Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Hurricane Harvey to strike oil and gas facilities expanded by fracking (and toxic Superfund sites)
The location of the storm and these facilities offers almost unlimited opportunities for spills from small to monstrous as pipelines and storage tanks could be ruptured or even torn from their foundations. Meaning that what’s starting as a disaster for Texas, could end up being an ecological disaster for the entire Gulf region.
The concentration of oil and gas facilities in the region also means that Harvey could have a major effect on what happens at your local gas pump, and possibly what happens for the US economy as a whole.
The concentration of oil and gas facilities in the region also means that Harvey could have a major effect on what happens at your local gas pump, and possibly what happens for the US economy as a whole.
On the ecological front, the risks from Harvey could go well beyond oil spills. From Emily Atkin at New Republic …
Environmental advocates are also worried that Harvey will create long-term public health problems due to accidental toxic substance releases, and not just from refineries and power plants. In the 30 counties where a disaster has been declared, there are dozens of Superfund sites, many of which are essentially waste pits containing harmful chemicals. The San Jacinto River Waste Pits, for example, contain carcinogenic dioxins, which are linked to birth defects. Advocates also rightly point out that communities living closest to all these sites—both the Superfunds and the refineries—are disproportionately low-income and minority. “This is an environmental justice issue,” Enck said.
Environmental advocates are also worried that Harvey will create long-term public health problems due to accidental toxic substance releases, and not just from refineries and power plants. In the 30 counties where a disaster has been declared, there are dozens of Superfund sites, many of which are essentially waste pits containing harmful chemicals. The San Jacinto River Waste Pits, for example, contain carcinogenic dioxins, which are linked to birth defects. Advocates also rightly point out that communities living closest to all these sites—both the Superfunds and the refineries—are disproportionately low-income and minority. “This is an environmental justice issue,” Enck said.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/8/25/1693177/-Hurricane-Harvey-to-strike-oil-and-gas-facilities-expanded-by-fracking-boom
