Salem-News.com Environment articles

Follow The Sand To The Real Fracking Boom

The frac sand business is a huge element of the US oil boom but one that very few investors know anything about.

(LONDON / Oilprice.com) - When it takes up to four million pounds of sand to frack a single well, it’s no wonder that demand is outpacing supply and frack sand producers are becoming the biggest behind-the-scenes beneficiaries of the American oil and gas boom.

Demand is exploding for “frac sand”--a durable, high-purity quartz sand used to help produce petroleum fluids and prop up man-made fractures in shale rock formations through which oil and gas flows—turning this segment into the top driver of value in the shale revolution.

U.S. Navy Preparing Supplement to the Northwest Training and Testing Draft EIS

The Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS is expected in early December 2014.

(SILVERDALE, Wash.) - Following publication of the Draft EIS/OEIS on January 24, 2014, the U.S. Navy determined that updated training requirements would result in changes to the Proposed Action. Therefore, the U.S. Navy is preparing a Supplement to the Northwest Training and Testing (NWTT) Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (EIS/OEIS).

The purpose of this Supplement to the Draft EIS/OEIS is to present these changes and significant new information relevant to environmental concerns.

New Ocean Partnership to Improve Awareness of Oregon`s Marine Reserves and Protected Areas

The Oregon Marine Reserves Partnership engages the public and invites their participation.

(NEWPORT, Ore.) - A new partnership focused on sharing information, promoting science and cooperative research, and engaging citizens in Oregon’s marine reserves and protected areas has launched.

The Oregon Marine Reserves Partnership (OMRP) was founded by six member organizations: Audubon Society of Portland, Coast Range Association, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, Oceana, Surfrider Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy.

Mobilize and Organize to Stop and Prevent Planet Fever!

334 organisations have signed the statement against the corporate capture of the UN Climate Summit

(LONDON) - When we, as human beings, get a fever, we immediately get worried and take action. After all, we know that if our body temperature rises to 1.5ºC, let alone 2ºC [3.6 ºF] above the normal average, there can be severe damage, while an increase of 4-6ºC [7.2-10.8 ºF] or more can cause a comatose situation and even death.

So it is, when planet Earth gets a fever. For the past 11,000 years, the average temperature of the Earth has been around 14ºC [57.2ºF].

Portland: Health Advisory Issued for Willamette River

Visual observation of scum on river from southern end of Ross Island to Fremont Bridge

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Oregon Health Authority is issuing a health advisory today, September 16, based on visual observation of scum on the Willamette River, extending from the southern end of Ross Island downstream to the Fremont Bridge in Multnomah County.

Water monitoring is underway to determine the species and amount of blue-green algae cells present in the river.

Over 2 Trillion Becquerels of Radioactive Waste in Pacific in Only 10 Months

This enormous amount of Radioactive Waste flowed from Fukushima Plant into the Pacific Ocean

(MONTREAL) - At least 2 trillion becquerels’ worth of radioactive material flowed from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean between August 2013 and May 2014, plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has admitted.

The rate of release was 10 times higher than TEPCO’s pre-meltdown threshold for radioactive material.

Oregon Bee Deaths Not From Pesticides

In addition, Oregon State University examined bee samples from Clackamas County for pests and disease.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Laboratory analysis of dead honeybee samples taken from hives in Clackamas County this summer show no detection of pesticides.

According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, which conducted the testing and analysis, other factors are likely to be responsible for the death of thousands of bees from colonies owned by four local beekeepers.

Salem Officials Say Drinking Water is Safe

As a result of the monitoring program, staff has identified the presence of frequent, but low levels of algal toxins, in the reservoir this summer.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Salem Public Works Department staff monitored water contamination developments in Toledo, Ohio, and Lincoln City, Oregon, with interest this week, as a toxic algae bloom restricted use of drinking water in both cities.

Algae blooms are also known to occur in Detroit Lake and the North Santiam River, Salem's water source.

Four Public Hearings to be Held on Oregon Beach Smoking Ban

Education about the new rule is taking place through 2014, and enforcement will begin in 2015.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Proposed rules that would restrict smoking of tobacco products on the ocean shore recreation area will be open for public comment through August 29.

Citing environmental issues as a primary concern - plastic cigarette butts can persist for years, even in the harsh beach environment - the commission approved a staff request to consider a smoking rule for the ocean shore.

Thousands of Dead Anchovies Could Cause a Smelly Problem for Seaside

Officials say that while this may not seem like a good thing, it is a good sign that anchovies along the Oregon coast are doing very well.

(SEASIDE, Ore. ) - Thousands of dead anchovies could cause a fowl smell in the coming days in the popular Oregon coastal town of Seaside.

That is because, this year there has been an unusually large run of the Northern Anchovy from the Pacific Ocean, which has caused oxygen levels in the Necanicum River to deplete enough to kill the fish.