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Archive for January 11th, 2011
Spill Commission Says Oversight, Regulation Needed
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 11th, 2011
National Public Radio: The federal government must beef up oversight of the offshore oil and gas industry, the federal commission on the deadly Gulf of Mexico oil spill said Tuesday. The seven-member committee released its final report on the April 20 disaster, listing 15 major recommendations.
The national commission has already had harsh words for the oil and gas industry and its role in blowout at BP's Macondo well, which left 11 workers dead and released 4 million barrels of oil from the deep sea floor. But in releasing...
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US commission on BP oil spill demands tougher safety regulations
Posted by Guardian: Suzanne Goldenberg and Tim Webb on January 11th, 2011
Guardian: The White House commission investigating the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico began lobbying Congress today to set aside anti-government sentiment and commit more funds to overseeing the offshore oil industry.
In presenting the commission's final report on the BP disaster, commission co-chair William Reilly said he was launching an all-out campaign to get Congress, the Obama administration and the oil industry to impose tougher safety and environmental regulations.
"We are going to make a...
Opposition mounts against UK ‘mega-dairy’
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 11th, 2011
Guardian: Opposition has intensified against plans to build a US-style "mega" dairy farm in Lincolnshire in the run-up to today's crucial deadline for comments on the controversial planning application.
Over 72,000 individuals have signed an online petition opposing Nocton Dairies' plans for a 3,770-cow unit in Lincolnshire, which will be handed in later today to North Kesteven council offices in Sleaford.
The petition has been organised by the campaigning group 38 Degrees, and urges Lincolnshire and...
Alaska pipeline still seen restarting this week: Source
Posted by Reuters: Janet McGurty on January 11th, 2011
Reuters: Alaska's main oil pipeline was still expected to restart this week after a spill on Saturday forced it to shut down, idling 12 percent of U.S. oil production, a source familiar with its operations said.
Trans Alaskan Pipeline System operator Alyeska expects to bypass a leaky area along the 600,000 barrel-per-day, 800-mile line by installing a substitute stretch of pipe, the industry source told Reuters. Alyeska will await approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) before resuming...
South in icy grip, as latest winter storm defies warming predictions
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 11th, 2011
Christian Science Monitor: Atlanta
The South's largest city, Atlanta, turned into a frosty icicle Monday morning as yet another cold snap and winter storm undermined predictions that the region would see a warmer and wetter winter than usual.
Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas all saw up to six inches of snow fall overnight Sunday, pushing America's warmer-weather creatures firmly inside, save excited sledders and snowman-builders. The storm also took a toll in Louisiana, where two people...
‘Inland tsunami’ threatens Brisbane
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 11th, 2011
New Scientist: Flood waters continue to cause chaos in northern Australia, as an overnight downpour created an "inland tsunami", killing at least 13 people.
The worst is yet to come. Brisbane river has broken its banks, sparking fears that the city "“ Australia's third largest and home to 2 million people "“ will be flooded by Thursday.
And the trouble won't be over even when the floods subside. Public health experts fear that outbreaks of Ross river virus "“ a debilitating disease transmitted by mosquitoes,...
BP oil spill: Colombian farmers sue for negligence
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 11th, 2011
Guardian: BP failed to observe proper environmental safety procedures during construction of an oil pipeline in Colombia, according to allegations in a case lodged by a group of farmers at the high court in London.
The case comes at the worst possible time for BP as it deals with the fallout from the new report into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the shutdown of the Trans-Alaska pipeline on Saturday after a leak.
A scientific investigation has been commissioned by lawyers acting...
Deadly Australian floods spark evacuations in Brisbane
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 11th, 2011
Reuters: Authorities urged thousands of residents to leave the outskirts of Australia's third-largest city on Tuesday as others sandbagged homes and stockpiled food in anticipation of rising floodwaters and more heavy rain.
Ten people died overnight, with cars and pedestrians swept away in a "super storm" that sent water raging through the streets of Toowoomba, west of Brisbane. More than 40 people were pulled from rooftops by helicopters but 78 were missing.
The worst flooding in Queensland state in...
Brisbane braces for rising floodwaters
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 11th, 2011
Guardian: Australia Brisbane braces for rising floodwaters As Queensland communities continue to be hit by the effect of heavy rains, areas of the state capital are advised to evacuate
Parts of Brisbane to evacuate as floods threaten
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 11th, 2011
Guardian: Police are warning people to evacuate parts of Brisbane, Australia's third largest city, as floodwaters which have claimed nine lives since Monday surged towards the Queensland state capital.
The Brisbane river, which runs through the city, has already broken its banks in some areas, and residents of low-lying neighbourhoods were leaving their homes amid the worst floods in the state in decades. About 30,000 homes face flooding while the city authorities have warned that 9,000 homes will undergo...