....“Thoughts from Under the Palm”....: January 2013

Monday, January 7, 2013

Frack is Back

I found Kathy Johnston's short article in the SUN, "State issues first fracking rules", compelling. And concerning. At first I was prepared to be pleased as I read in the opening sentence that "long awaited draft regulations on fracking were recently issued…". DOGGR calls the draft of these regulations a "starting place for discussion".
The first regulation I read required oil companies to "pressure test cement linings in oil wells before fracking". Does that mean they don't currently? Considering that the well linings are critical for prevention of contamination, that comes as an unwelcome surprise. Then I read that "producers would have to continue monitoring oil wells once fracking is complete". I had assumed that this too was already happening as a matter of course.
The next regulation I read called for oil companies to give 10 days notice to DOGGR before fracking. But not to adjacent property owners. But DOGGR will post that information on their website three days before fracking. I have two questions about that. First, why the delay? Second, is that the only action DOGGR proposes to take? No questions? No inspections? Nada? I read on.
The next item seemed a bit more constructive, at first. Oil producers will be compelled to disclose the chemicals they will use in the fracking operation. It will appear on the website FracFocus.* But only "within two months from the time the fracking ends." Isn't that a bit late if we are concerned about what chemicals are being injected into the earth? And then…"oil companies may claim that some chemicals are trade secrets" and not reveal them. What is DOGGR regulating, then?
Naturally, environmental groups in California are concerned. DOGGR appears to be toothless. Perhaps the group is powerless in the face of strong lobbyists and political opposition. My brief look into the background of a few members in Santa Barbara County reveals concerned scientists and environmentally aware citizens. True, some have oil company ties, if only from past employment. But how else does one gain enough experience with oil production to understand how to regulate it?
But the lingering question for me is why bother to spend time drafting regulations that have no real impact on the true concerns around fracking? Am I missing something?
I am reminded that the regulations are a draft, that DOGGR plans to hold "workshops" before formally processing them. Ms. Johnston has supplied the e-mail address for comment (comments@conservation.ca.gov) for those who wish to do so. I am grateful to Ms. Johnston for her report but I can't help wonder if others out there are concerned, or is the current focus on becoming oil independent as a nation too all encompassing?

*The site FracFocus does not have tools for aggregating, hence data sifting/comparisons/graphics across the data reports is nearly impossible. Many states, now including California if these regulations are processed, are allowing drillers to satisfy disclosure requirements through the site rather than through a state website or a multi-state website. FracFocus developer, Ground Water Protection Council, did not develop the site with that intention (the way states are using it) and has no intention of changing. A Bloomberg analysis found that two of every five wells drilled since the site's inception have not had data disclosed. Congresswoman Diana DeGette stated: "FracFocus is just a fig leaf for the industry to be able to say they’re doing something in terms of disclosure.".

Stateimpact.npr.org
eenews.net
switchboard.nrdc.org

Leadership Thoughts to Ponder

"If carbon dioxide continues to increase, the study group finds no reason to doubt that climate changes will result and no reason to believe that these changes will be negligible."

National Academy of Sciences Ad Hoc Study Group, 1979

"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

Abraham Lincoln

"Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones."

Winston Churchill

"…Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.”

Martin Luther King , Jr.

"If you wanted to create an educational environment that was directly opposed to what the brain was good at doing, you probably would design something like a classroom."

John Medina

"I am confident that if we change the way we think about the environment, the value we place on the planet from an economic standpoint and the role that powerful industries play in our political systems, we can make a bold step forward toward a clean-energy future."

Al Gore

"If those of us concerned about climate change turn out to be wrong - but we refocus America anyway...our country will have cleaner air and water, lower energy bills, and healthier people. And what if the climate skeptics...who say climate change is a hoax turn out to be wrong - but we listen and do nothing?"

Thomas Friedman: Hot, Flat, and Crowded.

"Make no mistake: catastrophic climate change represents a threat to human security, global stability, and - yes - even to American national security."

U.S. Senator John Kerry

Helpful Books for Thinking About Leadership Education

What is Leadership Education Resources (LER)?

LER, a division of Rich Gamble Associates, is a think tank and resource center for those endeavoring to teach leadership, character, and values in schools. Whether writing, introducing, or administering a full school curriculum, a one year program, or seeking methods to enhance the skills of your current student leaders, Leadership Education Resources offers the organization, planning concepts, individual lesson plans, training methods, and even complete leadership curricula specific to your needs. Read Rich's article "Fostering Future Leaders" published in Independent School Magazine in Spring of 2009.