Chevron Tanks on Cook Inlet Endangered by Volcano. Drain, Baby, Drain! (Updated)
~~Mt. Redoubt 3/23/09 courtesy of Alaska Volcano Observatory
Here’s the latest update from the Chevron website concerning their tank farm on the Drift River at the base of Mt. Redoubt.
March 24, 2009: 10:00 A.M. AST Update
A preliminary aerial recon assessment done yesterday afternoon (March 23rd) revealed there was significant mud and water around our Drift River Terminal. Some mud and water topped over the outside dike but very early indications are that the dike was not breached and performed as intended. The berms around the tanks also appeared intact and no water made it into the containment areas. There was mud around the terminal hangar and some water appears to have made it to some of the industrial buildings that house offices, equipment and pumps.As soon as it is determined that it is safe to do so, specially trained personnel will be dispatched to the CIPL (Cook Inlet Pipeline) terminal to assess the extent of any damage. CIPL will then develop comprehensive plans to complete any cleanup and repairs as soon as practical in order to place the terminal back into service.
Chevron has released these pictures to the media, and presumably we are supposed to feel better that the berms around the oil tanks have not been breached. But clearly from the pictures the containment wall is at its limit, as mud flow and debris are starting to lap over the side.
Chevron tanks with the Drift River (L) and Cook Inlet directly behind.
So right now, according to the group Cook Inletkeeper, there are 6,000,000 gallons of crude oil with volcanic mud flows pressing up against a containment wall one side, the Drift River which flows right into Cook Inlet on the other side, and an active volcano spewing ash 9 miles high right up the hill.
Is Chevron going to drain these tanks? Well, they’re not sure. They are talking about it. They can’t make up their minds. Decisions, decisions….
Have I mentioned that these photos were taken on the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
So, while Chevron executives are stroking their beards, scratching their heads and chewing on the ends of their pencils, wondering what to do, and while the Alaska Volcano Observatory tells us that we could be experiencing activity and further eruptions for weeks or months, it might be a good time to drop them a little note and tell them what you think. (Contact information below)
Drain, baby, drain.
Here’s a press release from Cook Inletkeeper:
ANCHORAGE, AK – Cook Inletkeeper today called on Chevron and responsible state and federal agencies to draw-down oil stored at the base of the erupting Mt. Redoubt volcano in Cook Inlet, Alaska. Chevron had previously refused to divulge the volume of oil in tanks at the Drift River Terminal, citing Homeland Security Act concerns. At the outset of the Mt. Redoubt eruption yesterday, however, Chevron announced over 6 million gallons of oil remaining at the tank farm. Reports late Monday revealed significant flooding and debris flows at the Drift River terminal.
“Since the start of the current seismic activity at Mt. Redoubt, Cook Inletkeeper has been criticized for asking Chevron how much oil remained in the tanks at Drift River, and why it could hide behind the Homeland Security Act when Alyeska reports the same information every day at the Valdez Terminal,” said Bob Shavelson, Executive Director of Cook Inletkeeper. “Now it’s time for Chevron and the responsible state and federal agencies to safeguard Cook Inlet fisheries and the families and businesses they support, and to get the oil out of the terminal in a safe and responsible manner.”
The Drift River terminal sits immediately adjacent to Drift River, which experienced similar flooding that threatened the oil facility the last time Mt. Redoubt erupted in 1989-1990. The facility sits in the middle of Cook Inlet’s rich and highly productive sport and commercial fisheries. The Alaska Department of Fish & Game estimates the value of commercial and sport-caught fish in Upper Cook Inlet at well over $1.5 billion in 2008.
“We depend on clean and healthy Cook Inlet fisheries to feed our families,” said Tom Evans, an Alaskan Native from the Village of Nanwalek in Lower Cook Inlet. “It makes no sense to store oil at the base of an erupting volcano.”
“Today is the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and we’ve learned that complacency is not one decision, or 100 decisions, but thousands of small decisions that lead up to a regulatory safety net that’s riddled with gaping holes,” said Shavelson. “We call the situation in Cook Inlet “The 1000 cuts of Complacency,” and it’s time we learned the lessons of the Exxon Valdez.”
“My livelihood depends on fresh, healthy Cook Inlet salmon,” said Ben Jackinsky, a commercial setnet fisherman from Kasilof. “This is a replay from the last eruption in 1989, and Chevron and our state and federal agencies need to take steps now to protect our fisheries.”
In public statements, Chevron has suggested it retained oil in 2 of the 7 tanks at Drift River to maintain tank stability. But the fact that 5 tanks are apparently empty undermines Chevron’s rationale.
“Worker safety is paramount, and we need to ensure the oil can be removed in a safe and orderly fashion,” said Shavelson. “But we never knew Chevron planned to keep 6 million gallons of crude at the base of an erupting volcano until yesterday, because Chevron kept hiding behind the façade of Homeland Security.”
Public agencies responsible for the safe and legal operation of the Drift River terminal include the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.
NOT IN THE MOOD FOR ANOTHER OIL SPILL?
CONTACT:
Governor Sarah Palin -(907) 465-3500 Email – HERE
Chevron – Email HERE.
U.S. Coast Guard – (907) 271-2660
Video of flyover available HERE.
Drain them. Play safe.
crossing fingers that right decisions will be made momentarily..
I hate it when they don’t listen to you. How long ago were you warning about this? I hope they hold.
GROAN!!!
They think it is going to get any safer?! It would have been safe last week….
Gosh, this shouldn`t depend on luck, but looks like you will need plenty of it so
GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK!!!
Happy to submit a letter to Chevron. Where should we send? Anybody have a useful e-address?
I’m in the oil-spill-prone San Francisco Bay area and we feel your anxiety keenly!
This is clearly another totally bogus and asinine attack by a blogger on big oil. Like 6 million gallons of leaching oil can hurt anything? Oil is good for mother nature, right? Just like helicopter hunts and gassing pups and letting whales become extinct? No?
Huh.
Play safe=cost money. They probably calculated the costs and found a disater to be cheaper. Man I need to sell my car and buy a horse.
And, like totally.
Where’s Sarah?
Where stands GINO Saracuda on this? As the GINO, is she not able to act swiftly in the face of a potentially imminent disaster? Does she not have such powers at her disposal to INSIST Chevron act now… BEFORE it’s too late? Can she not declare the issue an emergency for the great state of Alaska, and actually PREVENT a catastrophy?
Then I woke up! How absurd of me! I dreamt of an alternate universe, apparently!
The pix show the obvious signs of an impending disaster, what with the flow already breaching the containment wall ever so slightly. As I pray that this is ALL that happens, I fear the overwhelming of the wall, and it’s disasterous consequences. Will GINO pull some ‘I voiced my concerns to Chevron weeks ago and they failed to respond’ press release out of thin air? Again with the ‘It’s not my fault… blame someone else’ syndrome? Has ANYTHING come out of the Govenors office? Can the Legislature act in spite of her lack of concern? How will she pull her keister out of this if all hell breaks loose at the site? There won’t be any need for any ‘gate’ on this one. Mother Nature, of which she is so fond, may be her undoing after all. Imagine that, a woman Saracuda has NO influence over!
Time for all Alaskans to get on the phone and send those emails to GIMO, (Govenor In MIND Only) the Legislature, ADN… anyone and everyone that may make a difference and avert this disaster.
Before it’s sadly, too late.
Its already too late to take the oil out by tanker.
Once Mt. Redoubt settles down, the facility needs to be completely relocated.
Until then, pray those tanks don’t get hit by any more mudflow, especially pyroclastics.
Have you cross-posted this elsewhere, like Huffington Post, yet?
I have written a piece specifically for Huffington Post. Link is in the next thread. Thanks. AKM
This looks like how she acted with the freezing, starving folks in W. AK. Instead of acting decisively, she’ll sit around and wait for the media to prompt her. With the warnings she had a few weeks back, there would have been time to take action, and like Big Slick said, RELOCATE! I, too, think it’s too late to act – too much danger of mud claiming human lives.
@Bigslick–why is it too late to take the oil out?
Sending virtual vibes that the worst doesn’t happen.
I hope this isn’t a “Oh, s**t. Here we go. Hang on for dear life!!” moment.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much of an eruption to cause massive damage.
Lots of ash fall and pyroclastic flow like Pompei
Structural collapse like Mt. St. Helens
Snow and ice melt with following land slides and mud floods maybe like Mt. Redoubt??
Take deep breaths and think positive.
I don’t suppose Sarah is volunteering to sacrifice herself for the good of all by throwing her body between the mountain and the oil tanks. Kind of a human shield.
It occurs to me that if Chevron leaves the tanks full, it saves the money of emptying them and can claim full damages on insurance if the worst happens.
@tigerwine–I, too, think it’s too late to act – too much danger of mud claiming human lives.
How about sending the Chevron executives who made the decison to leave the oil in the tanks out there in their Artic Cat gear to do it? No loss of human life in my book.
BahstinBoyo aka Wrangler Tractor PalinNo Gravatar (07:50:30) :
Where’s Sarah?
Where stands GINO Saracuda on this?
She said she’s the commander of the Ak National Guard. This is a “Call to Arms,” to borrow a phrase. It’s time to be the War Governor. How dare that commie, socialist, tree huger mountain make another gotcha moment for her.
Or she could wait till the courts make her.
Well somebody has got to be first to say this.
“Following a mountainous explosion and release of hot toxic gasses, Sarah Palin has once more made and ash of herself.”
I wonder is Palin would bring Graham back for the cleanup?
Marnie…
“Following a mountainous explosion and release of hot toxic gasses, Sarah Palin has once more made and ash of herself.”
BRILLIANT! That made me laugh out loud!
I could scream, this kind of cr*p makes me so mad!
I’m contacting Ken Salazar and the President. Like we need this sh*t happening right now. Governor Palin is a complete incompetent idiot. and the AK legislature is pretty d*m lame too.
Insurance? You can insure yourself if you put your oil tanks under an active volcano? Nawwww or … maybe?
The problem is, they should have drained the oil before Redoubt decided to erupt. Really, like someone else asked – did it ever make sense to store oil at the foot of an active volcano in the first place?
But that’s not the point at the moment. Can they safely go in and drain the oil while Redoubt is still rumbling and spewing? Because you know it won’t be the executives who do the draining, but the ordinary employees who will be at risk of really being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And what does draining the tanks mean? Do they have to get oil trucks in there or is it connected to a pipeline that they can just let the oil flow out to . . . where?
I’m not criticizing, but for those of us who don’t live near this sort of facility, there are some things that seem complicated and unanswered.
And I’ll add, clearly, they need to do something before there is another Exxon Valdez type disaster. I’m just afraid they have waited too long and actually can’t do anything until Redoubt calms down.
And then we are back to – what the heck were they thinking when they chose that location? Argh!
Thanks for the post. We tried for weeks to get the Volcano Readiness Plan for the Drift River Terminal, as well as the volume of oil remaining in the tanks. Chevron said it was not required to divulge the information under the Homeland Security Act, and the US Coast Guard let them get away with it – despite the fact Alyeska reports the tank volumes at Valdez every day. When the Seabulk Pride oil tanker was ripped from its mooring by ice and tides at Nikiski in 2006, it ran aground with 5 million gallons of product aboard. Because Cook Inlet lacks adequate response capacity, assets had to be diverted from Prince William Sound – thereby weakening PWS’s response capacity. This time we have 6 million gallons sitting at the base of an erupting volcano. We are also in federal court challenging EPA’s latest permit allowing Chevron to dump billions of gallons of toxic waste into Cook Inlet fisheries each year; Cook Inlet is the only coastal waterbody in the nation where this is allowed, and in the last permitting round, EPA actually tripled the volume of toxics allowed for discharge.
Bob Shavelson
Cook Inletkeeper
Maybe she can get her BFF Franklin Graham to pray the volcano into submission.
Who were the bright lights who okayed this installation near the slopes of a dormant volcano? I thought it was our job to evolve and develop smarter brains.
After they drain the tanks, they should move them to higher ground. Long-term, this is no place for oil tanks.
Better even, drain the tanks, remove the tanks, and replace them with wind turbines.
I am not qualified as a politician, or as an oil person, but I at least qualify for idiot status and even an idiot can see that is a bloody stupid place to store oil. Yet again mankind is threatening one of natures beautiful places along with its wonderful creatures.
There have been weeks of warning from this volcano, whose head will roll if the worst happens.
Not GINO’s I expect, it will be someone else’s fault. Her parents really did graduate from the ‘naughty table’, school of thought, didn’t they.
We all know parents who went there, the ones who when their toddler bangs his/her head on a table they don’t say “that was daft, don’t do that again coz it hurts”, they smack the table and say “naughty table, bad table”.
Denmark went from a country 90% dependent on oil, to a country 100% using (and exporting excess) renewable energy (much of it wind) in less than ten years.
Sad as it is, the truth is that corporate greed always wins out over the best interests of the public. I pray that this will begin to change under President Obama, but so far, I have seen no signs of change (i.e.–AIG’s bonuses).
@Pat, Washington state (09:34:45) :
No roads to anywhere I don’t think, so no trucks. I believe that the oil would all have to be pumped out into tanker ships and moved on out of there. Could be difficult to do that, since the ash would affect ship engines as much as it would truck and airplane engines. NOT that I’m at all supporting the fact that this facility is at the base of an active volcano or suggesting that they were smart to leave the oil there; I’m just pointing out that it may, actually, be difficult to move it at this juncture.
Moose,
While there is no doubt that Denmark has a terrific energy policy, they also have a highly favorable geography for wind power (lots of wind, small country). Last time I was there, they also still had autos and busses and trucks and taxis and ships, so I don’t believe they are satisfying 100% of their energy demand from renewable sources.
But they are a darn good example of the kind of progress that can come from serious thinking and political will.
Cook Inletkeeper- Do you know if the Governor’s office has been informed about the situation. I would think she would have been informed weeks ago when the possiblity of an eruption was raised.
We need State officials out there now. In the Exxon Valdez spill they didn’t show up until a week later.
Having been to Valdez, and seen the destruction still there, I am mortified that there may be more oil/ecological disaster imminent for Alaskans and Alaskan wildlife.
BahstinBoyo aka Wrangler Tractor Palin (08:40:35) :
Marnie…
“Following a mountainous explosion and release of hot toxic gasses, Sarah Palin has once more made and ash of herself.”
BRILLIANT! That made me laugh out loud!
I should really apologize to the world of mudpuppies, but I had to get it out of my system.
Now I can come back later this afternoon and get seriouser.
Wow…Feel your pain mudpups…Typical politics as usual..They tell ya what you want to hear at the time…Then do the opposite..
Anybody want to chip in and buy Jindal a ticket for up North? A little field trip to volcano country?
My cousin suggested dropping Sarah into the volcano to see if that would appease the gods… Somehow I think it might make them madder.
But, it is a thought….
Thanks for adding Palins and Chevron’s contact info AKM……..
I did write to Salazar and the President. I asked them to address the possible oil spill issue and asked why in the world the Gov of AK hadn’t done something beforehand and that IF we get past this close call, to MAKE Chevron move them and FINE them big time for reckless environmental, health and economic endangerment.
Oh and I asked them to also kick the gov of AK in the arse, lol……thought they’d get a good laugh out of that.
Everyone feel free to add pressure to Palin through our governement. Go for it bloggers.
Blue Idaho…..AKM added contact info at the bottom of the article. I’m sure the d*m governor was well aware of all threats and was willing to trust god instead of do her job.
NOT IN THE MOOD FOR ANOTHER OIL SPILL?
CONTACT:
Governor Sarah Palin -(907) 465-3500 Email – HERE
Chevron – Email HERE.
U.S. Coast Guard – (907) 271-2660
Hello All;
I have never posted before but have been reading and applauding this site since I discovered it in October 08. In many ways it became my lifeline from the ignorant and vituperative comments made about our now President in the mainstream press.
IMHO your GINO is the stupidest most ammoral sociopath I have ever seen grace a governors mansion and I can’t wait for the day of her downfall! The only good thing about her is that the day she was added to my own state’s repug candidates ticket was the day his chances at the WH were over. (Yes I am currently residing in AZ the home of not only McShame but of the wonderful Senator John Kyl who puts in all the earmarks McShame pretends AZ doesn’t get!) Sigh.
In any event this latest environmental disaster waiting to happen in the Cook Inlet has me completely outraged. I remember the horror of Exxon Valdez and cannot believe a similart disaster is now just waiting to happen.
I know it may not be much but the following is the email I just shot off to your GINO’s office. The way I look at it every little straw piled on her back has to help in her coming meltdown.
“As a concerned US citizen and voter I am very interested to see how your governor performs in a potential crisis situation. I would like to know how she is addressing the current dangerous situation of the Chevron Oil Tanks at the base of an erupting volcano. Is she working with Chevron and the USCG and using her gubernatorial powers to prevent another Exxon Valdez type of incident from ocurring? Has she contacted FEMA or other federal authorities who may be able to assist?
What exactly is being done? I find the absence of any public information to be disturbing and hope I am wrong in thinking this situation is taking a back seat to the Governor’s personal issues with the newest ethics complaint against her. This is a time to put the good of the people she serves ahead of her personal problems.
My opinion of whether Governor Palin should go on to seek national office will be greatly influenced by seeing her response in this situation.
Thank you.”
Hang in there mudpuppies and keep on fighting the good fight. I believe in Karma and I think the gov’s is about to bite her in the butt. Soon.
OT…
Ok I have been very sick and missed yesterdays thread on SP and wanted to add…
SO I am wondering if we should send her a traditional Yup’ik Kuspaq (shirt) and see if she’ll wear it as advertising for the Crisis in Rural Alaska???
Off for the day the powers going out for 5 hours today so they can put up a new power line. Catch y’all later.
Ann Strongheart
Nunam Iqua Food Drive
c/o Ann Strongheart
P.O. Box 7
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666
nunamiquayouth@yahoo.com
http://anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com
Say No – I see that and I am contacting now. I just would like to know how long Gino has known . You know?
@Ann Strongheart (10:42:54) :
Well, you know there were photos of her out and about in a grocery store wearing a Kuspaq before being tapped by McCain that were referenced as to why the Republican party obviously needed to spend $180,000 to appropriatly clothe her for her exhaulted new status.
BTW, Ann, how do Yup’iks feel about non-Natives wearing Kuspaqs? I have one that I love and have been told that I look good in it, but I’m not insulting Yup’iks and Inupiaqs and anyone else for whom it’s traditional clothing by wearing it, am I?
Yesterday there was video footage of the Flyby —
not being familure with the area it was hard to tell
But it looked tooooo close for my comfort
The Oil Company or Storage Facility should have had comprehensive disaster plans on FILE – with estimated time tables & emergency materials & personal site evacuation. Problem is – we have laws & regulations on books – just companies don’t follow them and AGENCIES don’t enforce them !!!
Ann Strongheart…Sorry to hear your sick…Hope you get better soon…Love your articles..N. ca here…
“There were blocks of glacial ice the size of a car and train in mud flows,” geologist Kristi Wallace with the U.S. Geological Survey said.”
keep in mind when viewing, everything was white snow covered before the eruption. has the gov said anything yet?
(raw footage and ktuu report)
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10065196
Here is how to contact Salazar.
http://www.doi.gov/contact.html
Thanks, AKM, for the links to Palin and Chevron. I emailed them both. I still believe that greed will prevail over doing what is right, but at least I didn’t remain silent.
To think that we are the species on this earth that had the reasoning part of our brain develop because it is certainly evident that the intelligent part of our brains did not develop in certain humans that walk among us! This developing situation and the inaction to react for a positive outcome is insane. At the very least Palin should be requesting Federal Disaster Assistance for the ash fall that has already shut down commerical airline traffic just to get the process started. I’m pretty sure that request has to come directly from the governor. Her lack of thinking is truely unbelievable.
This is the letter I sent to Sec’y Salazar. Hope it helps.
Dear Secretary Salazar,
It is imperative that action be taken immediately regarding the oil tanks that are at the foot of Mt. Redoubt which is (and has been) erupting. Photos clearly show that the dam walls are in danger of being breached. We cannot afford another Exxon Valdez. Many people’s lives and livelihoods depend on Cook Inlet as well as the countless numbers of wildlife and fish which live there. We cannot afford to watch while Governor Palin sits idly by waiting for whatever it is she is waiting for. It is unthinkable that she has not declared some sort of emergency and called upon the resources of the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Guard. This issue did not just happen. Mt. Redoubt has been rumbling for weeks and yet no plans were put into effect. I am thinking that closing the barn door after the horse has run away is a very bad way to run a government and a corporation. Please give this vital matter your speedy attention. Thank you.
Welcome Star24 and all others venturing forth that I may have missed! hugs to all and come on in!
Blue Idaho —-heck yes the Gov had to have know ALL about this, it’s a matter of national security ya know. This could bite her in the rear.
OT—Regina @ palingates has done an update and rewrite to Palin’s religiongate.
quite good!! well detailed and very revealing.
http://palingates.blogspot.com/2009/03/religiongate-part-2.html
Thank you, AKM…great info. You know, I don’t understand why that tank farm ever ended up at the base of a volcano. Seems like that would be the last place on earth to store oil. Well, other than maybe a fault line.
Say No toPalin~ This is dsturbing stuff…Reminds m of Jim Jones…
If this disaster happens, God forbid, then I hope that Alaska will ask for Palin’s resignation.
In a sense, Jindal is right(God help me for semi agreeing with a repub.).
What is the use of early warning if an oil company can leave oil at the base of a volcano whose threat level has increased next to a river that is impacted by that same volcano?
The early warning system did work. They chose to hedge their bets and now they are caught in a no win situation.
Did Palin have any say whatsoever in the decision to keep the oil there?
Did she have an opinion either way? Should she have? She should have a moral obligation to the people of Alaska over big business.
Does her moral compass even consider people these days? After the time it took to get her to acknowledge hungry people and children in the wilds of Alaska, I wonder. Or is everything now a weigh in. Run in 2012 vs Alaska and it’s needs?
So KTUU got it wrong? @ 2:24 she says 600,000 gallons not 6 million. Which is correct? Either way, they should remove it immediately.
I’m writing, calling.
It is six million according to Chevron itself. 74,000 barrels in each of 2 tanks. 42 gallons in a barrel. AKM
Make that 2:34
what if Chevron hadn’t had all sorts of time to remove 5 tanks of oil? last time they only had 24 hr notice before it blew.
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10051900
For those who are unable to telephone the Coast Guard: In addition to Chevron and your steamed governor, I emailed these coastguard people who appear to bbe connected with the Alaska district.
Cecil.D.McNutt@uscg.mil
Thomas.M.Deely@uscg.mil
To give the devil her due – this is like Obama with the economic crisis/Iraq War – I don’t think it started with her. When did that tank farm go in? And, as others have stated, why was it ever allowed? And the fact that they refused to divulge how much they had in their tanks because of Homeland Security is ridiculous. (Alyeska did on a daily basis.) BUT, where Palin can be faulted is in not using all in her power to get those tanks emptied, or at least shored up. It’s not like a tornado – she has had warning, and not once has she mentioned that this emergency even exists. Unlike the W. AK emergency, where she said she could not act because it was not a natural disaster, this is!
New thread article AKM’s posted to Huffpo
@InJuneau,
I have never heard of any natives being insulted by a non native wearing a kuspaq, guess it’s kind of like wearing a Hawaii shirt or dress. The only thing I have seen is that natives generally don’t like anyone dancing without permission. Here you have to have your “First Dance” at potlatch and ask permission from not only your tribe but also the surrounding tribes by giving out lots of gifts. But I will get into that more on a post I am going to do about potlatches.
We had our annual potlatch last weekend and I (well mainly hubby b/c CC and I were stuck home the first night sick) took lots of pictures.
There are very specific rules when it comes to traditional things especially hunting and dancing. I am still learning them all, don’t know that I’ll ever know them all but thanks to my hubby I know much more than I thought I ever would.
Well our powers out for the next 5 hours, gotta conserve my puter battery.
Ann
If at this point and time ( with this amount of potential bad publicity, with oil companies posting record profits and with the recent swelling of public outrage at irresponsible executives) they don’t voluntarily swoop in with an army of PR firms filming them removing the oil, they will never, and I repeat never act in the publics best interest. If there is anything I’d like to see nationalized it is the oil companies.
Wow I’m an oil company!!!! I can poke a straw into the ground and suck up oil I didn’t make and that doesn’t belong to me!!!!! Look at me!!!!! I’m a productive member of society because I can poke a straw in the ground.
Pat hetic Lo serS
@Strangelet–good points. Should have said Samso (an island off Denmark) produces more than 100% of the electricity it needs from renewable resources. It is effectively carbon negative. Carbon emissions in Denmark overall are down 13.3% from 1990 levels. 19% of Denmark’s electricity comes from wind. 10% in Spain and 10% in Portugal.
Alaska’s geography is such that we could be doing so much more.
@Ann Strongheart (12:34:30) :
Oh, thank you for the update and “clearance” to continue to wear my kuspaq! And I know some about First Dance, as I have a friend and her older kid doing their’s some time this spring (wish I could be there to see it). It’s the same down here, and I have another friend whose little tiny kiddo will be doing hers next year at Celebration. That one I will be able to see!
Ooo, I’m looking forward to your post about potlatches! You’re so fabulous to fill all the rest of us in on traditions and traditional stuff! We LOVE you, and we hope you all get well soon!
Did you know this ironical fact ??
http://impressive.net/people/gerald/2007/02/12/11-06-02-sm.html
Wildlife Avenger–that is cool, and so appropriate…
In any battle between a volcano and something else, the volcano always wins!
How come no one noticed where the tanks were? If they have noticed, how come no one has mentioned about moving them the f*** out of harms way? Very scary to me, and I hope and pray the tanks stay safe.
Star24 (10:42:23) :
Hello All;
And Hello Back atcha.
Please feel free to speak more often.
Hey, people Long time, So far I hear there were a couple of eruptions, small ones. I got a call saying they were expecting a big one. Do you think GINO will address this. I wonder what Jindal thinks of this money being spent to moniter this now. Hmpf.
At any rate, WOW!
UK LadyNo Gravatar (09:45:03) :
I am not qualified as a politician, or as an oil person, but I at least qualify for idiot status and even an idiot can see that is a bloody stupid place to store oil. Yet again mankind is threatening one of natures beautiful places along with its wonderful creatures.
UK Lady, the LAST thing you are is an idiot!
my fingers are crossed that you guys miss the bullet on this one.
This does not bode well. What a coincidence that another oil disaster is looming so near to the Valdez anniversary.
I don’t think people are going to wait 20 years of ‘court’ this time around.
I was going to address star24′s letter, but realistically, don’t expect the Governor to do anything, again. A human disaster was looming in the Yukon Delta villages months and months ago and if it wasn’t for bloggers sending food and money for fuel, those people wouldn’t make it to spring.
The Alaskan Governor did nothing to avert that disaster and when goaded into doing something, brought cookies and evangelicals. There was no declaration of an emergency, no state airlift of provisions — nothing. Yet, it was all in her power to organize something more than a photo shoot.
Now tell me what’s so different with this issue?
She isn’t going to do squat. She actually believes that taking action in times of crises reflects poorly on her. It’s sad, but true. In this case, there are the oil companies she wants to inveigle. oops, conflicted much?
Guess we’ll have to do it ourselves, once again. Oh it’ll embarrass the hell out of her and she’ll do anything to thwart taking some concrete preventative measures ensuring that those oil tanks don’t rupture and flood everything in oil.
That oil has to be moved, immediately, by all means necessary, no ands ifs or buts or alsos. If the Pompeiian’s had volcano detection, would they have evacuated the city? Knowing of imminent danger is one thing, doing something about it is another.
They say the dinosaur became extinct because of a radical change in climate.
The human race may become extinct when we can’t live off the polluted land anymore. Future archaeologists won’t guess that it were the laws and money which lead to the extinction.
Praying things will work out just doesn’t cut it, Palin. Now move it or face your recall, you haven’t been doing your job, for all of the people of Alaska.
I emailed Gov. Palin as well as a note off to the Chevron email address.
Right after, that both Senators Feinstein, Boxer as well as Governor Schwarzenegger got an email. As bad as a spill up there would be bad for all of AK it would eventually hit CA beaches as well. They have an interest in making sure nothing bad happens.
Wouldn’t that be embarrassing to GINO if she was forced to do something because pressure was applied from outside the State…?
I think Gov. jingle is correct in his assessment, that monitoring volcano activity is a waste of time and resources.
Gino proves the point. Why bother, if you aren’t going to do anything with this information.
We need a system that can override stupidity, insensitivity, and the shear lack of common sense.
just sayin
What idiot would build storage tanks at the base of a volcano?
And, what idiot in State Goverment would allow this?
I sure hope that Alaska gets a piece of the Stim Bill for education. But, then again, you can’t teach common sense.
As a follow-up to my (01:10:28) post. I made a phone call to Chevron last night. This morning after hearing there were more eruptions I talked to people in both Senator Boxers office and well as speaking to someone in Gov. Schwarzenegger Office saying nothing was being done based on the internet stories coming from people on the ground in AK. I asked them to please ‘take action ‘.
My very LAST phone call was actually to your GINO.. the number was posted under the story.
Your Gov’s call was the MOST interesting. I told my story to the first operator. I was put on hold for about a minute. When someone picked up again it was a brand new person… much younger. Since I was talking to a NEW person I asked if I needed to start all over with my Question..? I repeated to the second person what I said before. Her attitude to me was (a little snippy )…we are working on it. Rather than yake it seriously she was all defensive and wanted to blow me off..”we are working on it”
The cavalier attitude and/or defensive posture was totally different than the call to both my Senator or Governor’s Office. I guess this is that ‘folksy’ way your GINO does business and operates…. Yu.. betcha.
I do feel sorry for Alaskans.