heavy metals pollute the soil in China

A news story today:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304626304579507...

China Details Vast Extent of Soil Pollution

About a Fifth of Nation's Arable Land Is Contaminated With Heavy Metals

"The extent of China's soil pollution, long guarded as a state secret, was laid out in an official report that confirmed deep-seated fears about contaminated farmland and the viability of the country's food supply.

Nearly one-fifth of the country's arable land is polluted, officials said in the report, shedding unexpected light on the scale of the problem—a legacy of China's three decades of breakneck economic growth and industrial expansion.

The most common inorganic pollutants found in China's soil were the heavy metals cadmium, nickel and arsenic, according to Thursday's report. Cadmium and arsenic, both known to cause chronic health problems, are byproducts of mining."

The lesson we should all learn: we need government regulation to protect the environment: the soil that our crops grow in, the water that we fish, the air that we breathe. It's time for the United States to tighten regulations that were loosened when the Halliburton Loophole was put into law, that exempts the gas industry from regulation by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Failure to do that will mean more cadmium-laced rice in Hunan, more MCHM in Charleston drinking water, more trihalomethanes in the Monongahela, more oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2014/04/grim-ph...

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Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on April 20, 2014 at 3:39pm

Summer,

Mis-representing information as usual I see. Typical

Permalink Reply by Summer Johnston on April 21, 2014 at 1:57am

Mis-representing information as usual I see. Typical

You know, you're pretty funny! You could be a cheerleader!

 

Permalink Reply by Tree Farmer on April 22, 2014 at 1:18am

Summer, please don't dilute your salient effort with such back and forth drivel. And you already mentioned that Paul's post was inflammatory. Some folks just don't or won't see the truth in front of them, so lets look at the past for help. And I welcome anyone to challenge what I am about to say as a reflection of your point regarding the future and what may be in store for many landowners decades from now.

Two of the 3 clinton wells on my land were drilled 36 years ago. The original drilling company is long gone, Alliance petroleum ran them for many decades, now a company out of Wooster, Green Gas, runs them. My experience is limited to Alliance and Green gas since 1992. The contempt they have shown for my land and my concerns would be laughable if it were not so illegal.  The well pads are swamps because they do nothing to control drainage and surface run off, they rut the roads and do nothing to maintain them or protect soil erosion, they fail to maintain and clean the wet oil and leaks at the well pump, the earthen emergency berm around the collection tanks are ruined and not capable of containing a spill , the electrical lines are running on the ground through the woods, my dog was seriously shocked/electrocuted by this shoddy status quo,  and they can't even be bothered to lock the gate properly. The ODNR has done nothing but some lip service, so far,  but I have little hope that will change.

Anyone who signs a piss poor lease is going to get their proverbial head stomped in some day.

Just sayin

Permalink Reply by Summer Johnston on April 22, 2014 at 3:00am

Summer, please don't dilute your salient effort with such back and forth drivel. And you already mentioned that Paul's post was inflammatory.

Tree Farmer, thank you. It's sometimes hard not to respond with the same type of nonsense. There is a difference between those who are extreme in their opinions re: the environment and those of us who simply want to be good stewards. If the product is really available and if it can be extracted without causing environmental damage, all the more good.

I cannot imagine, with all the greed and corruption evident today that people cannot reserve some skepticism about whether or not the gascos--or any other corporate entity--will do "the right thing."

All anyone need do to see how well government "regulates" is look at the banking industry. Supposedly well regulated and yet needed Tarp I, Tarp II, and endless QE.

No, regulations notwithstanding, I prefer to keep a close eye on things.

Permalink Reply by Teri OHIO on April 22, 2014 at 3:09am

Thanks for posting this.  Part of my concern is our generation will have some monetary reward but at what cost to the earth and to the future of the planet for our children and grandchildren?  What was once a quiet rural area of farmers and merchants near where our property is located is again having the land, water and air polluted.  Yes, the money is sorely needed by some and jobs are good news for what was formerly a very depressed economy... but at what expense?  Yes, please keep a close eye on things to quote one comment given.  I have little faith in the offices that are suppose to regulate.  Citizens who come together with a strong voice need to stay alert.  Again, thanks for the posting.  

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on April 22, 2014 at 6:41am

What environmental damage ?

What land pollution ?

What water pollution ?

What air pollution ?

The extreme environmentalists have been warning about impending environmental armeggeddon from shale development, so where is it ?

There have been over 50,000 shale wells drilled and completed in the U.S. all using the combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. The armeggeddon has not materialized.

Instead of contributing to reasonable discussion about responsible shale development the environmental left resorts to fear mongering.

Permalink Reply by Booger on April 22, 2014 at 7:06am

mark........it's clear!.........can't you see the picture of the oil soaked canadian geese?......they must of pulled them out of the Ohio river!

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on April 22, 2014 at 7:07am

I find it interesting that the environmental left distrusts the regulatory ability of government agencieswith regard to environmental issues, but wholeheartedly supports Obamacare.

Permalink Reply by Tree Farmer on April 22, 2014 at 9:16am

There are always 2 sides to every story, even the enviro whackos have history on their side when it come to corporate pollution. Screaming at them is not going to contribute anything, and I sure am glad you and booger brought up the water pollution issue again. And by the way, do either of you own any land with old wells on them? Have you been subjected to corporate America electrocuting your dog recently? Check out the cool photos of my well pump with wet oil seeping down onto the ground and then into the water table, streams, and then into the most polluted river in America.

for the 2nd time in 3 years, Ohio river is most polluted in the USA

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on April 22, 2014 at 9:22am

This is not a photo of a shale well.

Permalink Reply by Summer Johnston on April 22, 2014 at 10:35am

If you had taken the time to read his post carefully, you would have read this:

Two of the 3 clinton wells on my land were drilled 36 years ago. The original drilling company is long gone, Alliance petroleum ran them for many decades,...

I believe Tree Farmer was trying to illustrate that, despite "regulations" governing the Clinton wells, companies fail to adequately maintain the well sites.

And you drag Obamacare into this somehow???

Incendiary rhetoric that has nothing to do with the topic.

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on April 22, 2014 at 4:01pm

The point of the picture as with this post is to paint the oil and gas industry with the broad brush that all people in the oil and gas industry are evil. None can be trusted.

Shallow well drillers are not shale well drillers.

This is a typical leftists tactic.

The point about Obamacare is that you leftists love government regulation when it suits your needs. You are hypocrites,

We who support shale development also support reasonable regulation and the agencies entrusted with oversight. That is called consistency.

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