The Effects of the Fracking Boom in North Dakota
Posted by Michelle Moquin on April 22nd, 2014
Good morning!
Living in North Dakota? You need to read this.
North Dakota Finds Itself Unprepared To Handle The Radioactive Burden Of Its Fracking Boom
Bags full of radioactive waste in an abandoned North Dakota building.
North Dakota recently discovered piles of garbage bags containing radioactive waste dumped by oil drillers in abandoned buildings. Now, the state is trying to catch up to an oil industry that produces an estimated 27 tons of radioactive debris from wells daily.
Existing fines have apparently not been enough to deter contractors from dumping oil socks — coiled filters that strain wastewater and accumulate low levels of radiation.
“Before the Bakken oil boom we didn’t have any of these materials being generated,” the state’s Director of Waste Management Scott Radig told the Wall Street Journal. “So it wasn’t really an issue.”
The state is in the process of drafting rules, out in June, that require oil companies to properly store the waste in leak-proof containers. Eventually, they must move these oil socks to certified dumps. However, North Dakota has no facilities to process this level of radioactive waste. According to the Wall Street Journal, the closest facilities are hundreds of miles away in states like Idaho, Colorado, Utah, and Montana.
Even though it is illegal, contractors have taken the occasional shortcut to dump the oil socks in buildings, on the side of the road, or at landfills. And the rate of dumping incidents has been on the rise as drilling activity has increased in the Bakken shale region, according to one North Dakota Department of Health study. Dump operators now even routinely screen garbage for radiation.
If things don’t improve, oil drillers may risk turning parts of the state into EPA Superfund sites, which would mean a long and expensive clean-up.
North Dakota’s oil activity has delivered a string of bad news for the area that disrupts the rosy portrayal of the state’s economic growth. The oil boom has brought along with it more frequent oil and wastewater spills, skyrocketing rent and homelessness, as well as drug addiction and STDs.
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Readers: One way to get these North DaKota oil producers to clean up their act and not pollute their state, is if they are heavily fined for dumping oil socks in undesignated areas, so that they don’t do it again. Any other ideas you can think of? Blog me.
Venus: I apologize, if you did not think my response was satisfactory. I agree with you, voting men out of office will not stop a raping man from raping, and it isn’t enough. But at least it would keep them from being able to have the power of the office to take advantage of women in the worst of ways. Who knows what men like this will do once they are in office – obviously this scumbag was able to order his aids to do his dirty work.
As Ellen mentioned, “…it will certainly send a message that anyone in that position can’t hold that position with that attitude.” Let’s certainly HOPE she’s correct, because with men like Zhirinovsky in office what’s the next step? Legitimize and legalize rape? Then every woman would be shit out of luck. And you know men will go as far as they can if people allow them the grounds to do it. Look at your anti- LGBT laws in Russia. Wishing you the best, Venus.
Lucy: Thank you! I’ll read it at my next opportunity.
Peace out.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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April 22nd, 2014 at 11:21 am
Hi all.
I wanted to revisit Michelle’s post from last Saturday 4/19 – you know, the post on the crap that spewed from Phyllis Schlafly’s mouth? Did anyone else catch this “open letter” to Schlafly’s garbage by 12 year old Madison Kimrey (forgive me if someone posted and I missed it). It’s definitely worth a read if haven’t seen it already. If Madison’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she was in the news already for calling out her state senator over voter rights. She founded NC Youth Rocks after the North Carolina legislature passed voting restriction laws targeting young people, women, minorities, and the poor.
http://samuel-warde.com/2014/04/open-letter-phyllis-schlafly-12-year-old-madison-kimrey-guest-post/
This girl has a promising future!
/SB
April 22nd, 2014 at 11:38 am
Michelle, these greedy bastards have even conspired to allow Fracking under private property without owner permission.
April 22nd, 2014 at 12:38 pm
Michelle your environmentalists are fools.
Their goal is to get America off oil & gas and “keep fossil fuels in the ground,” not merely regulate or ban hydraulic fracturing.
Their pipe dream of powering American affluence with sunbeams, breezes, salt domes, and giant flywheels gave a Wizard of Oz feel to our Earth Day Eve event.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:01 pm
EcoWatch is “appalled” that fracking has reduced CO2 emissions, probably because the truth hurts.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:03 pm
Steve#4, Are you crazy? Why is it good news that CO2 emissions are down? CO2 is vital to all life on the planet, since plants require CO2 to manufacture (or convert to) oxygen.
Have you been sucked into the vortex of the religion of environ-mental-ism? CO2 is probably down because the earth is (independent of any human action or activity) going through a cooling cycle, or whatever else….
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:18 pm
The oil and gas industry has cooked up an insidious plan to expand fracking operations all across the U.S. and increase the production of fracked natural gas.
They are building out a web of infrastructure that will allow them to drill for, transport and ultimately export large amounts of fracked gas — but they need Congress on their side in order to do it.
It’s no surprise that oil and gas companies have donated millions of dollars to political campaigns. But instead of accepting this, it is crucial that we fight back against it.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:31 pm
I’ll wager Michelle, does not live in a dark cave, cold and hungry. That’s where she’d be without the over 6000 products/services oil alone is involved with.
Her DNA, betcha’ comes from the same crowd rhat ran around screaming, “The earths crust will collapse when oil drilling started”.
Michelle’s friends obviously have no problem denying others jobs, or helping this country reduce dependancy on foreign oil.
They can’t or they’d make no money off preaching their drivel. Of course, if you do find she does live in a dark cave, cold and hungry. Then I’ll have to credit her for believing herself and being totally nutz……..
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:33 pm
A faction of the natural gas industry has invested more than $747 million as part of a 10-year lobbying and political spending campaign to persuade federal authorities to ignore the dangers of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” a rapidly expanding but poorly regulated method of tapping gas reserves.
Fracking involves injecting a mix of sand, chemicals, and water into a well at high pressure in order to break up underground rock formations and free up natural gas. Pollution may occur underground, with fracking chemicals or methane directly contaminating aquifers and drinking wells, or above ground, as streams or tributaries are polluted by spills or improper wastewater disposal.
Despite the pollution risks, the industry has argued that regulatory exemptions for fracking are needed to give America the opportunity to tap vast reserves of natural gas that have been previously unobtainable.
The Environmental Protection Agency is scheduled to publish new, preliminary findings about the potential dangers of fracking in 2012. That gives the natural gas industry a powerful incentive to increase its political spending now in an attempt to shape public opinion and the debate over fracking in Congress, as well as affect the outcome of the 2012 Congressional elections.
Doing so will be much easier after last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United. This ruling threw out a century-old ban on corporate spending around elections and empowered corporations to exert even more influence over the political process.
Now money spent on campaign contributions, lobbying, and through other avenues of influence such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) can be backed by millions spent on electioneering.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:37 pm
Comparing oil & gas development to slavery is just absurd! So, instead of calling oil & gas producers racists the Left chose to draw a 5 of spades race card by comparing it to slavery.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:39 pm
From 2001 through June 2011, companies now engaged in fracking contributed $20.5 million to current members of Congress.
Industry giving more than tripled from the 2001-02 election cycle, when $2 million was contributed, to the 2009-10 election cycle, when $6.8 million was contributed.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:40 pm
The real slavery is manifesting itself in higher energy costs that will surely affect the poor more than the rich. The gap between the rich and poor that is being bandied about all over the news has only widened more during the Obama administrations time in office.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:42 pm
Lisa, those same companies spent $726 million on lobbying at the federal level from 2001 through September, 2011.
Contributions heavily favored current members of Congress who voted for the 2005 Energy Policy Act, which exempted fracking from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Current members who voted for the bill received an average of $73,433, while those who voted against the bill received an average of $10,894.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:43 pm
Obama’s failed policies have ripped open the chasm. We are experiencing higher energy cost which affects the cost of food, clothing and anything else hat has to be transported from one piece to another.
Don’t let the left use race or slavery in the development and production of oil and gas. If they do then explain that cheaper energy sources such as fossil fuels will liberate and set free those oppressed by the high cost of Obama’s energy plan.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Why leave out the Senate? Current members of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works have received a total of $1.4 million from the industry.
Current members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have received a total of $3.7 million from the industry.
Chair Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) has received $153,917 from the industry and Committee member Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) is the single-biggest recipient of fracking money in Congress with $514,945.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:46 pm
God pulled a very cruel trick on his people when he introduced the race card. Liberals….it won’t be long you will have to get a new deck of cards. The minorities are on to you.
What can Blue do for you?
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:47 pm
The natural gas industry’s fight against regulation has gotten important help at the state level from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). As documented in an August 2011 Common Cause report, ALEC generates and lobbies for hundreds of model bills every year despite its status as a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) organization.
Prominent financial backers of ALEC’s activities include the American Petroleum Institute, ExxonMobil, and Koch Industries, owner of the largest network of natural gas- transmitting pipelines in the country.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:47 pm
The natural gas industry’s political expenditures have been used to target supporters of the FRAC Act, which would regulate fracking under the Safe Drinking Water Act and require disclosure of chemicals used in the fracking process.
For example, in 2010, the industry gave $3 million to American Crossroads which in turn spent $533,000 in an attempt to defeat FRAC Act sponsor U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY).
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:48 pm
Rules for Radicals: No matter how weak your argument, wrap it in moral clothes…
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:52 pm
Social Butterfly, unfortunately Schafly will not understand because she is venal, shallow and has no soul. You are beautiful inside and out, Madison.
I adore your generation. I have two sons in it but it is the women-their girlfriends, female friends, my nieces and my friend’s daughters-they are the people who will give me hope.
I adore this generation of women. So bright. So kick ass. So totally cool.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:53 pm
WOW! It’s hard to believe a young lady can be so well spoken and erudite at twelve years of age. I wish you well and I hope you can continue to speak so well for your issues as you proceed through life. You are a great representative for your generation.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:54 pm
I hope I live long enough to vote for Madison for President.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:54 pm
In Phyllis Schlafly’s world the young woman who wrote this letter would be learning how to iron clothes.
I’m 60 years old, and admittedly a little disconnected from our newest generation, but I hope I’m never as disconnected as Ms. Schlafly.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:55 pm
you know, I think that’s the image we, as a culture, … are completely ignoring.
No doubt, this world is in massive cultural conflict….
BECAUSE the stakes are high, now….given this current time period.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:56 pm
Madison,
You are a wise woman so beyond your years. I am glad that you are our future.
Stay strong in your convictions and never let anyone ever say that you are wrong.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:58 pm
I agree. Women of the future bring it on! Peace to you Megan.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:59 pm
omg…..shes an old soul….
I’m floored, seriously.
May every opportunity come to her. At exactly the right time.
April 22nd, 2014 at 1:59 pm
She absolutely shames a woman old enough to be her great-grandmother. Outstanding.
April 22nd, 2014 at 5:02 pm
How to stop these filthy fucking humans? That’s the million dollar question
http://youtu.be/j4RjsqPYaS0
April 22nd, 2014 at 7:49 pm
Mitch McConnell is still trailing Democrat Alison Grimes by one point (45-44) in ruby red Kentucky, but McConnell and his allies outspent Grimes by $443,366 last week alone. It’s a huge problem: Nate Silver warns that McConnell’s enormous spending advantage could turn the race in his favor:
“Grimes has run about even with McConnell in polls since she declared her candidacy in July. But McConnell will have all the financial resources he could want.”
Here’s Silver’s bottom line projection: If McConnell’s attacks propel him to victory over Grimes, Silver projects it’ll hand the Republicans a 51-49 Senate majority. But if you close the fundraising gap and defeat McConnell, Silver projects Democrats would narrowly hold the Senate majority by just one seat.
April 23rd, 2014 at 9:27 am
[…] Social Butterfly: Thanks for posting that cool write on Madison Kimrey. Absolutely awesome. I am blown away be her intelligence and logic. Her future is looking bright. I can’t wait to see what she’s going to do next. Definitely a Wonderful Girl Of The World to watch! […]
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