tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post9100100332329059044..comments2024-03-17T08:27:53.658-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: Downwind from Standing RockJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-2978717013479436562016-11-01T17:06:50.710-05:002016-11-01T17:06:50.710-05:00While I partially agree with a fine based on gross...While I partially agree with a fine based on gross earnings (say, 50% 0f each year the problem exists) I believe that the only *meaningful* fine is a huge percentage of the companies net worth. Again, something on the order of 50%. That, plus mandatory prison time for the CEO, plus whomever s/he cares to drag down as well. Then we will see action.Larry Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08240932091690925662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-663951122420843762016-10-30T23:05:08.448-05:002016-10-30T23:05:08.448-05:00I have been reading your blog (and following you o...I have been reading your blog (and following you on FB) for some time now (at least a few years) and when I read this originally in September, I hoped that you'd be wrong. For the sake of everyone and everything you point out in your discussion of the DALP, I'd hoped. And here we are, not two months later. Faced with it happening just like you said. I hate when you are right (about things like this). http://countercurrentnews.com/2016/10/massive-north-dakota-oil-leak-proves-native-american-protesters-right-fighting-illegal-dapl-pipeline/# Diane Rnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-50194142345787344252016-10-29T10:42:29.050-05:002016-10-29T10:42:29.050-05:00I am impressed Jim, in earnest I don't think I...I am impressed Jim, in earnest I don't think I've seen anyone wrap their arms all the way around this subject quite the way you have. <br /><br />It's too bad that common sense and the passing notion of forethought are on such dire life support in the world today. <br /><br />We could use a whole lot more of it today. <br /><br />My compliments on such a clear and lucid explanation in getting to the very heart of this issue. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12781147255935215113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-68303384262183248302016-10-28T21:35:40.947-05:002016-10-28T21:35:40.947-05:00There is only one way to fix the problems with the...There is only one way to fix the problems with the oil industry, create less people. Overpopulation is our biggest enemy and their greatest Allie. We must lower our numbers. What they cannot sell, they will not produce. The problem is creating a reliable form of birth control for both sexes. Right now women are the only one's with a reliable form of birth control. Even the Humane Society know's that in order to curb the growth of any species, you must alter the reproductive system of both sexes. Vasalgel is a reliable form of birth control for men, it has no side effects, lasts for 10 years and is completely reversable. It will be on the market around 2020. If you really want to stop the oil companies from killing planet earth, get on birth control. We need to raise our average age of first born births to 30 years old. The US is already at 26 and has been on the rise since the 1930's. Supply and demand is the only way to effectively fix the problem with oil companies. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09506181644423696918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-4377183959444120782016-10-27T23:53:52.058-05:002016-10-27T23:53:52.058-05:00Sumi here. This was beautifully done. I agree with...Sumi here. This was beautifully done. I agree with your overall point, of course--fairly distributed risk is *supposed* to be the backbone of contract law--but I did before I started reading. The remarkable part of this piece is the way you built your case, piecing detail and narrative together into a seamless whole. You took the length and words necessary to make the point impregnable (exactly *un*like the dams, wells, reactors, and pipelines you describe), and you did it unapologetically. <br /><br />Long-form essays are a dying art nowadays; 'The Atlantic' magazine is the only news source I know of that does them as a matter of course, though Rolling Stone (especially Taibbi) and the New Yorker carry them frequently. I know that Stonekettle is your stomping grounds, but please consider submitting to these magazines; your voice is unique and the experiences that shaped your thinking are vastly underrepresented in the 'news'. <br /><br />In any case, thank you for another solidly crafted piece of sociopolitical thinking.Scientiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09254279030002819459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-54667731822299146222016-10-27T23:38:56.850-05:002016-10-27T23:38:56.850-05:00I don't understand why we don't build cont...I don't understand why we don't build containment chambers for hazardous chemical waste. Earth won't stop seepage. Treat the stuff as if it was nuclear material. It's that hazardous. And for Gawd sakes don't let Halliburton get their hands on anything!The Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08963983970715046998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-71224109707876403642016-10-27T22:48:50.509-05:002016-10-27T22:48:50.509-05:00First - wow that is some researching job you did t...First - wow that is some researching job you did there. Bravo. <br />Second - Shared risk is concept the very wealthy work very hard & pay very much to avoid. It's one of their top reasons to buy politicians. Ask the people of Flint. Water sources changed to for both to move the risk & increase the profit. And over a year later the ones downstream, as it were, still bear the risk alone. <br />I'll share your article, but my hope for change in the near future is almost nil. I do see some hope in our youth. I think if the Bernie groundswell showed us nothing else, he showed us the next generation is pissed. I dream of seeing them doing a better job than our generation did.Lynn K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04951391992662598193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-30615574816964497322016-10-16T20:05:40.579-05:002016-10-16T20:05:40.579-05:00I keep thinking "this is definitely the best ...I keep thinking "this is definitely the best one" when I read your posts/articles. Then I read another one, think the same thing. Ha ha. <br />On a serious note, this one on Standing Rock is to me so significant; it addresses a huge underlying problem we are dealing with on this planet and presents an excellent solution. <br />Also, am wondering if you have already, or plan to, compile your works into a hard copy. It would be great to have it (a book of your writings)for so many reasons. I would imagine others, homeschoolers for instance, would be interested as well.iameuruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12783060265911598577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-14759928937385107742016-10-16T09:54:47.743-05:002016-10-16T09:54:47.743-05:00Thought of you while reading this, Jim. Hope your...Thought of you while reading this, Jim. Hope your life is running true to your hopes. <br />http://ecodevoevo.blogspot.com/2016/10/nor-tolerate-those-who-do.htmlPaul Christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06113001657882414961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-22352179668869885632016-09-12T07:32:20.476-05:002016-09-12T07:32:20.476-05:00Your proposed solutions here sound very much like ...Your proposed solutions here sound very much like the Coase Theorem (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coase_theorem). In the case of a negative externality (dead supersheep) both sides need to negotiate a settlement to share the risk of that externality. It's very popular among libertarians who like to then argue that government regulation or intervention is not necessary, but a feature is that it has to be relatively EASY for both sides to negotiate. The US could just negotiate directly with the Icelandic government about the sheep. The mining company cannot easily negotiate with every single resident living 'downstream' from their storage pond/lake/whatever, hence the need for a government entity to act in that capacity and either work out a solution or impose one taking into account the interests of the downwinders.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16382497642071881420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-87550292386961126992016-09-11T23:20:20.827-05:002016-09-11T23:20:20.827-05:00Here in North Central Florida we are fighting the ...Here in North Central Florida we are fighting the Same trail pipeline, a propane pipeline that we Floridians will get NO benefit from but which threatens the Suwannee river and the karst geology that makes up all of Florida. The pipeline will be made of thinner steel, to save money, than it would be constructed with in a more heavily populated area. And the line would punch through sinkhole infested ground and beneath the iconic and beloved Suwannee river. The threat to the river is huge. But the powers that be are pushing it forward against the local resident's concerns. Your ideas of setting aside funds for future disasters is sound, and you know as well as I do that in the mindset of a certain persuasion of politicians it will NEVER fly, sadly.whitelillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-69798480561176435622016-09-11T15:08:01.019-05:002016-09-11T15:08:01.019-05:00I've seen some people commenting on this post ...I've seen some people commenting on this post and figured I'd share why this is such an issue. Some people seem to think that pipelines are safer, more secure, and less accident prone. Here's a list of all pipeline accidents only going back to 2000 (the last 16 years). There's a lot more than you'd think, and they've killed even more.<br /><br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pipeline_accidents_in_the_United_States_in_the_21st_centuryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-52472874904242718192016-09-11T13:14:09.444-05:002016-09-11T13:14:09.444-05:00Hazelwood never had his masters' license revok...Hazelwood never had his masters' license revoked and it remains valid to this date, but he has been unable to find long-term work as a captain after the spill. <br />https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Hazelwood#Post-Exxon_ValdezAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-1722337192959556382016-09-10T13:31:08.318-05:002016-09-10T13:31:08.318-05:00Thanks Jim for an excellent piece. The history was...Thanks Jim for an excellent piece. The history was great. I remember most of them <br />Shared risk is exactly what should happen, but unfortunately probably won't. <br />Wallstreet is a funny thing, people make fortunes with not real connection to the product or service that makes them the money! ibeckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274556806090512773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-81523154032401598792016-09-10T06:26:30.416-05:002016-09-10T06:26:30.416-05:00Bryan, I appreciate that you are willing to think ...Bryan, I appreciate that you are willing to think about this. Please realize, you may not be told if you face the risk rolling downstream. My father served Camp Lejeune; its wells were contaminate with benzene and other chemicals. I have cancer, autoimmune disorders, stomach paralysis, and permanent spinal damage. My child was born prematurely, and seriously disabled. I'm 46. I'm one of the lucky ones. It could happen to you in the city. One is not always informed that the risk has rolled downstream.melsmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11486443655027565969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-33728994181016329122016-09-09T21:36:22.686-05:002016-09-09T21:36:22.686-05:00The idea of capitalizing damages is an interesting...The idea of capitalizing damages is an interesting one. But the question is not merely of what the worst thing is that might happen, but of the severity weighted by the likelihood of occurrence. Now, if I were an insurer, I would give more favourable rates to projects where more was done to forestall the worst outcomes.<br /><br />The other question, of course, is that of weighing alternatives. So long as production in the Bakken continues, the oil will go, either by pipeline or by rail. We already know what shipping oil by rail looks like, & the results aren't pretty. It is, therefore, necessary to inquire just what the balance of likely damages is.<br /><br />Now, mine tailings pools are especially interesting. They are toxic because, typically, of reactive chemical species, incorporating valuable substances in concentrations too low for economic recovery. To say that they have to be held back "forever" is a bit of an exaggeration, simply because reactive species tend to be neutralized eventually ; but more interestingly, wherever there is such a set of techno-economic circumstances, the balance can be shifted. As a case in point, in the late 1970s, JPL developed an effectively perfect water filter (in the course of work on re-entry heat shields), which was used by the city of Newport Beach, California, for a few years. This type of filter, it seems reasonable to think, could be used to concentrate the (for instance) copper in tailing ponds, to a degree which would then be extractable. Already promising work has been done on electrochemical neutralization in the American Far West.publiushttp://www.lunarcc.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-12133069465733957072016-09-09T20:14:36.306-05:002016-09-09T20:14:36.306-05:00Even when we as white people learn that water, lan...Even when we as white people learn that water, land and sky are Spirits, it too hard for us to stay grounded, when we are so busy living apart from the land. I know that the last several days, as I'm stuck in my bed room and off my feet except to used the bathroom, I've become too focus on my physical pain to remember to ground myself. Up here it's hard to focus and reach down to the soil under me to connect to the Mother Earth and pray. Thankfully I know my friends will send a biodegradable and sea life safe, offering out to sea tomorrow for me, since I can't come to the service.Elne Clarehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03489441283176395249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-68532510665205039122016-09-09T14:49:18.822-05:002016-09-09T14:49:18.822-05:00The fact that injecting water/wastewater into mode...The fact that injecting water/wastewater into moderately deep wells (injection wells)is a direct cause of eartquakes has been known for quite a while. When I lived in the Denver area back in the early seventies, it was well (sorry) demonstrated by the waste disposal wells in the Rocky Mountain arsenal. Wastewater injections were ALWAYS followed by seismic activity, sometimes sooner, sometimes later, depending on which well was in use. Ant seismologist/geophysicist with a reasonably good education should know this. And every oil company I know has reasonably well-educated seismologists/geophysicists on staff, or at least on contract. There is no excuse, barring greed and/or sociopathology, for this.<br />Sisyphushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12997190543226527492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-10117445408563089862016-09-09T09:42:43.795-05:002016-09-09T09:42:43.795-05:00There are automatic safety valve systems available...There are automatic safety valve systems available when a leak occurs and the pressure drops in the line the valves close automatically. But it is for catastrophic leaks not the little drip or small leaks that happen usually first before the big one. If no one is watching it still can go really bad very quickly. There is no way to say 100% that a pipe will never leak, it will leak, I am 100% sure of that. <br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13977937863313976582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-66330131351102520132016-09-09T09:14:30.428-05:002016-09-09T09:14:30.428-05:00This is my first comment on this site,after readin...This is my first comment on this site,after reading this I had to respond. For 40 years I worked at a chemical plant in western PA that has benzene (10000 gallon tank), formaldehyde, oleum acid, ether (enough to put the entire county to sleep) and about 600 other various chemicals which all have MSDS (material safety data sheets). The plant I worked at takes every precaution that is technologically possible at the time to keep workers and the community safe. BUT and this is a big but shit happens. Example: Benzene is piped throughout the facility through the highest grade piping that you can buy, its never supposed to leak but it has and does after years of this liquid running thru turns in the piping it wears out. The lines are heat traced with electrical heat tape held on by metal straps and masking tape. We found out after many years that the acid in the adhesive of the type of tape we were using was reacting with the stainless steel causing it to corrode. I could go on all day about trying to contain hazardous chemicals but i will stop with this one example. I don't care what precautions you take you are going to have a leak over time period. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13977937863313976582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-35106606637450629942016-09-09T06:00:22.479-05:002016-09-09T06:00:22.479-05:00Sheep! Ha! When I was in the army and on a huge ...Sheep! Ha! When I was in the army and on a huge field exercise in Germany a tank in an adjoining unit damaged an apple tree which caused a huge stink right up to Brigade. The Germans calculated the cost to replace the tree, counted the apples in the tree, estimated the seeds from each apple - for a decade - to come up with the number of new trees that could come from them, the revenue, etc., etc. One tree. $10,000? Easy. EASY!<br /><br />Another unit scraped the hell out of some tree deep in the German forest. The company commander was so pissed he had the crew break out axes and shovels and work all night to cut the tree down to below ground level, cut what was left of the tree in TINY pieces to be spread and concealed all around the forest, the hole filled in and covered with leaves. And wouldn't ya' know it, about a month later - the German Forest Meister noticed. "Hey! Used to be a tree right here!" He had a map of all the trees. He found the hole, filed a report that made it to the Army and came right back at that company commander. All that work and they still got caught. And another $10K changed hands.<br /><br />A.J.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-40144138689357864072016-09-09T05:46:42.765-05:002016-09-09T05:46:42.765-05:00Thanks for a wonderful read and taking the time to...Thanks for a wonderful read and taking the time to write it. That was not easy, I am sure. Great work!Buzz MaGoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07640337077184243421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-23819843432986328982016-09-09T03:22:24.927-05:002016-09-09T03:22:24.927-05:00I'm on your side, Jim, but 100 billion in escr...I'm on your side, Jim, but 100 billion in escrow? That gets released if there's an accident? Biggest incentive to have an accident that ever could exist. Because the way the world works that 100 billion would never end up where it was supposed to go without vultures skimming off at least 50%. So you'd basically be waving rotting meat under the noses of the most rapacious vultures imaginable. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-69559018474596750092016-09-09T02:13:23.934-05:002016-09-09T02:13:23.934-05:00Good thoughts! Thx for sharing! LoganGood thoughts! Thx for sharing! LoganAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-34197729784504512322016-09-08T22:09:17.547-05:002016-09-08T22:09:17.547-05:00The deeper we look the closer we get to the stones...The deeper we look the closer we get to the stones and the bones. Thanks for the update on Valdez.<br /><br />Cane Rattler Al Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17882016843822798624noreply@blogger.com