Two decades of toxic spills

The Yellowstone River and Gulf of Mexico oil spills were big, alright, but they were just among dozens and dozens of spills to occur in across the lower 48 states in recent years. This map shows where, and how big. Not shown, of course, are the hundreds of thousands of spills that occur daily on parking lagaoons in all 50 states and then some.

Pipeline spills put safeguard agency under scrutiny

Chronic under-staffing is only one of the glitches faced by the federal agency charged with looking after the safety and surety of the nation’s network of petroleum pipelines. This article spells it out.

Pollution found in Canton, Pa., wells as gas drillers work nearby

This kind of thing is going to happen with increasing regularity, no doubt, as the Marcellus shale  gas-drilling frenzy erupts across Pennsylvania and adjacent states. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the federal EPA will, of course, do their dutiful investigations in the cases they learn about (as if those constitute 100 percent of all) and the frenzy will continue. Wildlife, a word missing from nearly all reporting on the Marcellus shale gas industry, takes it on the chin all the while. A note to reporters: Drilling requires clearing the natural landscape and building roads, causing noise, spawning pollution, etc. Do some reporting on those impacts.

U.S. House passes bill opening Va. coast to drilling

Let the drilling – and the spilling – begin. I wouldn’t be surprised if someday an spilled crude washes ashore at Langley Air Force Base, Hampton, Va. And then there’s Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge, Fisherman’s Island NWR, Eastern Shore of Va. NWR, etc. Read about the Republicans’ success in passing pro-pollution legislation.

De-watering Wyoming?

That’s what a developer has in mind, according to this NY Times editorial.