Environmental Geochemistry Issues Semi-Monthly

 Here is a continuation of the issue covered in my very first post dated December 11, 2012 concerning Big Oil Mineral Rights vs. Agricultural Land Ownership Rights in Kern County, California.  It would appear that the Kern County Board of Supervisors has begun the process of creating a new set of rules for "oil drilling on prime farmland".  The follow-up story source is from KGET Channel 17 News in Bakersfield, California and can be read by clicking the link below: Oil and Ag resolution approved by county Follow Up information:    How do oil and ag feel about permitting plan?  It's complicated (John COX, Bakersfield Californian ; October 11, 2015) http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/how-do-oil-and-ag-feel-about-permitting-plan-it/article_8fcd68eb-2013-57a7-b093-505cbd8f4e17.html Selected Follow-Up Documentation: Kern County Oil and Gas Permitting Program Annual Progress Report  (December 1, 2016 to November 30, 2017) [Lore...

Unconventional natural gas production via fracking processes and its influence on global climate change has been hotly debated...  My interest in studying this particular subject is to present published scientific research from both sides of this contentious issue. My findings include a 53 minute Radio presentation produced by the Allegheny Front , which covers several aspects of unconventional gas production; the original research publications by Robert W. HOWARTH, Renee SANTORO,and Anthony INGRAFFEA; as well as opposing commentary made by Lawrence M. CATHLES III, Larry BROWN, Milton TAAM, and Andrew HUNTER discussed. Finally, I have thrown in a publication by J. David HUGHES which compares and contrasts research findings from the first HOWARTH et al. publication and a Powerpoint presentation made by Timothy J. SKONE from the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in 2011. Gas Planet: The Impact of the Natural Gas Boom on Climate Change   http://interactive.wx...

Oil Sands Development has been a major public concern in Alberta, CANADA in recent years.   For those who are not quite familiar with this practice, the surface mining of oil sand deposits involves the extraction of bitumen ; a naturally occurring, viscous mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with warm water. After the desired product is removed, a “slurry” composed of sand, silt, and clay materials, as well as residual hydrocarbons and associated mobilized toxic trace elements is generated as mine waste. Eventually, this waste is disposed of in excavated areas commonly known as “tailing ponds” or “tailing impoundment areas” at these mining sites. Because environmental impacts and human health exposure assessments to oil sands mine wastes are not completely understood -- and are in the process of being scientifically reviewed and evaluated -- tailing pond management & reclamation, water usage, and food & water quality are all subjects of discussi...