Congress is a mess

When our forefathers set up the government I don't think they had the chaos that reigns in mind. They set up the president, congress, and judicial system to check each other, keep all the kids on the playground playing fair. Such is not the case anymore. At least that's how things look to me. Republicans in Congress are threatening to put riders on bills, so they can fast track the XL pipeline & limit the EPA. (specifically, emissions regulations the EPA put in place) I really don't think the idea what to sneak stuff through Congress on the shirt-tales of something more important. Senators know that they can put riders on bills that have to pass, and so they get whatever they want. Back when Bill was in office they tried line-item-veto, but the Supreme Court said that was like the President writing his own laws, and that was unconstitutional. So we are stuck. I think it's time we got some real honesty in government. I know, hard to think of that, right?! Quit putting riders on bills that have to pass. If you want something, write up a real bill to put it through Congress. I hate people that try to do things the "easy" way. This is part of what is wrong with with our government today. I wonder what the "popularity" rating is of Congress? Does everyone hate them? I know they piss me off, and I think they should ALLLLLL get voted out of office and we should start over. Clean slate time, then something might actually get accomplished.

One for all?

I've been thinking a lot lately of my ineffectiveness. I can easily rant & rave on this blog and complain about about the insanity, but what does that really do? No doubt, nothing, since I'm probably the only one that even bothers to read it :) I've been wondering if there is anything I could really do. Our country and our planet are in a serious mess right now and I'm wondering what I could really do. In other words, I'm feeling really worthless. One thing that has been bothering me, is the way Congress is attacking the EPA. They keep trying to get around the regulations the EPA is trying to impose by passing laws that, pretty much, say the regulations are bogus, and no one has to listen to them. Or that the EPA can't make those regulations. It's like those jerks you used to play with on the playground that would change the rules cause they didn't like how the game was going. Yeah, you know you've played with jerks like that. Anyway. To me, it's disheartening, as I've stated before that these "jerks" have decided that the EPA doesn't know what they are doing and their power should be limited....by politicians. Okay, so let me get this straight. You have an government organization, created to administer laws & regulations that are there to improve our environment. These regulations were created AFTER lots of scientists conducted lots of studies and decided that yes, those regulations would in fact, improve our health & well being. So then, some politician (yes, I say that like it's a swear word) decides that his buddies, that are paying him kickbacks, don't like those regulations, so he decides he is going to introduce a bill in Congress to limit the power of the scientists. The ones that make regulations, so you don't die at a young age from lung cancer or stomach cancer or radiation poisoning, or any number of other things nasty things that a person can get from the drinking water or the air we breath. So, my problem with ineffectiveness is that what can I do? I can't vote all the congressmen out of office and put new ones in. I can't scream loud enough for everyone to hear. I don't have enough money to buy a large enough billboard. I can't knock people in the head until they realize they are being idiots. I can't seem to even get a job where I can really make a difference. So what, exactly, am I supposed to do? What can I do to get people to listen? We seriously, as the American people, need to vote all incumbents out of office and get a clean slate in Congress, maybe then we'll get some change going on. But then we'd all have to agree, and then we'd all have to vote. People can't even agree that climate change is occurring, and we are witness to that on a daily basis, so how would be get that many people to agree to vote incumbents out of office? We need a government that is actually in office to do the will of the people, not to fill their own damn pockets or fulfill their own damn agendas. That is not what this country was founded on. We need some serious change!

What is with the attack on the EPA?

At work, I have to read through this database to find articles relating to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. And while going through these articles I get to read all about the other goings on in the environmental/political/legal world. Pretty cool......eh, um, maybe cool isn't the word. Disheartening, yeah, I think that covers it better.
The EPA has made regulations on GHG emissions that are being argued about, shot down, and otherwise criticized left and right. Congress is actually going to pass a law that says the EPA can't regulate whatever they are trying to regulate. And Obama recommended that the EPA wait until 2013 to revamp their regulations on ozone, instead of trying to push through regulations right now.  Why? What it really comes down to is, no one wants to pay for clean air. The EPA is trying to regulate cross-state emissions, all states are in an uproar. The power companies are mad, the states are mad, the senators getting kickbacks from the power companies are mad.  EPA is setting limits on ozone, mercury, and a few other nasty things that are in our air from coal burning power plants and other fossil fuel burning emitting sources. So, I have to ask, what's more important, being able to breath when you're 80 or the bottom line right now, at the moment. Everyone sees it all in black & white, no one sees a way that all this can be accomplished.
Another instance is the EPA setting limits on what is going into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. There are 11 states involved and the EPA is trying to limit total maximum daily loads and those states are throwing a fit. why? They don't want to pay. Farmers don't want to pay, governments don't want to pay, people don't want to pay. The bay will be dead and then who will pay for all the lost jobs, lost tourism, etc?
 The EPA is trying to change regulations in regards to wetlands, through the Clean Water Act. Now, some may know that I have a thing for wetlands, have done several research projects on them, and have studied them quite a bit. So, I can tell you that the amount of wetlands in the US is decreasing, at an alarming rate. And it's not supposed to be. The rate for removal is supposed to be 0, as in ZERO, a big goose egg. Uh, yeah, it's not. at  all. not even close. The regulation says NO NET LOSS OF WETLANDS. yeah, words on paper is what that is, nothing in practice. Anyway, the point is, the rules committee in Congress has warned the EPA that they should think really hard about the regulations they'd like to propose.
So everywhere the EPA turns they are getting hammered from all sides, the government, the people, other agencies, green organizations. Yeah, the green "people" sue the EPA when they think the EPA aren't doing enough to protect whatever natural resource is in question. And this is after Congress or the President has said no to proposed regulations by the EPA. It's all a viscous circle. And all they are trying to do is set regulations on pollutants that will eventually do nothing but harm us or the environment. They totally get the shaft.
So, how do we fix this mess that we are in. Well. let's see.......Congress needs to stop appropriating money for worthless things, like vacations, boats, excess retirement pension, and whatever else they waste our money on, and start helping clean up the environment. It needs to be done, sooner rather than later, or we will seriously be paying some steep prices in this lifetime, in terms of water shortages, mudslides, sea level rising, or increased air pollution. Here's a novel concept, why don't the exec's from the polluting companies use some of their million dollar bonuses and give money to farmers that need to implement in mitigation plans in the Bay area. Or Senators that get paid too much, they should use their money to pay for clean-up of the air. Hmmm, or here's an even better one, the kickbacks that are paid to Senators so that regulations aren't passed, maybe that could actually be used to clean up the pollution created by power companies. oh, yeah, now that's a good idea. It amazes me that people (read that as rich CEO's of huge polluting companies) spend so much time and money trying to avoid complying with regulations that improve our air and water quality, when they could probably save time and money by just fixing their plants to comply in the first place. While being facetious, to an extent, I do have real ideas on how things can be improved, some are pretty simple while others come with a complete revamping of our government and our way of thinking. None of which will ever see the light of day, I'm sure.
I guess it really won't matter because sooner rather than later, we are not going to be able to do anything because we (the human race) will be extinct because we didn't want to pay to clean up the environment. The studies and research going on right now indicate that we will soon, relatively speaking (20 years say), be experiencing water shortages in the US. Serious water shortages. And not just from changing climate, but from water contamination, overuse, and any number of things we do. So in the grand scheme of things, we are screwed no matter what way you look at it. I guess everyone should just get what you can for yourself while you can and to hell with everyone and anything else. right?

Canadian oil Sands pipeline

The latest drama on the environmental vs fossil fuel front is the Keystone XL pipeline that may be going from Alberta Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. This pipeline will corss numerous states and in it's currently planned path, will overlay the Ogallala aquifer. hmmmm, really?! Okay, so this is part of the drama, this pipeline will increase the amount of jobs in the US. lots of jobs. The pipeline is a $13 billion dollar project. yea, lots of jobs. It will also decrease out dependency on Middle Eastern oil. That's a good thing. Canada doesn't have the refining facilities that the US has for oil sands, so, there would be jobs at the refinery's for all of this extra oil. So, those are the good points. The bad points..... The oil sands contain lots more carbon than regular oil. I mean lots more. Which, unless we figure out a way to capture CO2, will increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the air. Um, don't we already have a problem with that. Also, the planned route of the pipeline will be over the Ogallala aquifer, as I've mentioned. The company has proposed a $100 million bond in case of any spill that would happen in the area. I think I've written a post before on the aquifer, but let's refresh, shall we. The aquifer supplies 80% of the drinking water to the people within it's boundaries. It lies underneath 8 states. It supplies 30% of the irrigation for agriculture in the US. Granted the aquifer is getting emptied a lot faster than it's being recharged, but that's another whole post. But it also creates a problem that I don't think anyone has considered while planning this pipeline. If there is a spill over any area of that aquifer, the potential will be to destroy over 170,000 square miles of aquifer. An aquifer that supplies 80% of the drinking water to people in 8 states. Since the water is being withdrawn faster than it is being recharged, there are lots of empty spaces where oil can easily flow, filling up spaces that were once filled with water. I don't think the $100 million bond will cover the water needed for 80% of the people in 8 states, nor will it cover the loss of irrigation water to agricultural industry in the area. Think of all the crops that will not be able to grow, or the increase in price if water has to be shipped or piped in from somewhere, is that aquifer is compromised. We've seen by the Alaska pipeline that a pipeline can go in without to much environmental impact to wildlife. That's not really my concern, as I've said, there is proof that wildlife could care less about the pipeline, it may change a few migration patterns, but on the whole, that isn't a problem. It's all the other stuff that worries me. I really think these people need to rethink their plans for locating that pipeline, cause any spill near that aquifer would be disasterous to all involved.

For the love of Texas

I love Texas. I really do. I lived there for two years. Enjoyed most of the time I spent there. All but the job part, that kinda sucked. And I lived in West Texas, which can be considered a whole other planet from East Texas. But it's Texas, there are awesome things there, and some awesome people. I love how they talk, I like to talk to my Texan friends, just so I have an excuse to talk like them again. If I could get away with it, I'd probably talk like that all the time. But I digress. My real reason for ranting today, has to do with....., yep you guessed it, Texas. Sometimes I think they think they are too big for their own damn britches.
So what's the drama you ask with Texas, well, let me fill you in.
There is a new federal rule dealing with interstate air pollution. It's so that states that don't have manufacturing, electricty plants, etc, don't have to pay for the states that do by suffering from acid rain, decreased air quality, and a host of other air quality issues. Make sense? I'll give you an example. If a company is on the east side of Texas (since we are talking about them) and they produce a large amount of emissions because they are providing electricity for the entire eastern half of the state, the stuff coming out of their smoke stacks is most likely being blown into Loisiana, Alabama, and maybe even farthr east. Understand now? Anyway, they EPA is trying to enforce a new rule regarding this situation, and one of their targets is Texas. And let me tell you why.
The Clean Air Act was revised in 1990 to add interstate trading programs to decrease emissions nationwide. In case you don't know what happens in trading, one company cleans up their emissions better than what is required and then sells their "extra" emssions that they are allowed. The big polluters that can't reduce their emissions as quickly (or because they don't want to) can buy up the "extra" emissions and pollute up to that amount. Anyway, back to the topic. Since 1990 sulfur dioxide emissions (main component in acid rain) has decreased  by 70% in the Eastern US, Texas emissions fell by .1%.  3 of the 11 highest sulfur emitting plants in the US are in...you guessed it, Texas. And all of them are owned by the same company, Luminant. Hmmmm, wonder who's palms are getting greased.
Now the EPA is forcing the issue with Texas, and Texas, being the big headed people that they can be, are pushing back. (Ridiculous in my opinion, just shut up and do what your told) They are threatening to shutter 2 plants and 3 mines, laying off 500 people in reponse to the demand to meet emissions standards. My big question is, You've had since 1990 to fix your stuff!!!! Why are you mad about it now? Don't you think it would have been a little cheaper if you had been working on it this entire time. And I'm guessing that back in 1995 say (give them 5 years to get their act together) it would have been A LOT cheaper than it is now to get some control on your emissions? As my gram would say," you have no one to blame but yourself."
And the news gets even better. Supposedly these two plants have air scrubbers that aren't running. huh-wha? They aren't running, and you're making a stink about having to decrease emissions. AND the EPA has said that they would offer more allowances for the company until they can get their emissions down.
I don't know if you've ever been through a Texas summer, but without air conditioning, oy it's hot! The threat to close the 2 plants would probably cause rolling blackouts within the state during the summer. Oh, yeah, that would not be fun. So the Texans, specifically Luminant, which is owned by Energy Furutre Holdings Corp. are holding that over the EPA's head.
I say, why don't you SUCK IT UP! You've waited this long to get your stinking act together and now your WHINING cause someone is making you do what you should have done 10 years ago. Get over it. It's your own damn fault.
I guess in reality this applies to all big companies that try to get away with stuff, but since Texas is the last hold out, the state fets some credit too. I'm guessing Old George W. probably had something to do wtih them not getting their emissions down, but that might be just cause I don't like him, and blame him for lots of stuff :)

It's probably best not to build there

I've been reading a lot about Home Owners Associations sueing the EPA, about the Clean Water Act, in relation to wetlands. For some reason people want to put their developments near a river. The EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers keep saying, you need a permit, you will need to mitigate, and the homeowners associations take them (EPA & ACOE) to court saying, "no, we don't have to do any of that." So my question is, have these people been watching the news, the weather, TV in general? Have they read a paper lately? Any major news source from the daily paper to Time magazine is about climate change. No, not global warming, climate change. I think I spent a rant on the difference and the idiots who proposed the term and caused the confusion, so onto the current rant. So, about climate change. Rivers, probably a bad place to plant a house. Probably within 5 miles of a river is a bad place to plant a house. Have these people not heard about the increased flooding? Increased rain in some areas, increased drought in others? So, in my opinon, why in the heck would someone WANT to have their house anywhere near a river? Basic earth ecology tells you that wetlands act as a sponge, when you remove them, the chances for flooding increase....SIGNIFICANTLY! So, lets forget for a moment that the US has destroyed more than 50% of the wetlands that were here in the 1600's therby significantly increasing the risk of flooding. And let's think about the increased amount of rain that some areas will be getting, or have gotten. So we no longer have these sponges, and we have an increased amount of rain.....hmmmm, I don't know about you, but even without my engineering degree I can tell you that math does not add up to anything good. So, again I ask, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BUILD NEAR A RIVER?!?!?! Seriously, think about it. If you are within sight of the river, the area is probably close enough to be part of the 100 year floodplain. So, there is at a 1% chance the area will flood, and then on top of that you are, more than likely, building on a wetland. More wetlands are destroyed, and you are putting your house within an area that will most likely flood, at least once in your lifetime. As I said before, that math is not good. You might ask, "how the heck can you say, at least once in my lifetime?" Well, because of global climate change, severe events are becoming more frequent and more destructive. Meaning, the odds are against you that you will escape a major flooding within your lifetime if you plant your house within 5 miles of a river.... unless you plants it on a big hill, but ask the people in Tennessee about having their house on a hill and how much that helped them. I think that about covers the rant for now. I'm sure something new will tick me off tomorrow. Enjoy your day!

Who's in who's pocket?

I've been doing a little reaserch for work. I've got to look at the latest headlines and find info on Green House Gases (GHG) and in the meantime I find all kinds of other environmental articles. Most make me shake my head and wonder at the....hmmm, not sure whether it's audacity, greed, stupidity, or just plane evilness that makes people do the things they do. For example: Obama has put the breaks on new ozone regulations. Granted this is a little behind the times, by about a month, but I just got this assignment and am catching up. So anyway, a republican senator then proposed an amendment, connected to ANOTHER bill, so that no one could sue the EPA in regards to limiting the ozone levels. The whole "rider" thing on bills is another rant for another day and is one of the small reasons our government is broke as well as inaffective. So, back to my issue with the ozone reg's. We know that ozone is bad, we know that it causes health problems. WE KNOW THIS!!! So why in the hell is someone pushing back the date when regulations need to become more stringent? Oh, the economy, right, tha's already in the toilet, maybe if we fixed the ozone regulations, we'd create jobs. Someone ( most likely an elected official or two) are in the pockets of someone with a lot of money that doesn't want to pay to decrease ozone emissions. I'm just saying.
Another article I read was about the natural gas exploration out in Wyoming that has had a dramatic effect on the sage grouse population. And not a good effect either. The BLM has seriously mismanaged their lands. The amount of grazing combined with the natural gas exploration has had a detrimental effect on the sage grouse population. Because of this the BLM has been taken to court by an environmental group and actually won and a judge has charged the BLM with preparing a new environmental assessment.  So my question is, who's pocket were these idiots in? Obviously someone's since they looked the other way on an obviously critical area that should have been more closely monitored. This is another area that we should have learned the consequences about already. We know that when we destroy habitat entire species have a difficult time rebounding from population crashes. There are countless examples in the US and all over the world. So why does someone need to go to court and get a judge to tell them that they need to look at what they are doing. We are destroying our planet and all anyone is worried about is lining their damn pockets with cash. Don't they realize that they won't be able to use any of their evil gotten gains if there is no planet to live on. Granted the planet will survive long enough for the idiots to spend their money, but they obviously aren't thinking of anyone but themselves. They aren't even thinking of their children or grandchildren, because those are the people that will have to deal with the mess we leave behind.