The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "Department of Natural Resources" ...
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Sand mining surges in Wisconsin
Exploring how mining firms in the state of Wisconsin inject sand under the Earth's surface to release oil and natural gas, and the health implications of the residual dust that is released in the air as the sand comes up.
Tags: wisconsin; sand; hydrofracturing; natural gas; oil; health; concerns; implication; Department of Natural Resources
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Danger Creek
Reporters for KGAN-TV discovered that the water downstream from the Linn County Airport was heavily polluted with toxic chemicals. The water produced a putrid stench that had the people of Cedar Rapids complaining for years. Acting on a tip, KGAN-TV tested the water and delivered the shocking results to the airport and the Department of Natural Resources.
Tags: DNR; Linn County Airport; pollution
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Renegade Riders
Despite new state laws, extra enforcement and self-policing, off-road vehicles are tearing up public lands across the state. As the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources designated nearly 8,000 miles of motorized trails, top officials repeatedly ignored staff experts' recommendations on how to keep riders away from sensitive areas such as wetlands. A companion video reports on startribune.com used a hidden camera to capture illegal off-trail damage as it happened.
Tags: state parks; environmental destruction; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; public safety; conservation; park trails
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Bucks Unlimited
This investigation uncovers unfair funding for the Missouri Department of Conservation. Decades ago, the Department fought for a tax to care for the state's wildlife areas; now, the agency's goals have been met but the tax keeps bringing in millions of dollars. In a time where other state agencies are dealing severe cutbacks, the Conservation Department spends frivolously on hotel rooms, conferences, concerts and even motivational training for the employees. The situation is worsened by the fact that the Conservation Department does not report directly to the state legislature. Furthermore, the department auditor, who should be keeping spending in line, went into business with several department employees.
Tags: conservation; environment; natural resources; hunting; forestry; advertising; tax
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A .10 Isn't Enough
This story deals with alcohol breath analysis. The 1990 conviction rate for drivers who registered .10 or more and were prosecuted for DWI is 85.4 percent. That figure is the lowest since the Safe Roads Act overhauled drunken driving laws eight years before. The courts' treatment of DWI cases is not as consistent as the legislature hopes when it passed the Safe Roads Act. Conviction rates are also inconsistent, varying among North Carolina counties.
Tags: Safe Roads Act; DWI; DUI; Division of Motor Vehicles; Breathalyzer; Intoxilyzer; state DWI conviction rate; Department of Environment; Health and Natural Resources; alcohol concentration; Highway Patrol
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Poisoning of a Town
The town of Herculaneum, Missouri was built around the Doe Run plant, now the nation's largest lead smelter. Though officials say they have taken measures to limit pollution and contamination from the plant, the area still shows much higher levels of lead than normal. It affect the soil, the air, and especially the several children who live near the plant and now have too-high levels of lead inside of them. The article examines not only the legal issues, but also the conflicting feelings town residents have about their ties to the plant versus their safety.
Tags: lead poisoning; environment; health; pollution; contamination; Department of Natural Resources
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Left Behind; Time Bomb
In the 1920's through the 1950's two companies had been dumping asbestos waste illegally in a creek along the Mississippi river. Though both these companies are closed now, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has done little to clean up the area. Today this is one of the populated suburbs of St. Louis and community leaders suspect that a higher number of cancer cases are being reported from this area.
Tags: pollution; asbestos waste; Missouri Department of Natural Resource; US Environmental Protection Agency; Maline Creek; CertainTeed Plant; GAF Corporation Plant; Bellefontaine
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Keeping dirt in its place
Madison reports on ongoing mudding of Lake Mendota in Madison county. The story reveals that at least 44,000 tons of dirt are sloughed into the lake every year, mostly by workers on nearby residential construction sites. The displacement of soil leads to erosion, clouds the water and fills the bays with silt and clay, the magazine reports. Authorities attempt to address the issue with tougher codes and ordinances.
Tags: erosion; construction; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; conservation; developers; contractors; stormwater; housing market
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The Last Indian Fighter; Slade Gorton is American Indians' Public Enemy No. 1
Former Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA), who supported natural resource industries such as timber and mining companies, was frequently at odds with the Native American community. This article is a good first step to learning more about Gorton's positions and issues facing Native Americans.
Tags: Department of the Interior; National Congress of American Indians; Boldt decision; fishing rights; salmon; Non-indian negotiating group; Endangered Species Act; ESA; timber; oil; gas; mining; campaign contributions; lobbying; Citizen's Equal Rights Alliance; CERA; Wise Use; Lummi tribe; casinos; treaties
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Fragile
Florida Trend Magazine reports on the $8 billion restoration deal for the Everglades-" how it will work and how it could fall apart. . . Nearly 2 billion gallons of water that once flowed through the ecosystem each day are now diverted to the ocean or Gulf. The plan proposes to capture most of this water in more than 217,000 acres of reservoirs and wetlands-based treatment areas and 330 underground aquifer storage and recovery wells." The article details the politics, science, bureaucrats, interest groups, natural issues and the interested parties involved in the plan and how their actions could result in its success or failure
Tags: environment; Everglades; Everglades National Park; restoration; Water Resources Development Acts; U.S. Department of Interior; South Florida Management District; Everglades Forever Act