Personal events and local volunteer activities have kept me from my usual rounds of collecting and posting daily news stories on crude by rail, high hazard flammable trains and the transition to a clean energy economy.
So … here is a LONG but brief listing of important and/or interesting links to keep you up on the news:
Oil and natural gas production jobs in May were 26% lower than in October 2014, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Aug. 5
Two Aug. 5 Sacramento Bee editorials: 1) We’re losing Lake Tahoe to climate change, and 20th-century strategies to fix it won’t be enough, and 2) Gov. Jerry Brown raises the possibility of an initiative to get his way on climate change. He and legislators ought to work it out.
Shamed AARP withdraws from right-wing lobbying organization ALEC, LA Times, Aug. 5. (See also the AARP Facebook announcement, and ClimateTruth’s Thank the AARP)
CANADA: Federal officials have succeeded in stopping the shipping of crude oil in vulnerable DOT-111 rail cars but more needs to be done…, Teamsters Canada, July 29
Crude-oil train movements down 45% this year, Philly.com, Aug. 3
Hazardous Materials: FAST Act Insurance and Liability Study; Request for Comments, Federal Register, July 26
Mosier Derailment Adds Scrutiny To Proposed Vancouver Oil-By-Rail Terminal, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Aug. 1
N.J. considers requiring oil train companies to publicize routes, emergency plans, WHYY/NewsWorks, Aug. 1
Casselton derailment lawsuit moved to federal court, Fargo InForum, July 30
Pacific Northwest Weighs Response to Risks Posed by Oil Trains, New York Times, July 31
Washington Attorney General opposes Vancouver oil train terminal, KGW Portland, July 29
Crude Slump, Pipeline Expansion Mark End of U.S. Oil-Train Boom, Wall Street Journal, July 25
Over 10,000 Climate Protesters March in Philadelphia on Day Before Democratic National Convention, DeSmogBlog, July 25
At Federal Energy Conference, Forecasts Predict Bright Future for Fossil Fuels, DeSmogBlog, July 27
NW Cities Turn To Local Action To Block Oil Trains, Oregon Public Broadcasting, July 28
Group warns more oil trains could cut through Fremont CA, San Jose Mercury News, July 28
Redesigned tankers not enough to prevent future oil spills — Gogama fire chief, Timmins Press, July 27
Ballot Initiative Could Make Oil Trains Illegal In Spokane, KLCC NPR for Oregonians, July 27
Officials Demand Answers At Bergenfield Oil Train Forum, Bergenfield Daily Voice, July 25
Union Pacific Stands Out For Track-Caused Derailments But Not Oil Spills, Oregon Public Broadcasting, July 26