Environmental Issues

[Old Man Mike]

Legacy, you should give a try to educating IE about the Big Boogyman of Butte Montana, the Anaconda Copper Mine "pond" called The Berkeley Pit. This thing is another one of those "Hey, what's the problem? We're making huge bucks!!!" sort of things which give the lie to the "Market Forces will lead us to paradise" boys. (Market Forces can only "lead us to paradise" if everyone making "market decisions" knows what the he!l they're choosing, and even then the "leftovers" are often most un-paradisical --- death, nonviability, lost employment, abandonment, nature scarring.)

The Anaconda Mine MADE Butte, not just made Butte money. At the time utter uncare about consequences was due to giddy greed plus profound ignorance. Many of the people who made the mine work in these earlier years aren't to be blamed. Our whole country was stone stupid about such things and we were on a countrywide economic high. As the ignorance dissipated, greed carried on relatively unabated. By the time Market Forces kicked in to stop/slow unprofitable hard-rock mining, what you had left was the Berkeley Pit --- 50 billion gallons (and increasing) of Killer Pond Water --- and that description is in no way "hysterical environmentalism", as wayward flocks of geese landing on it (for brief minutes in their soon-to-end lives) could attest if the dead birds could talk through any means other than autopsy.

Local citizens are "deadly" serious about this thing's threat to the Butte groundwater supplies either through aquifer contamination (it's within 100 feet of doing that deed --- just 100 of the over 5000 that it has made up to get there.) They probably lead the nation in the percentage of population buying all their water bottled. Butte is apparently a nice city. People don't want to leave. People even move to Butte often to flee OTHER Superfund sites with contaminated mining water in Montana (ironically). They hope that the EPA will exercise strong action to keep the Pit from filling further and particularly to simply spill right over its banks for a general surface flood disaster --- or some geological event crack it open. If I was listening closely to the current EPA (and few versions of that office have done much to address this), I wouldn't be indulging in much fantasy (particularly with this one.)

 

[Legacy]

We've shared a discussion on TCEs before. Here's info on an Indiana town and where it is nation-wide in the first article.

‘We’ve had kids die’: Test results show dangerous contamination levels in Johnson County town

TCE had been scheduled to be banned by the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Notorious Cancer-Causing Solvent TCE Taints Tap Water for 14 Million Americans

Under Trump, EPA Retreats From Proposed Ban on Key Uses

Tap water supplies for more than 14 million Americans are contaminated with a cancer-causing industrial solvent made notorious by the book and film “A Civil Action,” according to an Environmental Working Group investigation released today.

The chemical is trichloroethylene, or TCE. Under the Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency is retreating from an earlier proposal to ban key uses of the chemical, and it is excluding water, air and soil pollution from a safety assessment under the nation’s overhauled toxic chemicals law.

Drinking TCE-contaminated water has been linked to liver and kidney damage, and to cancers like leukemia. It has also been linked to birth defects, but EPA documents raise concern that the agency will downplay important evidence that TCE exposure causes heart defects in developing fetuses.

 

[Legacy]

Natural Gas - Demands, Climate Impacts

Natural Gas - Demands, Climate Impacts

An infographic but touches all the risks.

Infographic: The Climate Risk of Natural Gas (Union of Concerned Scientists)

The Climate Risks of Natural Gas
Natural gas burns cleaner than coal, so why don’t carbon emissions decline with a natural gas-dominated electricity system?
Compared to coal, natural gas produces approximately half of the carbon emissions per unit of electricity generated. But natural gas is expected to replace not just declining coal power in the future, but also a significant portion of low-carbon nuclear power.

Electricity demand is also projected to rise nearly 30 percent from 2012 to 2050 – increasing from 4,054 to 5,222 Terrawatt-hours. Much of the additional needed electricity is projected to come from natural gas, creating more emissions in the process.

To effectively address climate change, how much do we need to reduce emissions from the electricity sector?

The electric power sector is the largest contributor to U.S. global warming emissions and currently accounts for approximately one-third of the nation's total emissions. To limit some of the worst consequences of climate change, the National Research Council (NRC) recommends an economy-wide carbon budget that would cut U.S. power sector carbon emissions 90 percent from current levels by 2050.

The electricity sector has a range of low- and zero-carbon technologies that could contribute to this carbon budget including energy efficiency, renewable energy, nuclear power, and coal or natural gas plants with carbon capture and storage (CCS). However, UCS analysis shows that scenarios including high levels of CCS and nuclear power for reducing emissions are more expensive than scenarios that rely on energy efficiency and renewables. Learn more.

Are there additional climate risks associated with natural gas?
Yes. Methane – a primary component of natural gas – leaks from drilling sites and pipelines. It is 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat.

An estimated one to nine percent of all natural gas produced escapes into the atmosphere, equivalent to the global warming emissions from 35 – 314 typical-sized coal power plants (600 megawatts). This methane leakage poses additional climate risks and erodes the climate benefits of replacing coal with natural gas. Learn more.

Rick Perry:

"An energy dominant America will export to markets around the world, increasing our global leadership and our influence."

 

[Irish#1]

‘We’ve had kids die’: Test results show dangerous contamination levels in Johnson County town

TCE had been scheduled to be banned by the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Franklin is a suburb on the southside of Indy. It's seen a lot of growth over the last ten years. This will probably stunt that growth until this is resolved.

 

[dshans]

Forgive me if I posted this before, but this is one of my favorite songs, and brings me to tears:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f2keQVXn36M?rel=0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Old Man Mike]

Yes, my friend. Too bad nobody else gives a sh!t as long as they aren't affected by the "on-site" non-reversible destructions. "Who cares? (turn away)."

"Market forces will always find the best solution."

 

[Legacy]

Natural Gas - Development, Technological Changes, Targeting Markets

Natural Gas - Development, Technological Changes, Targeting Markets

While natural gas burns cleaner, the climate change impacts are primarily due to methane, which is thirty-four times more potent in trapping heat than carbon dioxide. (See Infographic)

Accessing Natural Gas Supply, World-wide Demand
The technological change with fracking shale deposits has allowed American oil and gas companies to access more natural gas. The projections are that by 2050 56% of our energy will be from natural gas, as older and inefficient coal-powered plants go off-line and nuclear power plant reach the end of their lifecycle. This has upended world-wide energy markets. The U.S. is almost energy-independent now with only 12.5% of its energy consumption coming from other countries, primarily from Canada. China has been pursuing natural gas investments around the world through its government subsidiaries with loans and/or direct investment in acquiring partial ownership and building natural gas facilities in less developed countries. As these poorer countries cannot afford to pay back their loans, China assumes ownership. After years of negotiations, Chinese companies entered into verbal agreements to invest in LNG facilities in Alaska, Texas and West Virginia. Without resolution of the trade war with China, these can be considered to be ended.

NG Transport, Markets
In order to transport and to ship, natural gas is cooled and liquified at -260 degrees (Liquid Natural Gas or LNG). The increased production of natural gas in America's shale deposits has produced a glut of natural gas, making natural gas a cheap energy alternative. In the U.S., natural gas prices are abour $3($/mmBtu), in Europe about $6 and in Japan about $8. That makes exporting natural gas as viewed by producers attractive seeking top dollar for the gas, and who would loosen export restrictions and look for markets overseas.

Domestic Implications, Germany/EU Imports
Here an alliance utilities, chemical companies, industrial users like Alcoa and Nucor who rely on cheap natural gas have formed an alliance to fight loosening of export restrictions. After Trump's explosion at the G7 meeting on tariffs and his NATO visit calling Germany dependent on Russian gas exports. A subsequent verbal agreement with EU with the Trump administration for the EU to import more NG and to build more LNG terminals for U.S. export has been reached. Russia is building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to Germany which has been in the works for years. Germany is the largest importer and user of NG in the EU (about 25%). EU use is expected to rise 30% by 2020. The alliance of U.S. companies in anticipation of supplying more NG to Europe and Asia is well aware this will pressure their current low NG costs.

NG Pipelines, Terminals
Former EPA head, Scott Pruitt, and Energy Secretary Rick Perry have visited Africa to encourage import of U.S. LNG and Trump administration officials have touted LNG to South Korea, Japan and Eastern Europe. With most if not all, LNG pipeline terminals for export in Texas and Louisiana, pressure has been to build terminals on the East and West coast as well as increasing fracking gas reserves on private and public lands, constructing more LNG pipelines and terminals. At this time, the U.S. exports LNG to Mexico with geographic proximity making such transport easy. It is not unreasonable to assume that NAFTA talks as well as tariffs are pressuring both Mexico and Canada on including LNG imports. Should exports increase dramatically LNG for U.S. companies will become more expensive.

Boom in American Liquefied Natural Gas Is Shaking Up the Energy World (NY Times)

Natural Gas Explained: Delivery and Storage of Natural Gas (U.S. Energy Information)

Europe to Become ‘Massive’ Buyer of U.S. LNG, Trump Says (Bloomberg)

The US still Imports Natural Gas, so Why the Desire to Export it? (Oilprice.com, 2013)

 

[Legacy]

Natural Gas - International Reserves, Financing U.S. developments

Natural Gas - International Reserves, Financing U.S. developments

The world's largest natural gas field is in the Persian Gulf, mostly owned by Iran and some areas by Qatar. The Iranians contracted with France to develop the deep sea fields. Reimposing sanctions against Iran by Trump have negated French involvement. Another major field is in the South China Sea, which China is laying claim to and developing islands for defense and extraction of resources. China is also said to becoming partners in the Persian Gulf NG extraction as they continue to acquire energy resources despite Trump's tariff war. With the U.S. wishing to meet new demands and take more marketshare in Europe and Africa and expand further markets in Asia, natural gas is a commodity that Trump is pushing and perhaps hobbling competitors in Russia, Iran and China above and beyond other economic factors.

Financing
Fracking, building pipelines and terminals for shipping requires large investments into production, storage and shipping of natural gas. Quite a number of natural gas pipelines have been and are being built for extraction of NG from the Marcellus shale fields in Pennsylvania and transport to terminals. The U.S. has a glut of natural gas and expects more from expanding developments.

Trump officials and advisors
Trump Cabinet officials and advisers have been uniquely positioned to guide new policies. It's no secret that a number of Cabinet officials have worked for Goldman-Sachs as well as ex-director of the National Economic Council, Gary Cohn, who has gone back to Goldman-Sachs.
Trump ex-special adviser on regulations, Carl Icahn, has invested heavily in energy sector companies.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross began investing in shipping six years ago, owns or owned a large state in Navigator Holdings with Russian investors and has a financial interest in seventy-five ships for oil and gas at last reported. He continues to say that he will divest himself of those investments. Meanwhile, Ross negotiates treaties with other nations including commodities, negotiates trade with China and advises on infrastructure developments in the U.S.

NG Terminals and Pipeline Financing
Cohn has called for the development of a NG exporting terminal in Coos Bay, Oregon, which has long been opposed by Oregonians and rejected twice by regulators. It would be the major gas exporting terminal on the West Coast. Cohn:

“The first thing we’re going to do is we’re going to permit an LNG export facility in the Northwest. Just think of the transport time from the Northwest to Japan versus anywhere else. Then we’ve got to put facilities on the East Coast to get from the East Coast to Germany.”

“The one place we’re going to permit in the Northwest, it’s been turned down twice already,” Cohn said in comments at the Institute of International Finance, in which he called the opportunity for exporting liquefied natural gas “enormous.”

Cheniere Energy is the major developer of NG terminals. Cheniere's financing is from a conglomeration of national and international banks, including Goldman-Sachs, Bank of America, JP Morgan-Chase among others and may well develop the gas export terminal in Oregon. Cheniere has developed two terminals and plants and has raised financing to develop a third in Texas. Cheniere has signed a long-term deal with China National Petroleum Corporation to export LNG to China. China will soon become the world's largest importer of natural gas. At this time, all NG exports to Asia initiate from Texas.

As financing of one pipeline example, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline obtain financing with a conglomerate of banks including Bank of America, JP Morgan-Chase, Royal Bank of Canada, a Japanese Bank, CoBank, etc. A liquifaction plant and terminal on Chesapeake Bay, Dominion Cove Point, has mainly been for imports but with increasing NG production it has received permitting by FERC to build out for exporting NG. The development of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline is one pipeline that would transport NG to Dominum Cove. The Dominion Cove plant is owned by Dominion Energy, who have their own PAC for political donations (37% to Dems, 63% to Reps).

"Obstacles"
What stands in the way of huge profits by these private investors are Congressional Acts and regulations required by law that protect the public's well-being and safety, established sound energy policy, safe permitting for developments, and protect the environment including clean water. All these can be met through established processes.

Trump's Chinese Gas Deal Raises Ethics Issues for Wilbur Ross . (NBC News)

On Sunday, thanks to a consortium of investigative journalists, the public learned that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross never fully divested himself of ownership in a big global shipping company — one with ties to Russia’s rulers — when he joined President Donald Trump’s Cabinet.

But new reporting by NBC News shows that Ross’ potential conflicts of interest go even further. The shipping company’s own documents suggest that Ross’ company may benefit from an important initiative that he has led as commerce secretary: securing a trade agreement with China to increase U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The Power Behind the Pipelines: Atlantic Coast Pipeline (Public Accountability)

Wall Street banks making huge bet on natural gas (CNBC)

Bank of America Leads Finance for Atlantic Coast Pipeline (Oil Change International)

Pending Natural Gas Pipeline Projects (RBN Energy)

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUSHES JORDAN COVE ENERGY PROJECT (Sightline)

 

[Legacy]

Colorado-New Mexico Border: More Evidence Links Earthquakes To Energy Waste Wells (Colorado Public Radio)

Three earthquakes in this area last night. Biggest was 4.3.

 

[Legacy]

Natural Gas - Appalachia Environmental Wars

Natural Gas - Appalachia Environmental Wars

The last two NG posts as prelude and a framework for understanding the battle over the Atlantic and Mountain Valley Pipelines. Permitting the development of those pipelines through private and public lands has involved landowners and environmentalists as well as those U.S. companies concerned about lifting NG export restrictions against corporate interests and the Trump administration who wants to deregulate as much as possible, facilitate the process by which citizens can express their concerns and effectively bypass procedures established by Congressional Acts.

Northeast region slated for record natural gas pipeline capacity buildout in 2018 (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

Both of the above pipelines carrying fracked natural gas from Pennsylvania fields go through some pristine country in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and will cross rivers and other waterways, with one going through a National Forest for which they need specific impact analyses as well as permitting from FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission). As mentioned with the posts on the Dakota pipeline, the pipeline corporations have been given the right to declare eminent domain on private land for sixty feet on either side of the pipeline. So swaths of trees have been cut down. The pipelines through the Appalachians run along mountain tops and valleys. Pipeline sediment and erosion control guidelines have to be met to minimize or prevent irreparable damage. Many of the areas have been determined to be "High Risk" by the Forest Service for erosion. Risks for these are much higher with these type of pipelines. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline crosses 153 stream and wetlands crossings in W. Virginia alone and work has been halted due to challenges to a streamlined river-crossing permit.

Map of Proposed Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley Pipelines

The Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) has already been cited by an inspection service from the Forest Service for failing to control erosion along its lines and inadequate study of those risks. Work on the MVP was halted after heavy rains washed away soil from the pipeline construction sites sending eight inches of mud onto a nearby highway. A federal district court judge ordered MVP to do a full erosion study and doubted that the permitting by FERC for the pipeline to deliver NG to states would not in the future be extended to export terminals for which they did not have a permit from FERC.

The fight over following guidelines set up by Congress has fallen now to state environmental agencies. West Virginia permitting was granted by waving requirements under the Clean Water Act. However, their state regulators for the Dept of Environmental Protection have cited MVP five times for water quality violations along the pipeline and sent a report to FERC. Virginia's Dept. of Environmental Quality issued a nine page report documenting violations saying the pipeline company’s failure to install and maintain erosion-control devices has fouled 8,800 feet of streams in six locations. A Federal District judges recently revoked permits for the pipeline to cross four major rivers in W.Va and through the Jefferson National Forest. The judges accused permitting agencies of doing inadequate studies, not following their own standards, and not acting as stewards responsible for protecting federal lands. The Appeals Court judges said that Americans

"deserve more than silent acquiescence to a pipeline company’s justification for upending large swaths of national forestlands. Citizens also trust in the Bureau of Land Management to prevent undue degradation to public lands.”

and

“We conclude, for reasons to be more fully explained in a forthcoming opinion, that the limits set by the agency are so indeterminate that they undermine the incidental take statement’s enforcement and monitoring function under the Endangered Species Act. Accordingly, we vacate the Fish and Wildlife Service’s incidental take statement.”

Virginia has joined the battle in court to force the Administration and the pipeline companies to protect their citizens by following federal processes and guidelines. Virginia also recognizes the pipeline terminus there will be extended to an export terminal in their Chesapeake Bay. The Bay which has been recovering from past environmental contamination with an extensive cleanup of waters and soil.

Virginia regulators accuse Mountain Valley Pipeline of erosion violations (Roanoke Times)

Two Pipeline Expansion Projects in Appalachia Indicate a Rush Toward Overbuilding
Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast Pipelines Pose Risk to Ratepayers, Communities, and Investors (Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis)

The cost to taxpayers is that the pipeline construction will be passed along to them in their energy bills via a surcharge. Environment long-term damage from methane and the damages from future spills has been noted already. While jobs are generated to these states during construction, jobs in monitoring the pipelines have minimal impact for state revenue. Yet pipeline developers and operated are allowed a higher profit margin by FERC. Trump administration officials with their investments and associations with certain corporations in banking, finance and shipping as well as political donations from oil and gas will reap windfall profits.

 

[Legacy]

Ruling Threatens States' Right to Regulate Toxic Coal Ash

As the Trump administration plans to weaken environmental rules, a federal court has said that some Obama-era regulations didn't go far enough.

(Governing.com)

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Ruling Threatens States' Right to Regulate Toxic Coal Ash
(Governing.com)

We are in dangerous times. Trump views everything through a near-sighted capitalist lens. He's going to help us continue stripping and polluting this planet at an increased rate. Who knows what the world will look in the years to come.

 

[BobbyMac]

EPA informs Jenkins that a dome on ND Stadium may be needed if they continue to put that level of shitt on the field every Saturday. The EPA reports people from coast to coast are complaining about the stench from yesterday's game.

 

[TDHeysus]

EPA informs Jenkins that a dome on ND Stadium may be needed if they continue to put that level of shitt on the field every Saturday. The EPA reports people from coast to coast are complaining about the stench from yesterday's game.

typically, I think the EPA goes way overboard and over-extends themselves, however in this case I have to agree fully. Someone put a cap on that place before it floods the surrounding neighborhoods

 

[Bluto]

The Most Honest Book About Climate Change Yet - The Atlantic

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/10/william-vollmann-carbon-ideologies/568309/

“...but only if you mistake Carbon Ideologies for a work of activism. Vollmann’s project is nothing so conventional. His “letter to the future” is a suicide note. He does not seek an intervention—only acceptance. If not forgiveness, then at least acceptance.”

This book is apparently one of the most comprehensive and brutally honest in terms of the coming disaster represented by climate change.

 

[Legacy]

Natural Gas Pipelines - Pennsylvania

Natural Gas Pipelines - Pennsylvania

(Source--Pennsylvania Pipelines and Pollution Events ) (Fracktracker)

The Appalachian Basin, specifically the Marcellus and Utica shale formations, is one of the world’s major source of natural gas. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that 41% of American gas output comes from this area. Pennsylvania is criss-crossed with pipelines.

According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), there were 92,407 miles of pipelines carrying natural gas and liquid petroleum products in Pennsylvania in 2017. That distance is equivalent to 151 round trips between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, or more than three trips around the globe at the equator. This figure includes 78,022 miles of distribution lines (which takes gas from public utilities to consumers), 10,168 miles of distribution lines (which move gas between various processing facilities), 3,111 miles of petroleum liquid routes, and 1,105 miles of natural gas gathering lines (which take the gas from wells to midstream processing facilities).

As of the July 13, 2018 download date, the PHMSA report covers 3,116 days.

INCIDENTS PER DAY
This means that nationally per day there are 1.7 pipeline incidents, almost 9 people evacuated, and $1,272,704 in damages, including the loss of released hydrocarbons.

On average, there is a fatality every 25 days, an injury every six days, and an explosion every 11 days. The location of those explosions obviously has a lot to do with the casualty count and aggregate property damage.

Residents fear threat posed by Pennsylvania pipeline (CBS, Jan 22, 2018)

Thousands of people in Pennsylvania are expressing concerns about the safety of a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline being constructed across the state. The $2.5 billion Mariner East 2 pipeline is being built alongside an older, smaller pipeline called Mariner East 1.

It will transport natural gas liquids (liquid forms of ethane, butane and propane) from a shale region in western Pennsylvania across the full width of the state, to a refinery complex at Marcus Hook, near Philadelphia, for export overseas. That's a distance of more than 350 miles.

Once completed, Sunoco has plans to add an additional pipeline. Altogether it's estimated the pipelines could transport up to 675,000 barrels each day.

Massive Gas Pipeline Project to Resume; Sunoco Fined $12M (U.S. News, FEB 8, 2018)

Pennsylvania regulators are fining Sunoco more than $12 million for problems with a massive natural gas pipeline project, but letting work resume under a consent agreement with the company.

Natural gas line explosion leads to evacuations in western Pennsylvania town (CNN, Sept 10, 2018 with video)

Sunoco’s 12-inch pipeline leaked 33,000 gallons of gasoline into creek, PHMSA says (Sept 4, 2018)

Sunoco replaces section of Mariner East 2 because of flaws in pipeline coating

Delaware County township confirms excavation of new line. It's scheduled to be operational in about a month.

Sunoco is lifting some of its newly laid Mariner East 2 pipeline to replace pipe that has been discovered with unspecified flaws in its coating, according to two documents obtained by StateImpact Pennsylvania from Edgmont Township in Delaware County.

The documents from an engineering contractor for the township refer to a “coating flaw” and a “coating issue” as the reasons for the work, which has been going on along Valley Road in Edgmont and Middletown townships for about a week.

 

[MJ12666]

No matter the source, energy can be dangerous to generate and to transport.


PacifiCorp Fined For Wyoming Bird Deaths | Wyoming Public Media

The utility giant PacifiCorp has agreed to a $2.5 million dollar settlement over bird deaths at two of its wind farms in Wyoming.

PacifiCorp pleaded guilty to killing more than 300 birds, including 38 golden eagles. The Department of Justice says the company knew that its turbine siting at the farms outside of Glenrock would result in bird deaths. PacifiCorp spokesman David Eskelsen says the company disputes that characterization, but not the fine.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160929143808.htm

Using DNA from tissue and stable isotopes from the feathers of golden eagle carcasses, researchers from Purdue University and the U.S. Geological Survey found that golden eagles killed at the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area in northern California can come from hundreds of miles away. Golden eagles are a species of conservation concern, so understanding population-level differences and how individuals interact with turbines is key to meeting a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service target of no net loss to their populations.

The APWRA is one of the oldest wind farms in the country and one of the largest in the world originally with around 5,000 turbines. Worldwide, such facilities have been responsible for the deaths of 140,000 to 328,000 birds and 500,000 to 1.6 million bats, raising questions about their effects on population sustainability.

This Mojave Desert solar plant kills 6,000 birds a year. Here's why that won't change any time soon

A macabre fireworks show unfolds each day along I-15 west of Las Vegas, as birds fly into concentrated beams of sunlight and are instantly incinerated, leaving wisps of white smoke against the blue desert sky.

Workers at the Ivanpah Solar Plant have a name for the spectacle: "Streamers."

Federal biologists say about 6,000 birds die from collisions or immolation annually while chasing flying insects around the facility's three 40-story towers, which catch sunlight from five square miles of garage-door-size mirrors to drive the plant's power-producing turbines.

 

[Old Man Mike]

The sad tragedy of bird deaths from wind farms has been known since the 80s/90s, mainly due to two sources of information: a California windfarm dumbly built in a popular raptor flyway, and similar experiences in Europe, especially I believe in Holland.

The major takeaway from this is not to build windfarms in the flyways of endangered or threatened species (if the species is not endangered nor threatened, then, as time goes by, that species will healthily adjust and not be impacted unduly.) We need to remind ourselves that we artificially restrict if not entirely extirpate species from areas all the time, and rarely for reasons as important as providing a sustainable energy base for the civilization.

The Dutch found that several things could be done to mitigate bird deaths. One was to provide an acoustical disincentive to birds flying too near. Another was the spacing between the machines and the speed of the rotors (bigger machines tend to rotate more slowly and still produce the electrical juice.) Bird deaths in these European systems dropped significantly.

There are better places to locate windfarms than California mountain passes. Intelligent location solves almost all of the true ecological problems. Better windmill design has also helped by allowing slower rotation. As an aside, overland transmission towers for "normal grid systems" have also killed many eagles. It happens when the bird lands on the top of the tower and its wide wingspan simultaneously touches the "hot" electrical equipment on both sides. ZAP. Dead.

Objections to anything technological can be dredged up. The way to the future is not to just reject the non-establishment attempts to create a more sustainable and less polluting technological base because one dislikes so-called "green" technologies, but to honestly weigh the plusses and minuses of alternative paths, and use our intelligence (and not just our "dollar bottomline") to massage out the rough areas.

As a longtime environmental prof, I have been continuously depressed at how rapidly and often shallowly many establishment types write off very promising pathways to the future, apparently just because they are somehow "invested" in the Old, no matter how problem-filled that might be.

 

[Bluto]

The sad tragedy of bird deaths from wind farms has been known since the 80s/90s, mainly due to two sources of information: a California windfarm dumbly built in a popular raptor flyway, and similar experiences in Europe, especially I believe in Holland.

The major takeaway from this is not to build windfarms in the flyways of endangered or threatened species (if the species is not endangered nor threatened, then, as time goes by, that species will healthily adjust and not be impacted unduly.) We need to remind ourselves that we artificially restrict if not entirely extirpate species from areas all the time, and rarely for reasons as important as providing a sustainable energy base for the civilization.

The Dutch found that several things could be done to mitigate bird deaths. One was to provide an acoustical disincentive to birds flying too near. Another was the spacing between the machines and the speed of the rotors (bigger machines tend to rotate more slowly and still produce the electrical juice.) Bird deaths in these European systems dropped significantly.

There are better places to locate windfarms than California mountain passes. Intelligent location solves almost all of the true ecological problems. Better windmill design has also helped by allowing slower rotation. As an aside, overland transmission towers for "normal grid systems" have also killed many eagles. It happens when the bird lands on the top of the tower and its wide wingspan simultaneously touches the "hot" electrical equipment on both sides. ZAP. Dead.

Objections to anything technological can be dredged up. The way to the future is not to just reject the non-establishment attempts to create a more sustainable and less polluting technological base because one dislikes so-called "green" technologies, but to honestly weigh the plusses and minuses of alternative paths, and use our intelligence (and not just our "dollar bottomline") to massage out the rough areas.

As a longtime environmental prof, I have been continuously depressed at how rapidly and often shallowly many establishment types write off very promising pathways to the future, apparently just because they are somehow "invested" in the Old, no matter how problem-filled that might be.

Good post. I remember in the 70’s when wind and solar were first emerging. The wind industry provided a huge boost to the economy where I grew up. Anyhow, based on their own rhetoric one would think conservatives would have been all over empowering and incentivizing individuals to become independent producers of their own energy.

 

[ACamp1900]

The wind industry provided a huge boost to the economy where I grew up.

You don't say??

 

[Bluto]

You don't say??

There it is. My older brother worked for Zond. Not sure if it’s the same machines but that’s where he worked. One of my first jobs was riding around on an atv putting stickers on the towers and putting Thompson’s water shield on the utility sheds for a company on the other side of that ridge. Not bad work for a 14 year old. I’ll post about the “cursed” wind farm when I get a chance.

Anyhow, the dreams of many a Los Angeles area football team came to die not far from those turbines during the CIF playoffs back in the 80’s. Lol.

 

[Irish#1]

From the Indy Star.


Residents warned not to use open flames near site of jet fuel spill in Indiana River
Sarah Bowman, Indianapolis Star Published 1:55 p.m. ET Sept. 10, 2018 | Updated 5:48 p.m. ET Sept. 10, 2018

Residents of Decatur in Northeast Indiana are being warned not to smoke or use open flames near the St. Mary's River in the wake of a jet fuel spill.

A safety warning was issued over the weekend for residents in Decatur after a pipeline failure spilled thousands of gallons of jet fuel into the St. Mary's River. However, "minimal impacts" have been observed at this time downstream, according to authorities.

A pipeline operated by Houston-based Buckeye Pipe Line dumped on Friday evening nearly 195 barrels or 8,200 gallons of jet fuel into the river just 20 miles south of Fort Wayne and roughly 100 miles northeast of Indianapolis. The St. Mary's River is a tributary of the Maumee River, which runs through Fort Wayne, the state's second most populous city.

Local officials said the spill — categorized as a medium-sized discharge — should not impact well water, only river water. A light oil sheen was observed about 14 miles downstream from the spill site in Poe, Ind.

It was unclear Monday afternoon how close the nearest intake for municipal drinking water is to the spill location. EPA officials said the agency is not aware of any immediate threat to the drinking water supply.

That said, in an abundance of caution, the city of Decatur has taken its well field out of service pending an assessment. Instead, it is providing drinking water using a different well field in nearby Berne, Ind.

They were born in a small town: Meet 48 famous (or otherwise interesting) Hoosiers.

This Indiana woman once weighed 300: Now she's a champion bodybuilder.

Most of the spilled fuel has either been recovered, dispersed or evaporated, according to the EPA. Officials placed booms in the river at W 900 N in Adams County and also at the Allen County line to contain the spill. The fuel, which floats on the water's surface, is then being vacuumed off the top. The fuel also is being removed through skimmers and sorbents, or substances that absorb the oil.

Soil cleanup may also be necessary near the pipeline following the river cleanup.

EPA said it is monitoring air in the neighborhoods and at businesses near the river. It also will continue to monitor water quality at several locations downstream.

The agency is working with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Adams County Emergency Management, the city of Decatur and the Texas company to manage the response. EPA would not comment on potential enforcement actions.

Buckeye currently is investigating the failure, and it was unclear Monday what may have caused the pipeline — which links Lima, Ohio, and Huntington, Indiana — to leak. The Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration is also on-site conducting an investigation.

The pipeline will remain shut down until it is repaired and deemed safe to resume service. Buckeye is expected to develop a repair plan in the near future, however those plans and the completion of recovery efforts have been delayed by local weather.

The company shut the line down Friday evening immediately after detecting a pressure problem, it said. The cleanup, according to Decatur Mayor Kenneth L. Meyer, could take weeks.

 

[Irish#1]

Good post. I remember in the 70’s when wind and solar were first emerging. The wind industry provided a huge boost to the economy where I grew up. Anyhow, based on their own rhetoric one would think conservatives would have been all over empowering and incentivizing individuals to become independent producers of their own energy.

Not a chance. Too many powerful lobbyist representing and protecting the interest of the coal, gas & oil industry at that time. Remember how it was referred to as ecology instead of the environment?

 

[Bluto]

Not a chance. Too many powerful lobbyist representing and protecting the interest of the coal, gas & oil industry at that time. Remember how it was referred to as ecology instead of the environment?

I think the technical term I heard used was “hippie bullshit”. Haha. I’ll be the first to admit that many progressives on the left are well intentioned, technocratic eggheads who don’t know how to communicate their ideas in a way most people can relate to and or understand. The disinformation coming from the fossil fuel lobby is downright criminal.

 

[Old Man Mike]

While I'll agree with the accusation of many environmentalists not being able to effectively communicate their vision and practical concepts, the main problem lies elsewhere --- in the "simple" observation that we do not live in a functional democracy.

I don't know how many people think that they have a real say in governmental actions, but my experience with local government is pretty clear: the public's opinion rarely is worth sh!t. Typically "money" comes in and presents a plan. Many levels of governance will have procedures which allegedly allow everyday citizens to look at these plans and there are "public meetings" where opinions, worries, and even data is heard. The overseeing board or committee or whoever then allegedly placates public concern with something which seems sort of to address their concerns. The public goes away (which is the governmental goal) somewhat disappointed but maybe thinking that the worst hasn't happened.

If the allegedly agreed upon plan/design does not meet "Money's" ideal program, they will later apply/inform government that some "adjustments" are to be made "but the plan is essentially the same" (which it is not.) Government, now hand-in-pocket with its new partner, agrees to a "go", often without a notification nor second public forum. Building/development/whatever begins apace and the public is once again surprised that the alleged plan has been violated.

By the way, this exact sequence just happened again in my neighborhood one short half-block away, where there is now no longer a park but a large mudhole aimed at being a rain catchment (and mosquito-breeder) and parking spaces. Why should we have parks in neighborhoods when you can have parking? Parks? Parking? What's the difference?

IF we lived in a true responsive democracy, at least at local levels, the public MIGHT just get interested enough "in their own lives" to be informed and vote yea or nay on such things. But we don't ... not even close. In this situation, it makes almost no difference whether we "environmentalists" can "communicate" or not.

 

[Irish#1]

Spot on OMM. These retention ponds were municipalities easy way out of having to put more drainage and sewers in for growing areas. Don't make the unpopular and tough decision to raise taxes for the sewers. Getting reelected is more important. Just have the developer eat the cost of digging a pond or two for each development and problem solved!

 

[Legacy]

The Charleston (WV) Gazette regularly has unsafe drinking water updates on its front page. WV is a state with chemical industries in addition to coal and also pipelines for NG and oil. WV had one massive chemical spill (Elk River) that left 300,000 citizens without potable water and prompting the Governor to declare a state of emergency in addition to coal byproducts from mountain top mining into their streams and rivers. Fracking is booming there with waste water spills contamination. Clean water is a priority especially with permits for pipelines construction crossing over four major rivers and over one hundred and fifty streams. The natural gas pipelines crossing the tops of their unspoiled Appalachians mountains have been cited for inadequate soil and erosion control safeguards. Recent rollback coal regulations is expected to increase death rates per analysis by his EPA.
Trump's rollback of pollution rules to hit coal country hard

 

[Old Man Mike]

My family used to live in St. Albans, WV, a nice little suburb of Charleston (c.13 miles down river.) That area of the Kanawha (as big a river as you can get without anyone even knowing its name) was known as The Chemical Valley --- Dupont, Westvaco, Barium Reduction, and three huge Union Carbide institutions --- it was Carbide's production center.

There was big air pollution there --- like crap-covering-windshields level crap (in South Charleston, not thankfully St.Albans.) Occasionally there would be a paint-on-cars-erosion issue. But West Virginia lived (and died) on the backs of Coal and Chemicals --- as it turned out, a Dance with the Devil.

Now the Global Economy and the Grim Reaper of things like lung disease have taken their tolls, and the State is desperate. West Virginia was the only state in the union which consistently LOST population many years in a row --- occasionally Mississippi or Arkansas would join us in that proud distinction, but we were the constant.

There is little to no "proper" sanely systematized work in West Virginia. Therefore, you can sell them on practically any scheme or any bad promise and it will be bought with a smile. I've often thought that West Virginia should be turned into a beautiful national park and hunting reserve. ... almost not kidding.



... but then the world might not have had Jerry West and Jennifer Garner.
... Lady GaGa we probably could have skipped on.

 

[Legacy]

A Century of Controversy, Accidents in West Virginia’s Chemical Valley in Lead-up to Spill
(NatGeo, January 2014)

Even before last week's chemical spill fouled tap water in nine counties in West Virginia, where more than 200,000 people still cannot use their water after seven long days, it was not unusual to find black water running from kitchen faucets in homes outside Charleston.

Or to see children with chronic skin rashes. Or bathtub enamel eaten away, leaving locals to wonder what the same water was doing to their teeth.

"Welcome to our world," says Vivian Stockman, 52, a longtime resident of rural Roane County, north of Charleston, the state capital, and an activist with the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition.

Indeed, people who live in the Kanawha River Valley, which much of the world learned recently is also known as Chemical Valley, have endured a long history of pollution of many kinds.

The coal-cleansing chemical that spilled from Freedom Industries' storage tank into the Elk River last Thursday is only the latest insult in what for some has been a lifetime of industrial accidents that have poisoned groundwater, spewed toxic gas emissions, and caused fires, explosions, and other disasters that neither state nor federal regulators have been able to protect against...

WVSU sues Dow over water pollution at Institute campus (Charleston Gazette, Apr 2017)

West Virginia State University has sued Dow Chemical and former operators of the Institute chemical plant, alleging that the facility has contaminated the groundwater under the university’s campus.

 

[BGIF]

My family used to live in St. Albans, WV, a nice little suburb of Charleston (c.13 miles down river.) That area of the Kanawha (as big a river as you can get without anyone even knowing its name) was known as The Chemical Valley --- Dupont, Westvaco, Barium Reduction, and three huge Union Carbide institutions --- it was Carbide's production center.

There was big air pollution there --- like crap-covering-windshields level crap (in South Charleston, not thankfully St.Albans.) Occasionally there would be a paint-on-cars-erosion issue. But West Virginia lived (and died) on the backs of Coal and Chemicals --- as it turned out, a Dance with the Devil.

Now the Global Economy and the Grim Reaper of things like lung disease have taken their tolls, and the State is desperate. West Virginia was the only state in the union which consistently LOST population many years in a row --- occasionally Mississippi or Arkansas would join us in that proud distinction, but we were the constant.

There is little to no "proper" sanely systematized work in West Virginia. Therefore, you can sell them on practically any scheme or any bad promise and it will be bought with a smile. I've often thought that West Virginia should be turned into a beautiful national park and hunting reserve. ... almost not kidding.



... but then the world might not have had Jerry West and Jennifer Garner.
... Lady GaGa we probably could have skipped on.

I agree. One of the prettiest states ... if there was no industry. Gorgeous place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. Fifty years ago as a young civil/environmental engineer I was offered a position as a coal mining engineer handling environmental issues. It was apparent "handling" was the operative word. Didn't take it.
The management/labor animosity was palpable. I couldn't conceive of me or my fiancée living in a local community as "one of them". I didn't feel any better about the management side. Loved WV but not to live there.