Video & Multimedia
In reply to the discussion: Pic Of The Moment: Corporate Responsibility At Its Finest [View all]Divernan
(15,480 posts)The fires burned themselves out, but the natural gas is still escaping so Chevron sent a control team. Unfortunately they don't know their ass from a hole in the ground on this issue, and after a whole week are yet to "test" a system using siphoning off millions of gallons from a local creek to spray on the escaping gas, possibly to allow them to remove a huge drilling rig next to the aforesaid hole in the ground. They are Rube Goldberging a system of water delivery/spraying the likes of which has never been attempted. So they didn't have a plan A. If, in the course of moving the rig away, any sparks are struck, that could reignite the fires (2 different well head links) and they're back to square one. Depending upon the local news coverage provides no explanation of what steps are necessary after the drill is moved. Will the gas sources be sealed? Or will Chevron try to restore them (that way lies more profit after all). If the water delivery/spray system does not work, there is no report of any Plan B.
The Post-Gazette has editorialized both in editorials per se, and in their slanted coverage of local news, in strong support of fracking, throwing in a miniscule caveat: "Of course fracking must be carried out safely." Given that GOP Governor Corbett has completely sold out to Big Fracking since day one of his term in office, he has gutted the state DEP, greatly reducing the number of inspectors and stripping the remaining inspectors of the power to issue violation notices in the field. Inspectors must channel reports up to the political hack appointed to head DEP and he can lose them, sit on them, whatever.
Safety requires PREcautions be taken. Emphasis on PRE. That's why they're called PREcautions and not POSTcautions. Fracking is flying blind in Pennsylvania and around the world. I know the Post Gazette has reporters more than capable of digging deep and providing solid news coverage of this disaster. The only question is whether it is the Editorial Board or the Publisher (or both) forbidding them from doing so.
Chevron blocked releasing the names of the injured worker or the dead worker who were at ground zero for the explosions. Given the magnitude and thousands of degrees temperatures of the fires, it is obvious that the missing worker was killed immediately and his body probably totally incinerated in minutes. By now I have no doubt that Chevron has obtained signed settlements with the injured worker and the family of the dead worker, including non-disclosure clauses. I question whether either worker was sufficiently trained for the work they were doing. We have had reports of workers at other fracking accidents having to put in very long shifts and with insufficient training. If one worker survived, it is safe to say he was a goodly distance away from the man who was killed. Interestingly in the PG news reports, we never see the statement that Chevron refused to answer any particular question. The whole thing just stinks.
And MEANWHILE, Allegheny County has leased the rights to frack on land at Pittsburgh International Airport. A similar explosion there would significantly disrupt air traffic. And frankly, would you like to fly in or out going near or over at low altitude a fracking operation?