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Archive for July, 2014
Regulators Asked to Consider Changes in Sandpiper Pipeline Path
Posted by Star Tribune: David Shaffer on July 18th, 2014
Star-Tribune: Minnesota regulators will study shifting some segments of a proposed northern Minnesota crude oil pipeline in the face of public concern about the risk to lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River headwaters. But the state Commerce Department, which is overseeing an environmental review of Enbridge Energy’s proposed Sandpiper pipeline, on Thursday said it doesn’t endorse studying a wholesale reroute of the proposed $2.6 billion project to carry North Dakota crude oil. State officials recommended...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Regulators Asked to Consider Changes in Sandpiper Pipeline PathCoal Ash Remains But Duke Energy “Completes” Cleanup
Posted by WFMY: None Given on July 18th, 2014
WFMY: Coal Ash might still be in the Dan River, but as far as the EPA and Duke Energy are concerned, cleanup is done -- for now.
"They've done what they could do and we're satisfied with the EPA and what they are saying needed to be done," said Bill Sgrinia, director of Danville's Parks and Recreation.
"They've done what they could do and we're satisfied with the EPA and what they are saying needed to be done," said Bill Sgrinia, director of Danville's Parks and Recreation.
Duke Energy moved into...
Canada: First Nation Pulls Out of Hearings into Grand Rapids Oil Sands Pipeline
Posted by Globe and Mail: Lauren Krugel on July 18th, 2014
Globe and Mail: An aboriginal group that lives in northern Alberta's oil sands region has withdrawn from a regulatory hearing into the proposed Grand Rapids crude pipeline, but the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation vowed to explore other ways to fight the $3-billion project.
The ACFN announced late Tuesday it would no longer be participating in the Alberta Energy Regulator's process, which it criticized as too rushed and skewed in favour of the oil industry. Landowners along the proposed route raised similar concerns...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Canada: First Nation Pulls Out of Hearings into Grand Rapids Oil Sands PipelineProtests Grow Over Proposed Gas Pipeline Through Massachusetts
Posted by Boston Globe: Hattie Bernstein on July 18th, 2014
Boston Globe: Boards of selectmen hosting informational sessions. Residents packing town halls and school auditoriums to learn about a proposed natural gas pipeline that would cross the state's northern hem, starting at the New York border and passing through thinly populated rural areas, conservation land -- and their backyards.
There are the local votes against the pipeline, and a rolling protest rally moving in stages across the state.
And there is outrage.
"We know we need energy if we want to keep...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Protests Grow Over Proposed Gas Pipeline Through MassachusettsIn U.S. Energy Boom, Who Decides If Fracking Comes to Town?
Posted by Christian Science: None Given on July 18th, 2014
Christian Science: A failed compromise on local fracking bans in Colorado this week makes the oil-and-gas-rich state the latest flashpoint in a nationwide fight over the controversial drilling process.
Environmental concerns have driven activists to pursue restrictions and bans on hydraulic fracturing (or fracking), a groundbreaking extraction technique that has fueled America’s domestic energy boom. Those battles are increasingly playing out at the local level rather than at the state level, which can make it difficult...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on In U.S. Energy Boom, Who Decides If Fracking Comes to Town?Colorado finds link between quakes and wastewater wells
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 17th, 2014
Reuters: Colorado regulators said on Thursday that the disposal of oil and gas wastewater at a well in Weld County likely caused a series of small earthquakes this year, in another sign that a U.S. drilling boom is contributing to higher seismic activity.
The issue of wastewater disposal disturbing underground faultlines has become a national issue in the United States where drilling and wastewater disposal have increased sharply in recent years.
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC)...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Colorado finds link between quakes and wastewater wellsCalifornia’s water conservation could weaken utilities’ credit
Posted by Reuters: Robin Respaut on July 17th, 2014
Reuters: California's strict new regulations for water conservation could have the unintended consequence of hurting the credit quality of water utilities in the drought-stricken state. Regulators on Tuesday passed new measures to limit outdoor water use in an increasingly desperate effort to conserve. On Thursday, Moody's Investor Service warned that a significant drop in water sales could weaken the credit quality of some water utilities, many of them public districts. Increasing rates to offset the loss...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on California’s water conservation could weaken utilities’ creditCalif. couple conserves amid drought, could face fine for brown lawn
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 17th, 2014
Reuters: A Southern California couple who scaled back watering their lawn amid the state's drought received a warning from the suburb where they live that they might be fined for creating an eyesore - despite emergency statewide orders to conserve.
Michael Korte and Laura Whitney, who live near Los Angeles in Glendora, said on Thursday they received a letter from the city warning they had 60 days to green up their partially brown lawn or pay a fine ranging from $100 to $500.
"I don't think it's right...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Calif. couple conserves amid drought, could face fine for brown lawnWashington state wildfire grows, more evacuations urged
Posted by Reuters: Victoria Cavaliere on July 17th, 2014
Reuters: A fast-moving Washington state wildfire raging in the Cascade Mountains grew in size to threaten roughly 1,700 dwellings on Thursday near the Bavarian-style village of Leavenworth, officials said.
The Chiwaukum Creek fire continued to rage out of control through timber in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and on private land, two days after it was triggered by a lightning strike, according to the Chelan County Emergency Management office.
Evacuation orders were issued for about 900 homes...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Washington state wildfire grows, more evacuations urgedFix farms in a few countries and feed 3 billion people
Posted by New Scientist: Azeen Ghorayshi on July 17th, 2014
New Scientist: Give us the right levers and we shall feed the world. The lion's share of the world's food production problems stem from just a handful of countries. If we could concentrate on these problem areas, we could potentially feed 3 billion more people and massively reduce the environmental damage from farming.
"The way we're growing agriculture right now is totally not sustainable," says Paul West of the University of Minnesota in St Paul.
West and his colleagues looked for "leverage points": areas...