber, H. Upstate Town Resisting Role as PCB Burial Site. New York Times, B2, Jan. 3, 1986.
Moynihan, D. P. A Dead Horse is Floating in the Hudson. New York Times, A28, May 28, 1990.
Gold, A. R. After 15 Years, Hudson Still Has PCBs. New York Times, B1, May 16, 1990.
Mouat, L. Hudson Cleanup Moves Slowly. Christian Science Monitor, p. 6, June 12, 1990.
Cronin, J. Save the Hudson's Fishermen. New York Times, A23, May 9, 1992.
Sack, K. GE to Stop Flow of PCBs into the Hudson River. New York Times, A38, July 18, 1993.
Stevens, W. K. Shaking off Man's Taint, Hudson Pulses with Life. New York Times, A1, June 9, 1996.
Revkin, A. C. Life's Hubbub Returns to Oft-Shunned Hudson. New York Times, A1, June 10, 1996.
Revkin, A. C. New Studies Show PCBs Persist in Hudson, and Are Entering Air. New York Times, A1, Feb. 22, 1997.
Eds. The PCB War heats Up. New York Times, sec. 4, p. 14, March 2, 1997.
Daly, P. A. (Sister). Science, Not Cost, Guides Policy on Hudson River Cleanup. New York Times, sec. 4, p. 14, March 9, 1997.
Dao, J. GE Wins Delay of Study on Cleaning Up Hudson. New York Times, B1, Feb. 25, 1998.
Cronin, J. The Hudson Still Waits for Help. New York Times, Feb. 28, 1998.
Kolbert, E. (1998). In PCB Fight, It's the Nun Vs. the CEO. New York Times, B1, May 25, 1998.
Renner, R. ""Natural" Remediation of DDT, PCBs Debated." Environmental Science & Technology Magazine, p. 360A-363A, 32(15) August 1, 1998.
Eds. "GE Challenges Hudson River Report on PCBs." Environmental Science & Technology Magazine, p. 492A-493A, 32(21) Nov. 1, 1998.
Renner, R. (1999). "Researchers Question Statistical Power of PCB Cancer Study." Environmental Science & Technology Magazine p. 187A, 33(9) May 1, 1999.
Perez-Pe–a, R. In Blow to GE, Agency Finds Fish in Hudson Unsafe to Eat. New York Times, B1, Aug. 5, 1999.
Perez-Pe–a, R. Pataki Orders PCB Cleanup Near Hudson. New York Times, Nov. 14, 1999.
Perez-Pe–a, R. State Sues GE Over Pollution in the Hudson. New York Times, B1, Nov. 16, 1999.
Revkin, A. C. Final Federal Study Bolsters Case for Forcing GE to Cleanup PCBs in Hudson River. New York Times, B4, Jan. 5, 2000.
Revkin, A. C. In War Over PCBs in Hudson, the EPA Nears Its Rubicon. New York Times, June 5, 2000.
Times Union, Albany. Hudson Archives Web Site, Times Union Albany. (2000-2001). www.timesunion.com/news/special/hudsonarchives/
Cappiello, D. Poll finds GE ads have influenced dredging opinion. Times Union, Albany, A16, Nov. 17, 2000.
LeBrun, F. and D. Cappiello. EPA Details Hudson River Dredging. Times Union, Albany, A1, Dec. 6, 2000.
Johnson, K. G. E. Facing Order to Remove Poisons From the Hudson. New York Times, A1, Dec. 6, 2000.
Cappiello, D. EPA Details Hudson River Dredging. Times Union, Albany, Dec. 7, 2000.
Johnson, K. Fight Just Beginning on Hudson Cleanup. New York Times, B1, B5, Dec. 7, 2000.
Revkin, A. C. Dredging River's PCBs Could Be a Cure Worse than the Disease, G.E. Insists. New York Times, B5, Dec. 7, 2000.
Editorial. Plausible Plan for the Hudson. New York Times, A38, Dec. 8, 2000.
Cappiello, D. Like the River, Dredging Opinions Ebb, Flow. Times Union, Albany, A9, Dec. 11, 2000.
Cappiello, D. No Quick Remedy with Dredging. Times Union, Albany, A1, Dec. 13, 2000.
Johnson, K. At Hearing, Hudson Cleanup Suddenly Becomes Personal. New York Times, B5, Dec. 13, 2000.
Cappiello, D. GE Plan Aims at Cutting Off PCBs. Times Union, Albany, Dec. 21, 2000.
Roy, Y. General Electric Contests Dredging of Hudson River. Rockland Journal News: 12B, Dec. 21, 2000.
Cappiello, D. GE Liability Buried in PCB Dumping History. Times Union, Albany, Dec. 24, 2000.
Cappiello, D. PCB Report Refrains From Recommendation. Times Union, Albany, A1, Jan. 4, 2001.
Johnson, K. To Dredge or Not to Dredge? PCB Study is Neutral. New York Times, p. 6, Jan. 5, 2001.
Cappiello, D. Decades Later, PCBs Still Haunt. Times Union, Albany, Jan. 7, 2001.
Johnson, K. Experts Look to Old Mill for Answers to Pollution of Hudson. New York Times, P1, Jan. 16, 2001.
Cappiello, D. Pro-dredgers hold edge downriver. Times Union, Albany, Feb. 1, 2001.
Cappiello, D. EPA Defends Dredging Plan. Times Union, Albany, Feb. 7, 2001.
Cappiello, D. Dredging Foes Pack EPA Hearing. Times Union, Albany, Feb. 8, 2001.
Cappiello, D. PCBs and Perception. Times Union, Albany, Feb. 8, 2001.
LeBrun, F. Up North, A River of Skepticism. Times Union, Albany, Feb. 9, 2001.
Bolton, M. M. Lawmakers Speak Out on Dredging Hudson. Times Union, Albany, Feb. 9, 2001.
McGuire, M. You Can't Force TV to Even Score With GE. Times Union, Albany, Feb. 12, 2001.
Cappiello, D. PCBs Aren't Alone in River. Times Union, Albany, Feb. 15, 2001.
Cappiello, D. PCBs Shelling Hudson's Turtles. Times Union, Albany, Feb. 16, 2001.
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