Environmental Geochemistry Issues Semi-Monthly

Injection well being drilled at Cheyenne refinery (Mead GRUVER,  Associated Press ; December 26, 2013) Research Articles: Review of Selenium Toxicity in the Aquatic Food Chain (Steven J. HAMILTON, 2004) http://www.acee-ceaa.gc.ca/050/documents_staticpost/cearref_16259/MK-PRO-0023.pdf The Need for a Reassessment of the Safe Upper Limit of Selenium in Drinking Water  (VINCETI et al., 2013) http://www.researchgate.net/publication/233878889_The_need_for_a_reassessment_of_the_safe_upper_limit_of_selenium_in_drinking_water/file/9fcfd50ec5311b8652.pdf

Ex- BP Engineer found Guilty of 1 Obstruction Charge   (Michael KUNZELMAN, Associated Press ; ABCNews; December 18, 2013) http:// abcnews.go.com /m/story?id=21259732

Caught this news story this morning! Yet another incident of "combustible" water resulting from Methane contamination of the groundwater system... Dixie , LA family finds their tap water is flammable   (Victoria SHIRLEY, KSLA 12 ; December 2, 2013) http:// m.ksla.com /#!/ newsDetail /24116649

California Fracking Regulation Proposals Sees Mixed Response   (Jeremy MILLER, High Country News - The Goat ; November 22, 2013) http:// www.hcn.org /blogs/goat/ california - fracking -regulations-proposals-see-mixed-response? utm_source = wcn1 & utm_medium =email California's Next Frontier:  Development of the Monterey Shale (Heather CORKEN, Jason HUTT and Michael WELLER, Oil & Gas Financial News ; December 2, 2013) http:// www.ogfj.com /topics/device/mobile/t/84547432/ california -s-next-frontier-development-of-the- monterey - shale.htm ?m_n=true   Report: Drilling California:  A Reality Check on the Monterey Shale (J. David HUGHES, Post Carbon Institute ; December 2013) http:// www.postcarbon.org /reports/Drilling- California_FINAL.pdf

U. S.  Methane Emissions 50% More than EPA Measure (Wendy KOCH, USA Today; November 25, 2013) http:// www.usatoday.com /story/news/nation/2013/11/25/us-methane-emissions-study- epa /3699735/ Article: Anthropogenic Emissions of Methane in the United States   (MILLER et al., 2013) http:// m.pnas.org /content/early/2013/11/20/1314392110.abstract? sid =75f45f52-e74b-43b5-9145-ca1ab8bef442 N. B .:  This article has just been released today as a part of the Early Edition from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ( PNAS ).  Therefore, only the link to this article's abstract has been provided.

A different issue of disturbing Arctic seafloor sediments for Oil & Gas extraction (Blog posts from June 8 and 11, 2013) was brought to my attention this morning.  In this current blog posting, I present articles discussing Methane formed within Seafloor sediments; and how sediment disturbance might cause the release of this potent greenhouse gas from our oceans to the atmosphere.  They are as follows: A Review of the Geochemistry of Methane in Natural Gas Hydrate (K. A. KVENVOLDEN, 1995) http:// www.che.ncsu.edu / ILEET /CHE596web_Fall2011/resources/natural-gas/Methane%20Hydrate- Geochemistry.pdf Twice as Much Methane Escaping the Arctic Seafloor (Betty OSKIN, Livescience , November 24, 2013) http:// m.livescience.com /41476-more-arctic-seafloor-methane- found.html Arctic Storms, Warming Means More Methane Released   (Brian KAHN, Climate Central ; November 24, 2013) http:// www.climatecentral.org /news/storms-warming-mean-more-arctic-methane-being-rel...

Settlement Reached with Kern County Oil Firm for Discharging Fracking Fluid (Pamela MARTINEAU, ACWA ; November 15, 2013) http:// www.acwa.com /news/water-quality/settlement-reached- kern -county-oil-firm-discharging- fracking -fluid $60,000 Penalty for Fracking Fluid in Unlined Kern County Pit (Mark GROSSI, Fresno Bee ; November 15, 2013) http:// www.fresnobee.com /2013/11/15/3611373/60000-penalty-for- fracking - fluid.html N. B .:  Includes Tom FRANTZ's Youtube Video shot in October 2012 ! Draft Settlement Agreement and Stipulation Order for 30 day Public Review and Comment : http:// www.waterboards.ca.gov / centralvalley / board_decisions / tentative_orders / vintage_stip / vintage_stip.pdf

New!   The Camp Fire (2018) Monitoring water quality after wildfires  (Katherine BOURZAC, C&EN ; November 28, 2018) https://cen.acs.org/environment/water/Monitoring-water-quality-wildfires/96/i48 Having run across a recent article today from the Modesto Bee concerning water quality concerns brought about by the Rim Fire in California; my interest was piqued as to how fires, whether prescribed or wild, affect water chemistry and quality.  Below, I have provided the aforementioned newspaper article, as well as four research articles on this rather intriguing subject.  All are as follows: Potential for Rim Fire Ash Runoff Raises Water Quality Concerns in Stanislaus County (J. N. SBRANTI, Modesto Bee ; November 9, 2013) http:// www.modbee.com /2013/11/09/3021465/potential-for-rim-fire-ash- runoffs.html RESEARCH ARTICLES Characterization and evaluation of controls on post-fire streamflow response across western US watersheds (SAXE et al....

This just in.. . Oil Industry Treats California Legislators to $13K Dinner as Fracking Bill Loomed (Capitol Alert, Sacramento Bee ; November 4, 2013) http:// blogs.sacbee.com / capitolalertlatest /2013/11/oil-industry-treated-legislators-to-13k-dinner-as- fracking -bill- loomed.html N. B .:  The aforementioned "alert" contains links for the perusal of California State Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) documentation, as well as Gov. Jerry BROWN's signing said bill on September 20, 2013. Bonus --  The following is a recent industry research article providing a thorough background of Hydraulic fracturing, Shale play formations in the United States, and potential environmental impacts of Shale gas extraction: Evaluating the Environmental Implications of Hydraulic Fracturing in Shale Gas Reservoirs (ARTHUR, J. et al., 2009) http:// energy.wilkes.edu / PDFFiles /Issues/ EvaluatingTheEnvironmentalImplicationsOfHydraulicFracruringInShaleGasReservoirs.pdf

EX- HALLIBURTON Manager Anthony Badalamenti Pleads Guilty to Destroying BP Spill Evidence (Michael KUNZELMAN, Associated Press; October 15, 2013) http:// m.huffpost.com /us/entry/4101127

Light Reading from New Media : Well Spewing Methane, Water in Hawthorne is Partially Plugged  (Angel JENNINGS, L. A. Times; September 16, 2013)   http:// www.latimes.com /local/ lanow /la-me- ln -water-stop-spewing-from-well-in- hawthorne -methane-gas-leak-continues-20130916,0,7793442.story? goback =%2Egde_703977_member_276003056#%21 BP Trial Set to Enter 2nd Phase (Michael KUNZELMAN, Associated Press; Huffington Post; September 29, 2013) http:// www.huffingtonpost.com /2013/09/29/ bp -trial_n_4012737. html Second Phase of BP Trial Resumes in New Orleans (Michael KUNZELMAN, Associated Press; USA Today; September 29, 2013) http:// www.usatoday.com /story/money/business/2013/09/29/judge-set-to-preside-over-2nd-phase-of- bp -trial/2891995/ Are We Trading Our Health for Oil in New Fracking-Induced California Gold Rush  [With Slideshow]  (Tara LOHAN, Alternet.com; September 6, 2013) http:// www.alternet.org / fracking /are-we-trading-our-health-oil-new-...

Thank for your interest in Environmental Geochemistry Issues Semi-Monthly!  I will be taking a short respite for the remainder of this month, but will return to my regular semi-monthly posting schedule in September. C. Mei-Ling HAMILTON

Chevron Agrees to Pay $2M for California Refinery Fire ( USA Today News ; August 5, 2013) http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/08/05/chevron-2m-fire/2620303/ Halliburton Pleads Guilty To Destroying Gulf Spill Evidence ( Reuters ; July 25, 2013) http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/26/us-gulf-spill-halliburton-idUSBRE96O1HF20130726 Halliburton to Pay $200K Fine for Destroying Evidence in 2010 Gulf Oil Spill ( RT.com ; July 25, 2013) http://rt.com/usa/halliburton-guilty-destroying-evidence-spill-605/ N. B. :   A link to the January 2013 Columbia University study discussed in the aforementioned RT.com news article is available for your perusal below. Children’s Health after the Oil Spill:   A Four-State Study (NCDP Briefing Report, January 2013) http://academiccommons.columbia.edu/download/fedora_content/download/ac:156716/CONTENT/NCDP_Briefingreport_Feb21_Web.pdf

  The main theme to this week's blog post is the word "TRANSPARENCY" .  Below, one will find several updates to newsworthy issues that have previously been posted on this blog. I.  Update to December 19, 2012 EGISM Blog Post:      In this first update, of note is a link to the "Reconsideration of A. B. No. 7" during the California State Assembly Floor Session which may be viewed live on August 5, 2013 starting at 12:00 pm PDT (Link provided below).  It is this legislation on Hydraulic Fracturing authored by California State Assemblyman Bob WIECKOWSKI that was mentioned by Rudy SALAS in the first listed article published by KGET 17 News on July 31, 2013.  The history, amendments, and other pertinent documents concerning A. B. No. 7 can be perused on the two provided links below.   Also included is an article by Don HOPEY of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette concerning the lifelong gag order on two children subject to...