Environmental Issues

[Rockin’Irish]

From what I've read, the rail lobbyists were able to get the original rule softened while Obama was still in office, Trump got rid of it all together, and the Biden administration has made no efforts to attempt to reinstate anything. I did find that there was a House sub-committee did have someone testify back in June 2022 with a strong recommendation for electronically controlled braking system benefits. There have been no proposed regulations and it doesn't appear to have been on anyone's radar up to this point. I'm guessing that might change.

Hopefully it is true that this safety equipment requirement will be reinstated to help reduce the human error element.

 

[GATTACA!]

Not great Bob.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Not great Bob.

Looks like a doctored hurricane pic to me 😊

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Not great Bob.

Totally fine.

 

[jprue24]

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Oh?

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Oh?

It will be interesting to see if the rail cars were placarded correctly……we know of some of the chemicals being transported but haven’t seen anything about concentrations, etc. I would be very surprised if the rail cars were placarded incorrectly but it is certainly a possibility. I’m not sure what the term “high-hazardous” material means? That’s not a chemical rating classification 😊

 

[jprue24]

Forgot the placard? Sounds like somebody owes somebody else a case of beer.

 

[ulukinatme]

SIAP. Glad to see these rail companies maintaining their track. This looks so bad I'm skeptical it's even real.

 

[Bishop2b5]

That's flippin' ridiculous. It shouldn't even be legal to run a train on that. It's an accident just begging to happen.

 

[irishff1014]

Call it what you want but conspiracy theories are starting in the railroad industry.

In the matter of 3 weeks we have had 3 major train derailments. One in Ohio, Arizona and now Michigan. Along with all of the largest commercial farms burn up in the last year. That just doesn’t happen.

 

[Irish#1]

SIAP. Glad to see these rail companies maintaining their track. This looks so bad I'm skeptical it's even real.

I'm with you on the skepticism. The video conveniently stops before the train hits what looks to be the worst part of the tracks. If it is real, how does that track get in that condition? They have track inspections all the time and you have to think Casey Jones or one of his peers would report that the first time they had to go over it.

 

[ozzman]

SIAP. Glad to see these rail companies maintaining their track. This looks so bad I'm skeptical it's even real.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Check this shit out

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Check this shit out

Although I can’t read all the language because of either my bad eyes or the picture quality but this type of contract would most likely only be for the homeowner allowing the testing personnel onto to their personal property. Pretty standard procedure. For example, if I was stepping on your property to test your well…..I’m not liable if I drop a pencil into the well and it jams up your pump. IMO, RRs have some of the most one-sided and onerous contracts in business but there are plenty of other industries that are equally as tough (such as companies operating in the oilfield).

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Although I can’t read all the language because of either my bad eyes or the picture quality but this type of contract would most likely only be for the homeowner allowing the testing personnel onto to their personal property. Pretty standard procedure. For example, if I was stepping on your property to test your well…..I’m not liable if I drop a pencil into the well and it jams up your pump. IMO, RRs have some of the most one-sided and onerous contracts in business but there are plenty of other industries that are equally as tough (such as companies operating in the oilfield).

The contract has a clause that says ( by signing) the homeowner will not be able to make any claims of damage to property or health against NS when they sign it. Problem is the NS are presenting this as ONLY permission to legally enter the property to test. If the homeowners sign this they can’t go after NS for the spill. It’s not damage they cause while in the house testing….it’s written to cover the spill.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

The contract has a clause that says ( by signing) the homeowner will not be able to make any claims of damage to property or health against NS when they sign it. Problem is the NS are presenting this as ONLY permission to legally enter the property to test. If the homeowners sign this they can’t go after NS for the spill. It’s not damage they cause while in the house testing….it’s written to cover the spill.

I‘d have to read the whole contract but I find that unlikely. Don’t get me wrong, people are conned every day but with all the eyes now on this situation, NS wouldn’t be able to sign away their liability by misrepresenting a document to be signed by individual homeowners.

 

[GATTACA!]

The contract has a clause that says ( by signing) the homeowner will not be able to make any claims of damage to property or health against NS when they sign it. Problem is the NS are presenting this as ONLY permission to legally enter the property to test. If the homeowners sign this they can’t go after NS for the spill. It’s not damage they cause while in the house testing….it’s written to cover the spill.

I have no legal knowledge, but I feel like there's no way something like that could hold up in court right???

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

I have no legal knowledge, but I feel like there's no way something like that could hold up in court right???

Honestly it depends on the judge but I’d say yea for the most part any sane reasonable judge would agree that can’t be used to hold to release the company from all wrong doing which is the concern of the homeowners who are having to sign to get their homes tested .

 

[Irish#1]

I have no legal knowledge, but I feel like there's no way something like that could hold up in court right???

Right. That's almost like blackmail.

 

[drayer54]

From what I've read, the rail lobbyists were able to get the original rule softened while Obama was still in office, Trump got rid of it all together, and the Biden administration has made no efforts to attempt to reinstate anything. I did find that there was a House sub-committee did have someone testify back in June 2022 with a strong recommendation for electronically controlled braking system benefits. There have been no proposed regulations and it doesn't appear to have been on anyone's radar up to this point. I'm guessing that might change.

Does it have anything to do with this derailment or is this just to do something

 

[irishff1014]

You all call it wha you want but now another train derailment in North Carolina. They are diverting the attention for something. 6 major train derailments in less than what 6 weeks. Yea ok……

 

[drayer54]

You all call it wha you want but now another train derailment in North Carolina. They are diverting the attention for something. 6 major train derailments in less than what 6 weeks. Yea ok……

Good thing we built all them pipelines and don’t rely heavily on rail.

 

[Armyirish47]

You all call it wha you want but now another train derailment in North Carolina. They are diverting the attention for something. 6 major train derailments in less than what 6 weeks. Yea ok……

How many are typical?

 

[PerthDomer]

How many are typical?

I think there are 1000 or so derailments a year. Most occur away from people, and the trend is declining derailment over time.

Any tome you build a mine, road, rIl, etc. There is going to be a risk. Given enough time something bad will happen. You have to balance cost vs benefit of safety standards, but you'll never get the number to 0.

Ask PolitiFact: Do train derailments happen frequently?

All eyes are on America’s railways following the calamitous derailment of a freight train in East Palestine, Ohio. On Fe

www.politifact.com

 

[jprue24]

It's the water use by agriculture.

Will Utah's Great Salt Lake disappear?

Owing to climate change, drought, and over-use of water resources, the lake is now one-third the size it was in the 1980s. A new report warns that, unless aggressive action is needed, the lake could vanish in just five years.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Rockin’Irish]

It's the water use by agriculture.

Will Utah's Great Salt Lake disappear?

Owing to climate change, drought, and over-use of water resources, the lake is now one-third the size it was in the 1980s. A new report warns that, unless aggressive action is needed, the lake could vanish in just five years.

www.cbsnews.com

This should have been addressed many years ago…..switching to huge mono cultural farms in dry climates was not a good move on many levels. Much of our fruit and vegetable production is in areas where water is scarce. Throw in large populations of people (like in AZ and CA) and it’s never been sustainable. I haven’t seen the data but I’d guess the snowpack has also decreased in many of the areas which is compounding the issues.

 

[jprue24]

This should have been addressed many years ago…..switching to huge mono cultural farms in dry climates was not a good move on many levels. Much of our fruit and vegetable production is in areas where water is scarce. Throw in large populations of people (like in AZ and CA) and it’s never been sustainable. I haven’t seen the data but I’d guess the snowpack has also decreased in many of the areas which is compounding the issues.

Growing alfalfa and hay in a high desert climate is getting a large share of the the blame. I guess those crops need lots of water at the expense of the drainage meant for the lake. Combine that with the majority of hay/alfalfa getting shipped sold overseas and more than a few people are calling for the state to buy out those farmers.

This winter has been fantastic for snowpack, best in over a decade, but the lake is still a foot lower than it was last year.

Utah is having its best winter in nearly 20 years

In certain watersheds, it’s breaking records.

www.sltrib.com

 

[drayer54]

Isn't that like the shittiest lake in the country? Flies and... salt.

 

[Irish#1]

It's the water use by agriculture.

Will Utah's Great Salt Lake disappear?

Owing to climate change, drought, and over-use of water resources, the lake is now one-third the size it was in the 1980s. A new report warns that, unless aggressive action is needed, the lake could vanish in just five years.

www.cbsnews.com

This article offers a different opinion.

Don’t blame farms for drying up the Great Salt Lake. Why they could be key to its survival.

Farms offer flexibility for leasing water to the imperiled Great Salt Lake.

www.sltrib.com

The big winter blast that dumped snow all over the west including SoCal should help water tables. It's not a permanent fix, but should bring some much needed relief.