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 "clean air" ...
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C-HIT: Toxic Laundry Emissions
Industrial laundries in New England have recently come under intense scrutiny by the EPA, ever since the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) found that volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) were being released at a facility in Waterbury, CT. According to Steve Rapp, Chief of the Air Technical Unit, EPA Region 1, the problem is widespread and significant. “The industrial laundries are grossly under-reporting their VOCs,” said Rapp. “It’s a total sleeper.” The problem stems from the process of laundering shop towels, which are often contaminated with toxic solvents. When improperly cleaned, the solvents are vaporized and emitted to the surrounding air. This article investigated this little-known source of air pollution, shedding light on the industry’s practices and its impact on air quality and public health.
Tags: Volatile organic compunds; VOC's; DEEP; air quality; public health
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Poisoned Places: Tonawanda
It's difficult to definitively link any one person's illness to air pollution from a particular plant. But the concerns about the health effects of Tonawanda Coke's toxic pollution rallied a small group of people in Tonawanda -- most of them sick -- to force complacent regulators to clean up the air. The case highlights the risks posed to communities around the country by an environmental regulatory system that largely entrusts companies to voluntarily disclose how much toxic pollution they emit and that can take years to act once violations are discovered.
Tags: air pollution; toxic emission; Tonawanda; Coke; health effects;
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Poisoned Places: Toxic Air, Neglected Communities
This partnered investigation looks into the Clean Air Act and what it has been failing to do: protecting communities from toxic air pollutants for 21 years.
Tags: EPA; Clean Air Act; air pollution
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Air Duct Investigation
Using hidden cameras, Inside Edition exposes a national ripoff where an organized group of individuals use air duct cleaning companies to go from state to state defrauding homeowners.
Tags: homeowners; scam; air ducts
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"Furnasman"
The heating and air conditioning company, Furnasman, routinely fabricated problems in their client's homes in an attempt to sell them unneeded equipment. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. set up hidden cameras in different homes and asked the company to clean and evaluate the furnaces. They found most technicians were not doing their job and were making bogus claims on the state of the furnaces to make a sale.
Tags: Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning; HVAC; air conditioning; furnace; Red River College; Brian Baker; Dave Warriner
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Hear No Evil, Smell No Evil
A comparison between EPA and TCEQ records shows that the company gave a far lower emissions figure to state officials than the smokestack monitor registered. Until reporters started raising questions nearly a year ago, TCEQ officials said they had no idea of the extent of TXU energy company's emissions.
Tags: pollution; sulfur emissions; TXU Energy; Environmental Protection Agency; EPA; Clean Air Act
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Assignment Peru: Poison in La Oroya
American mining company Doe Run bought a metalurgical plant in La Oroya, Peru, promising to clean it up after tests showed 99 percent of children born after the take-over had incredibly high level of lead contamination. Ten years later, the company has asked for extensions on the deadlines.
Tags: lead poisoning; air pollution; Doe Run; Hunter Farrell; SEC filings; La Oroya; Peru;
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Clear and Present Danger: A Special Issue
This special report examines the state of the air in Los Angeles and shows that air pollution is still a major issue, and appears to be worsening in some ways after more than 50 years of cleanup efforts. The investigation covers the latest on health effects of air pollution, weaknesses in existing pollution regulations, and lack of resources devoted to the issue.
Tags: pollution; environment; Clean Air Act; smog; smoke; ozone layer
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EPA regulation of oil refineries
The paper's three-month investigation found clean-air enforcement actions at oil refineries were being scaled back and the country's worst air polluters were continuing to operate without repercussions. And though the Environmental Protection Agency made claims about efforts to make air cleaner, it let oil refineries miss court-ordered deadlines. Meanwhile, residents living nearby suffer the consequences.
Tags: oil; refinery; EPA; Environmental Protection Agency; pollution; air; petroleum; inspection; violation; Petroleum Refinery Initiative; pollutant; health; safety; chemical; environment
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Water Thieves
When Colorado was in the midst of a severe drought, a street sweeping company was stealing water from the local municipalities. The New4 investigation team videotaped these incidences or almost three months and aired an interview with the owner of the company.
Tags: Colorado draught; water problems; Denver municipalities; street cleaning companies; city of Johnstown; Great American Sweepers