Response Center Delaying Reports on Oil, Chemical Spills

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The National Response Center, set up to be the single federal point for emergency reporting of all oil and chemical spills and leaks, is no longer releasing information on these incidents. Instead, journalists and others who seek that information must file Freedom of Information Act requests, significantly delaying that information becoming public. The policy change was reported by the Society of Environmental Journalists, whose members regularly cover chemical leaks, oil spills, and other similar incidents in their communities. (2/14/08)