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 "landfill" ...
-
Trashing Your Tax Dollars
The NBC2 Investigators uncovered wasteful spending in a multi-million dollar federal program mean to re-stabilize neighborhoods hard hit by foreclosures. The program - called NSP (Neighborhood Stabilization Program) - utilized stimulus money approved during the George W. Bush administration to buy foreclosed homes, refurbish them and then sell them to families who would live in them, thus stabilizing a neighborhood. In our area, the program was administered by our county (Lee) and another program was administered by our city (Fort Myers). Our investigation of the county-run program found they were throwing away perfectly good appliances and replacing them with more expensive products. Not only could they have kept those appliances in the home - leaving them more money to refurbish others - but the appliances they did throw away could have gone to people in need in our community. Ultimately, our story forced the county to change policies in the program. They now coordinate with a local non-profit to donate all appliances and equipment once meant for the landfill.
Tags: broadcast; neighborhoods; foreclosed homes; appliances
-
MBI Heavy Trucks
WSMV-TV examined MBI trucking, “the nation's largest garbage hauler,†which hauls ordinary household trash across Tennessee. Their analysis of "a single trucker's daily weigh tickets for a period of more than 3 years" showed that he only "followed the federal weight law just 21 times." As a result of the investigation the company's safety and compliance record has caught the interest of the federal government.
Tags: waste management; trucking; highways; roads; U.S. Attorney; FBI; Congress; federal government; MBI; landfill;
-
Radioactive Dumping
"Tennessee, for nearly 20 years, had been allowing low level radioactive waste to be disposed of in 5 ordinary trash landfills, strategically located throughout the state without public knowledge, with out a public hearing and in violation of NRC regulations."
Tags: radioactive waste; trash dumps; landfills;
-
Money Dump: The Miramar Landfill
After investigations at the Miramar Landfill, San Diego's city dump, KGTV-TV found millions of dollars in waste on contract at a time when the city is on the brink of bankruptcy.
-
What's buried at Hercules?
This investigation of a Hercules Inc. chemical plant showed a history of questionable environmental practices extending back decades, including the burial of drums of chemicals in the company's landfill, an EPA report noting more than 37 acres of contaminated soil, and a host of complaints from residents who feared their health had been compromised from the smoke and chemicals. Company officials say there is no evidence toxic chemicals pose a health threat and any contamination is confined to the plant's site.
Tags: industrial pollution; environment; toxic chemicals; Environmental Protection Agency; EPA
-
OC Helps Fuel the Toxic Waste Pipeline
This article investigates how polluting companies, like National Cement Co, are not careful about eliminating toxic waste. Consequently, people who live near these companies suffer from headaches, nosebleeds and other symptoms. One of the major problems is burning solvents, because they are hard to destroy completely. Representatives from the companies say that burning chemicals and hazardous waste is a safer solution that using landfills -- this article shows that they might be wrong..and suggests reforms that might improve the situation.
Tags: hazardous waste; environment; EPA; environmental protection agency
-
Coronet Investigation
This investigation focused on a possible home development in Plant Springs, FL. WFLA-TV and the Tampa Tribune found out about a development that was to be built on property that had once been a city and county landfill. The area was also near a phosphate plant which had many environmental violations. The investigation prompted a health study of the area, and officials found contamination in many of the water wells. The investigation also prompted officials to test the air quality of the area and to investigate people's physical complaints to see if they were consistent with exposure to contamination.
Tags: FOIA; Coronet Industries; Department of Environmental Protection
-
"Polluters unpunished -- Pennsylvania's environmental protection agency"
These two investigations show that despite knowledge of illegal dumping in various instances as far back as nearly 25 years ago, Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection failed to enforce the cleanup of the pollution, putting people's health at risk.
Tags: environment; pollution; toxic chemicals; hazardous waste; landfill; dump; cleanup
-
A Bee Investigation into the County Landfill and Cheif Executive Officer
After Stanlislaus County Supervisors voted on the landfill expansion issue in the Fall of 2002, the Bee started investigating tips, comments and complaints about the vote. The investigation reveals that the county CEO is listed on several for-profit company boards that were not listed in his statement of economic interests. Furthermore, it was revealed that one of the CEO's fellow board members from one of those companies was also doing business with the county and was a consultant to the landmine issue.
Tags: Reagan Wilson; Fink Road Landfill; Mayor Carmen Sabatino; DTW Energy Corp; Stanislaus Energy Partners; George Stillman
-
Looking for Answers
This article investigates the claims of two ex University of Florida students who claim that they contracted their potentially fatal illnesses from a former UF-run landfill. The reporters unearthed the landfill's history as a dumping site for chemical waste and it's affect on former students' health.
Tags: cancer; cover-up; contamination; pollution; Department of Environmental Protection