Thursday, April 10, 2014

Environmental News Notes 1

Around the Internet but haven't had time to write up - 
  • The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has released a ton of records about the ash spill and their investigation of the other Duke Energy coal ash impoundments - it's all here Coal Ash Public Records  

    One thing I noticed in a quick trip though the records is that thallium was detected in the water near the Cape Fear Impoundment. (eek!)  
  • On March 28 N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued a notice of deficiency to Duke energy concerning a crack in the Cape Fear 1985 Ash Pond dam. 
  • On April 2nd at WIPP two eight-­person teams, suited in anti­‐contamination gear and equipped with powered air­‐breathing units, entered the mine. The first team entered the mine using the Salt Handling Shaft elevator at about 1 p.m. on Wednesday, descending 2,150 feet underground. They did not detect any airborne contamination. The second team entered the mine at about 1:30 p.m. The teams surveyed conditions from the Salt Shaft Station to the Air Intake Shaft Station to establish two useable exit locations. They also established communications with the Central Monitoring Room above ground using a mine pager and landline phone, installed an additional continuous air monitor near the Salt Shaft Station and established an underground base of operations for future entries into the mine. These base will serve as a clean area where employees can safely remove any contaminated clothing and equipment before returning to the surface. A second entry is planned for the near future. http://www.wipp.energy.gov/wipprecovery/recovery.html

1 comment:

  1. I appreciate you posting these. I love reading book blogs, but find it takes time from other interests, including the environment.

    ReplyDelete

Hi! I do read all of the comments and want to let you know that I really appreciate your stopping by and taking the time to leave a note. Work has fallen in on me and I have not had enough time to reply coherently lately so I apologize preemptively but still want to assure you that your comments are valued. I am using comment moderation to avoid using more annoying spam avoidance. Thanks for your patience.