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mac
Joined: 07 Mar 1999 Posts: 17748 Location: Berkeley, California
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:48 pm Post subject: Drain the swamp, or let big oil get away scott free |
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Quote: | Oil and gas companies drilling in state waters off Southern California violated regulations nearly 400 times in the past three years, according to a report being released Wednesday by an environmental group.
Records compiled by the Center for Biological Diversity showed state violations ranging from severe corrosion to failed and missing tests required to gauge the strength of wells. No civil penalties were issued for any of the violations, according to a spokesman for the state agency responsible for overseeing oil operations.
The group said the problems could pose a serious threat to the environment if aging infrastructure fails and spills oil on beaches near major cities.
"Knowing these facilities have been out there decades upon decades upon decades is a sign you're going to see a lot of corrosion and disrepair," said Kristen Monsell, an attorney for the center. "We need to start getting all of this dirty decaying infrastructure out of our ocean for good."
The findings come three years after a corroded two-foot wide pipe owned by Plains All American Pipeline ruptured on land and spilled 120,000 gallons of offshore crude that flowed toward the Santa Barbara coast. More than a fifth of the oil ended up in the ocean.
The group produced its findings based on a California Public Records Act request filed with the Department of Conservation for all violations notices issued to offshore oil operations by the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources since 2015. |
https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/apnewsbreak-california-oil-firms-400-violations-54389389
Of course not paying attention to corrosion caused a massive fire at the Richmond refinery owned by Chevron and caused a long shut down at the refinery in Torrance. It was only luck, not oil company care for their employees, that the accidents caused not deaths.
https://www.csb.gov/exxonmobil-refinery-explosion-/
Pruitt and the Oklahoma oil mafia will kill any efforts to protect either the public or company employees. |
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nw30
Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 6485 Location: The eye of the universe, Cen. Cal. coast
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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What happened to "Drain the swamp or different alligators?"?
Did you get tired of that one? |
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wsurfer
Joined: 17 Aug 2000 Posts: 1635
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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nw30 wrote: | What happened to "Drain the swamp or different alligators?"?
Did you get tired of that one? |
I hear there is a "Drain the Swamp" conference going on at Trump's D.C. Hotel this weekend |
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techno900
Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2018 8:01 am Post subject: |
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More of the story from Mac's post:
Quote: | Most of the violations were for missing integrity tests required at least every five years. The environmental group found long lapses — some exceeding 20 years — between tests.
Don Drysdale, a spokesman for the state regulatory agency, said Tuesday that the division was still trying to verify that mechanical integrity tests were completed and passed by THUMS and Tidelands. He said no civil penalties were issued.
Critics of the agency have long said regulators were too cozy with oil interests and had gone easy on enforcement. The current administration has acknowledged failings and vowed to be more proactive about oversight. |
So where's the problem and what's up with the regulators? I would expect the liberal California leadership to be all over this.
Maybe this should be in the "Nutty California" thread. |
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mac
Joined: 07 Mar 1999 Posts: 17748 Location: Berkeley, California
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2018 10:41 am Post subject: |
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Techno actually read the posting, did a little independent thinking, and asked a sensible question. Good on you. Critics have charged Jerry Brown with being too close to the oil industry. But this illustrates an overall problem in governance that regulatory agencies, over time, tend to be captured by the industries they regulate. Some accommodation to industry needs can be a good thing, achieving the public policy needs of safety and environmental protection more efficiently.
The point I think this makes is there is no hope for enforcement of Federal regulations to assure safety or environmental protection when states fall short. The Trump administration has already settled multiple enforcement cases on the cheap. The Pruitt scandals illustrate not just his corruption and venality—but the Oklahoma big oil ties. A hospitality degree as the necessary qualifications for a big raise to quash regulations at EPA? |
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nw30
Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Posts: 6485 Location: The eye of the universe, Cen. Cal. coast
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2018 11:31 am Post subject: |
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Shouldn't worry too much about the Ca. coastline, I've noticed that these have been showing up at most all beaches in my area, but probably up and down most of the coastline. California will be saved! |
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mac
Joined: 07 Mar 1999 Posts: 17748 Location: Berkeley, California
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2018 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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Another non sequitur. |
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wsurfer
Joined: 17 Aug 2000 Posts: 1635
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2018 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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nw30 wrote: | Shouldn't worry too much about the Ca. coastline, I've noticed that these have been showing up at most all beaches in my area, but probably up and down most of the coastline. California will be saved! |
Most State Parks in NJ don't allow them. Miami, well that's another story altogether. I see them flying high in front of many high rise buildings.Peeping Toms me thinks!!!
I have to admit though there is some great windsurfing footage from Virginia Key |
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MalibuGuru
Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300
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Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2018 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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So glad douch bag is gone |
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real-human
Joined: 02 Jul 2011 Posts: 14890 Location: on earth
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Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2018 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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MalibuGuru wrote: | So glad douch bag is gone |
_________________ when good people stay silent the right wing are the only ones heard. |
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