News Feed: The Fracking Truth on Government's Role in Natural Gas Production - Heritage.org (blog)
Updated: 2012-01-31 19:30:04
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News Feed: Gas industry sets guidelines for fracking - Montreal Gazette
Updated: 2012-01-31 18:51:37read moreNews Feed: No need for 'fracking' legislation - study - Irish Times
Updated: 2012-01-31 18:15:25read moreTuesday’s top of the scroll: Where did winter go? Snow survey tomorrow; Dry weather to continue
Updated: 2012-01-31 16:32:39From the Fresno Bee: “State water officials say recent storms have not made up for this year’s dry winter, leaving California’s snowpack at below average levels. The Sierra Nevada snowpack is a key source of California’s water supply. Officials said Monday that snowpack water content was just 38 percent of average, compared to the 19 [...]What Happens to All That Plastic?
Updated: 2012-01-31 16:14:21
Today Americans discard about 33.6 million tons of plastic each year, but only 6.5 percent of it is recycled and 7.7 percent is combusted in waste-to-energy facilities. What happens to all the rest of it?California citrus growers grapple with water issues
Updated: 2012-01-31 16:12:10From The Packer: “California citrus growers are not dealing with the drought conditions that have hit South Texas, but they have been dealing ever-tightening restrictions on water use. “It’s becoming more onerous, in terms of water availability,” said Andrew Brown, a grower and director with the Exeter-based California Citrus Mutual. “We’ve been more fortunate here [...]When fish and frost protection collide: Water for frost protection under scrutiny due to endangered species in Russian River, extra layer of regulations for grape growers
Updated: 2012-01-31 16:09:38From WineBusiness.com: “Many grape growers throughout the country must be prepared to battle the threat of frost: Killing freezes in early spring often coincide with bud break, and a few nights of sub-freezing temperatures, without the benefit of frost protection, can devastate a crop. There are numerous techniques and types of equipment for growers to [...]A watered-down bond for water system improvements?
Updated: 2012-01-31 16:05:31From KQED’s Climate Watch: ““There are two subjects water people least want to talk about: politics and money,” said the former head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, David Nahai. He was speaking at the “Future of Water in Southern California” conference on a dry and windy Friday, here in the City [...]News Feed: Md. bill would ban import of fracking wastewater - WTRF
Updated: 2012-01-31 16:02:32read moreNews Feed: Improving New York's Proposed Hydraulic Fracturing Regulations - Environmental Defense Fund (blog)
Updated: 2012-01-31 16:02:06
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Department of Water Resources seeks more green energy for State Water Project
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:56:36From the Department of Water Resources: “The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is continuing to increase the amount of green energy in the State Water Project (SWP) power portfolio. DWR has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to purchase up to 180,000 WHh of energy a year from qualified renewable energy sources. This was announced [...]Commentary: Putting Water to Beneficial Use: A technical response to criticism of the Cadiz Project
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:53:30Received via email, this commentary on the Cadiz project, written By Terry Foreman, PG, C.Hg., and Dennis Williams, Ph.D, PG., C.Hg., , two of the scientists that led the technical analysis of the Project: The innovative Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery and Storage Project would enable water to be beneficially used in California by capturing [...]Liberty Blog: X2 Ninth Circuit briefing completed (for now)
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:52:46From the Pacific Legal Foundation’s Liberty Blog: “Last week, the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, Kern County Water Agency, State Water Contractors, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, and Westlands Water District filed this reply to the Natural Resources Defense Council’s opposition to the water users’ motion to dismiss [...]Restore the Delta’s blog reports from the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan meeting
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:49:07From the Restore the Delta’s blog: “The 3-hour January 25 Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) public meeting was devoted to presentations on eight chapters of the BDCP draft by consultants ICF International. Most of the time was spent on appendices to the chapter that analyze biological effects of the plan, and on public comments and [...]Commentary: Delta over-pumping 2000 to 2006 caused Delta to be “in crisis” today
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:44:28From Burt Wilson at the Public Water News Service (a blog, of sorts, but not really): “What the water agencies do not want to let the people in on is that the Dept. of Water Resources (DWR) allowed the Delta to be over-pumped from 2000 to 2006 in order to allow the Metropolitan Water District [...]News Feed: Fracking foes host experts for "Protecting our Communities" Bristol event - MPNnow.com
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:43:49read moreKlamath River dam removals should go forth, says the San Franciso Chronicle
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:35:19From the San Francisco Chronicle, this editorial: “After an all-sides agreement and lengthy scientific study, the country’s biggest dam removal project should be on track to restore the Klamath River. But the momentum behind this promising project could stall if Washington lets political gridlock sour the deal. The latest update in the years-long effort is [...]News Feed: Calgary-based energy companies welcome new fracking standards - Calgary Herald
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:25:22read moreAn exquisite Mexico beach, cursed by plastic
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:21:24From the Los Angeles Times: “Just off a rutted dirt road, a beach as white as flour pops into view from behind a wall of sea grape and rustling palms. Pelicans slice over turquoise waters, and not a single person stirs the quiet. The tableau, along a little-developed segment of Mexico’s Caribbean coast, is a [...]Siskiyou County: County tackles coho recovery
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:18:15From the Siskiyou Daily News: “On Tuesday, the Siskiyou County government, Siskiyou County Farm Bureau and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) issued a joint press release announcing their efforts to have supplementation included in state and federal efforts to recover coho salmon populations in local watersheds. “The concept is to add more fish to streams to [...]Fish and Game releases adult coho salmon into Sonoma County Creek
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:08:41
From the Lake County News: “The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) recently released adult coho salmon in Salmon Creek, Sonoma County to reestablish a coho salmon population. This is the fourth consecutive year adult salmon were released, the agency reported. The Department of Fish and Game said 200 adults were released on two separate [...]Mosquito fogging in jeopardy after new environmental regulations
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:05:05From the Silicon Valley Mercury News: “As fears grow that an unseasonably warm winter could lead to a severe West Nile virus season in the Bay Area, statewide vector control agencies may lose their chief weapon in fighting the mosquito-borne illness. Mosquitoes already have awakened from their hibernation, and a late rain could create the [...]Monterey: Desal sales pitch lacking, says commentary
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:03:01From the Monterey County Herald, this commentary by Ed Mitchell, North County activist: “For nearly a year the media have reported about the regional desalination project’s corrupted assault on the pocketbooks of Peninsula ratepayers. Less discussed is how some public officials in county water agencies traded away the livelihood of coastal farmers in North County [...]Paso Robles water plan is just not working, says commentary
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:01:33From CalCoastNews.com, this commentary by Karen Reed, a long time Paso resident: “I was shocked when not much was said about the huge increases in water rates needed to fund the water system projects discussed at the Nov. 15 Paso Robles City Council meeting. After years of hard work to come to an agreement on [...]Calaveras County Water District breaks ground on plant
Updated: 2012-01-31 15:00:39From the Union Democrat: “Calaveras County Water District officials and political dignitaries formally broke ground Friday on a $4.42 million upgrade to the district’s Douglas Flat-Vallecito Wastewater Treatment Plant. Funded by federal stimulus funds, the project will allow more residents of the area — now prohibited by a moratorium — to connect to the district’s [...]Santa Clarita: Well due to come back online this week
Updated: 2012-01-31 14:54:32From the Santa Clarita Signal: “Water officials expect to have one of two perchlorate-removing wells back in service by the end of February as they make the last few repairs this week. In October, officials with the Castaic Lake Water Agency were forced to take Saugus Well No. 2 out of service to repair mechanical [...]Burbank Water & Power aims to practice what it preaches with ‘eco-campus’
Updated: 2012-01-31 14:26:57From Southern California Public Radio: “The city of Burbank has unveiled what it’s calling an “eco-campus” at the headquarters for its public utility, Burbank Water and Power. The city says the old facility will now be a model of conservation and energy efficiency. A new water capture and filtration system on Lake Street next to [...]Las Vegas: Great Basin Water Network says conservation is the answer, not pipeline
Updated: 2012-01-31 14:25:14From the Las Vegas Sun: “The Great Basin Water Network says Las Vegas should impose tighter conservation restrictions and raise water rates to discourage waste instead of building a $15 billion pipeline to shift water from rural Nevada to Clark County. The network, a major opponent of the pipeline, said protesters feel “approval of the [...]Foster to Appear on Fox Businesses’s Election Night Coverage Today
Updated: 2012-01-31 08:35:35with host Neil Cavuto, to discuss tomorrow's Florida Republican presidential primary. READ MORE...News Feed: House committee discusses fracking - Topeka Capital Journal
Updated: 2012-01-31 05:52:13read moreVIDEO: Brian Williams Pointing Fingers
Updated: 2012-01-31 00:11:03Criticizes Jan Brewer for using same gesture he used when speaking to President Bush READ MORE...VIDEO: Senator Rubio on President Obama
Updated: 2012-01-31 00:09:06“You feel the failure of his leadership every single day of your life.” READ MORE...St. Louis, Unlike New York, Welcomes Home Iraq Vets in Proper Style
Updated: 2012-01-31 00:04:37When did it become an American tradition not to have a parade welcoming home victorious warriors? READ MORE...Cronyism: Obama Bundlers, Green Energy, Special Breaks, Failed Company …
Updated: 2012-01-30 21:56:19Haven’t we heard this story before? READ MORE...Politics at its Finest Hour
Updated: 2012-01-30 21:48:52Kansas state legislator pushing for Toto from ‘Wizard of Oz’ to be the new state dog READ MORE...Michelle Malkin: Santorum is the Best Candidate
Updated: 2012-01-30 19:25:36Influential pundit Michelle Malkin has endorsed Rick Santorum over the other Republican presidential candidates. READ MORE...Taxpayer-Funded Employees Do Quite Well, While Private Sector Hurts
Updated: 2012-01-30 19:20:51In a tough economy, federal employees are fairing much better than their private sector counterparts. READ MORE...Santorum’s Rousing Defense of Faith in a Free Society
Updated: 2012-01-30 19:18:31Candidate says government exists to protect God-given rights READ MORE...Weekend wrap-up: Water bond, the Delta, Hetch Hetchy and more making news, plus a look at the calendar and more
Updated: 2012-01-30 16:00:48Welcome to Monday! Here’s the weekend wrap-up: On Saturday, Reuters reported on the water bond, Metropolitan posted this report on the Bay-Delta, the Tehama Daily News reported on a much-calmer meeting on regional water management, and Dan Bacher has comments from the environmental community on Governor Brown and the peripheral canal. The Bureau of Reclamation [...]Water systems need fixes, badly; customers don’t want to fund them
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:51:31From the Sacramento Bee: “From mountain hamlets to Sacramento City Hall, governments are asking taxpayers to dig deeper into their pockets to improve sewer and water systems. And people are pushing back. Local officials say they need the money to upgrade outdated water-treatment facilities, sewer lines and water mains. In some cases, improvements are required [...]No need to fast-track latest attempt at canal, says the San Francisco Chronicle
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:49:53From the San Francisco Chronicle, this editorial: “While most of the political chatter following Gov. Jerry Brown’s State of the State address last week focused on high-speed rail and his proposed tax initiative, the big issue quietly lapping the Capitol halls is water. The state faces two deadlines in the next few months: approval of [...]Cal Watchdog blog: Water wars flood L.A. Central Basin
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:43:29From the Cal Watchdog blog: “Remember “Chinatown,” the murky 1974 movie about the water wars in the Los Angeles Basin in the 1930s, starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway? A January 18 California appeals court water rights case is reminiscent of the multilayered plots and subplots in the flick. The “Chinatown” movie plot involves fictional [...]EarthTalk: Is most household water usage from the bathroom?
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:40:00From the Sacramento Bee: “Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that the bathroom is where over half of our household water usage takes place? What are some ways to take a bite out of that? - Shelby McIntyre, Chico, Calif. Yes indeed, some 60 percent of our household indoor water usage happens in the bathroom. As [...]New upcoming events posted to the calendar
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:34:02The following events have been added to the calendar: The Scott River Watershed Council (SRWC) will host the annual Scott River Watershed Information Forum (SWIF) from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the Fort Jones Community Hall, 11960 East St. Click here for more information from the Sikiyou Daily News. The California Water [...]Martin Slough enhancement project moves forward; Salmon on Eureka golf course spur restoration work
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:33:51From the Eureka Times-Standard: “After more than a decade of work, the Martin Slough enhancement project — which aims to reduce flooding and improve salmon habitat near the Eureka Municipal Golf Course — will acquire the funding needed to complete its design. Don Allan, director of the Natural Resources Service Division for the Redwood Community [...]Humboldt County tells Bayside family to take down beloved treehouse; Structure deemed too close to stream on property
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:30:10From the Eureka Times-Standard: “Nearly three years of work has gone into creating a Bayside family’s partially-built treehouse that Humboldt County building inspectors have now said needs to be dismantled by the end of February. Rachel Robinson said construction of the treehouse has been a family affair that has taught her sons — Will, 12, [...]Lake County: Public meetings begin on water management plan development; Clearlake meeting set for Feb. 6
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:23:57From the Lake County News: “This month a group composed of Lake and several other Northern California counties will begin a series of public meetings that are part of the process to create a regional water management plan. The Westside Sacramento Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan will detail water supply, flood management, stormwater runoff, [...]Tri-Valley water agency eliminates controversial bonus program
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:22:06From the Contra Costa Times: “An incentive program that had awarded more than $2.5 million in bonuses over the past 13 years to workers of one Tri-Valley water agency has been eliminated due to public pressure. The Dublin San Ramon Services District board of directors approved contracts over the past two months that did not [...]Valley farmers may have cure for poisoned cropland; Cactus is helping eliminate selenium and other soil contaminants
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:20:29From the Fresno Bee: “The prickly pear cactus may not sound like a trendy cash crop, but it could become a phenomenon among farmers on the arid west side of the San Joaquin Valley. The cactus can grow in the west-side’s salty soils, drink briny water and live just fine in very dry times. But [...]Congresswoman Napolitano calls for expanded research, funding for local groundwater cleanup at La Verne water conference
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:16:27From the office of Congresswoman Grace Napolitano: “Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano addressed the University of La Verne’s annual Water Technology Conference, discussing local water issues and the importance of research and development for finding new sources of water. “The topic of this conference – ‘Water Technology and Innovation’ – could not have come at [...]Southern California: Winter shaping up to be a dry one; causing problems for area’s dryland farmers
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:15:53From the Riverside Press-Enterprise: “The consequences of this winter’s lack of rain are plain to see on Dennis Blehm’s family-owned farm in Hemet, where the wheat crop has sprouted, turned brown and withered over the crusted soil. “I’d say in 10 days, we’ll lose our seed. It’s sprouted, it’s grown, it’s going to die,” said [...]Southern California: Final plan emerges for steelhead’s return
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:13:53From the North County Times: “A federal agency is trying to bring back an oceangoing fish that has all but disappeared from Southern California. After years of study, workshops and hearings —- and delays —- the National Marine Fisheries Service has completed a plan for returning the steelhead to rivers in several counties, including San [...]Inkstain blog: Colorado River models: wrong but useful
Updated: 2012-01-30 15:08:09From the Inkstain blog: “Climate scientist Tamsin Edwards triggered a fascinating discussion when she chose the famous George Box quote – “all models are wrong, but some are useful” – as the name for her new blog. In a delightful exchange on Twitter (which I followed in real time and which Edwards quotes extensively in [...]Sunday’s top of the scroll: Senator Lois Wolk continues to fight for Delta rights
Updated: 2012-01-29 16:53:34
From the River News-Herald and Isleton Journal: “Up for reelection in 2012, State Senator Lois Wolk continues to fight for Delta representation and equality within the legislature. The senator has a busy 2012 ahead, with several main goals and focuses to improve the fifth district she calls home. Wolk’s main focuses includes working on legislation [...]Peripheral canal proposal, loss of home rule prompts SSJID to join battle against the Delta Stewardship Council
Updated: 2012-01-29 16:51:20From the Manteca Bulletin: “A coalition of cities, counties and other organizations worried about the perceived far-reaching political power of the Delta Stewardship Council are banding together to fight for preservation of home rule. And they now have the South San Joaquin Irrigation District on board. The SSJID board unanimously approved a resolution this week [...]Senator Feinstein: Proposals to drain Hetch Hetchy won’t work
Updated: 2012-01-29 16:48:10From the Sacramento Bee, this commentary by Senator Dianne Feinstein: “The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park has been a vital source of clean water for San Francisco Bay communities for almost 100 years. Through its energy-efficient gravity flow system, it pipes some of the cleanest water in California to 2.6 million people and [...]Delta National Park blog: The other, still equal goal
Updated: 2012-01-29 16:46:29From the Delta National Park blog: “We may from time to time forget that SB 7X 1 has teeth, and includes “protecting and restoring the health of the Delta estuary, and its native fisheries” language as a co-equal goal of the legislation. And the implications of those teeth are starting to come into focus. Via [...]Commentary: Ensuring clean water for the future
Updated: 2012-01-29 16:44:07From the Santa Clarita Signal, this commentary by Maria Gutzeit, president of the Newhall County Water District: “How often do you think about your tap water? If you are like most of us in the Santa Clarita Valley, it’s not often. Recent polls suggest that since California’s drought ended, public interest in conservation and other [...]Race officials abscond with anti-fracking banner at Tour Down Under
Updated: 2012-01-29 13:15:58
Now see if I didn’t just describe this here video. Not too often that we run across something with both fracking and bike content.This WSJ chart casts doubt on the TRC’s Eagle Ford ruling
Updated: 2012-01-28 19:57:00
via http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204528204577009930222847246.htmlTexas Railroad Commission says there’s enough water for Eagle Ford fracking
Updated: 2012-01-28 13:00:31According to http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=114624&hmpn=1 But check the math. The figures below come from the article. – 540,000 acre feet in the aquifer when the fracking began. – 30,000 acre feet per year used by fracking at peak demand. – fracking supposedly accounts for only 6% of total aquifer usage. Agriculture takes 65%. This implies that the [...]Your Voice for Conservation: Bighorn Sheep, Fracking and Geothermal
Updated: 2012-01-27 17:39:23Learn more about this week's issues, including threats to bighorn sheep, fracking rules and incentives for geothermal on state lands.
Obama Exaggerates Role of Federal Government in Natural Gas Boom
Updated: 2012-01-27 16:40:00Reliable, affordable energy comes from the private sector, not from government subsidies to politically favored companies.
Limiting Natural Gas Exports Sets A Dangerous Precedent
Updated: 2012-01-26 05:52:00State of the Union Speech Poses Major Challenge to Fracking Opponents
Updated: 2012-01-25 10:01:59Natural Gas Looks to Have Bi-Partisan Establishment SupportShortage of fracking sand
Updated: 2012-01-24 22:30:37…a.k.a. proppant. Didn’t see that one coming, Baker Hughes didn’t either apparently. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-24/baker-hughes-says-fracking-shortages-hurt-profit-margin.htmlRisking Our Environment and Health to Burn a Few More Years of Natural Gas
Updated: 2012-01-24 02:39:34US Energy Dept Cuts Marcellus Shale Gas Reserve Estimates by 66%Political Pollution: How Bad Air is Slowly Changing China
Updated: 2012-01-22 16:00:51
China confirmed this week that the number of its citizens living in cities has surpassed the rural population for the first time in its history. That massive urbanization — 690.79 million people are now city-dwellers according to the National Bureau of Statistics — has brought huge benefits, chief among them lifting hundreds of millions out [...]The fruits of propaganda
Updated: 2012-01-21 19:46:30Recent production gains in the US have been accompanied by an all-out propaganda assault, from industry and their pocketed pundits and politicians, to convince the public that (1) water-intensive extraction methods are environmentally friendly, and (2) that the new production associated with it is a “game-changer” that will lead to “North American energy independence” and [...]2011 API numbers
Updated: 2012-01-21 13:15:00…show US, though producing more and consuming less, still importing over 11 mbd in 2011, with just over 2 mbd from Canada. Via Oil & Gas Journal. click to enlargeFugitive methane
Updated: 2012-01-21 11:40:23A new story in Scientific American by Frischetti. Fracking could release large quantities of methane into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming.YVC: Tapeworms, Fracking and Redistricting
Updated: 2012-01-21 03:06:26Things are in full swing at the Statehouse, and the Idaho Legislature is reviewing all the administrative rules.
Whooping Cranes, Sea Turtles Among Top 10 US Species Threatened By Fossil Fuels
Updated: 2012-01-20 11:00:43Report on At Risk Species Urges Lawmakers to End Oil Subsidies, Focus on RenewablesFracked: The Debate Over Shale Gas Deepens
Updated: 2012-01-20 10:00:54
Is shale gas good for us or not? Most of that argument has been over the potential risks that hydrofracking for shale gas might pose to water supplies—risks that were highlighted again this week when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) came to Dimock, PA, to test groundwater in the area. You might know Dimock from [...]Lisa Jackson's EPA Throws Out Science for Politics
Updated: 2012-01-19 21:49:00The Global Energy Supply Is Getting Greener. It’s Just Not Happening Fast Enough
Updated: 2012-01-19 18:40:14
With President Obama’s rejection (for now) of the proposed Keystone XL oil sands pipeline fresh in everyone’s mind—and conservatives and the oil industry already hammering him, even as greens sing his praises—you can be sure that energy issues will play a bigger role than usual in the 2012 election. So it’s worth taking a step [...]Punishing the Energy Industry Isn't Tax Reform
Updated: 2012-01-19 14:37:00Keystone XL's Rewards Outweigh Its Potential Risks
Updated: 2012-01-18 21:16:00Truck traffic associated with Marcellus fracking
Updated: 2012-01-13 14:28:02
From http://www.un-naturalgas.org/NYSDOT%20Transportation%20Impacts%20Paper.pdf Per well:Obama Administration Exaggerates Success in Oil and Gas Leases
Updated: 2012-01-13 13:47:00
Though an improvement from last year, the money made on federal leases is still far too low.
YVC: Fracking, Energy and Wildlife
Updated: 2012-01-13 00:23:59Read what our legislative priorities are for 2012!
Public comments on NY hydrofracking were 10-to-1 against
Updated: 2012-01-12 07:46:20…with one day left in comment period. http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20120110/NEWS01/301100008/-Hydrofracking-energizes-New-York-residents?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|PoughkeepsieJournal.com|sNew York Times Ethanol Subsidy Editorial Misleads
Updated: 2012-01-11 14:13:00Obama Should Rethink His Policies on Natural Gas and Keystone XL
Updated: 2012-01-04 21:45:00Fracking Appears to Be Causing Quakes
Updated: 2012-01-04 21:26:46A seismologist concludes that 11 quakes in Ohio over the last ten months are a result of fracking activities.