contamination
Newsletter
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Manitoba's pipeline oversight faces scrutiny after recent shutdown
A recent pipeline shutdown has exposed significant gaps in Manitoba's oversight of its oil and gas industry, raising concerns about the province's regulatory practices.
In short:
- Manitoba has not updated its pipeline oversight policies despite an oil boom and calls for better practices.
- A recent pipeline shutdown revealed deficiencies in monitoring and staffing, with only 13 inspections in five years.
- Other provinces have improved oversight following critical reports, but Manitoba lags behind.
Key quote:
“This Imperial Oil incident has really highlighted some of the gaps, perhaps, in governmental oversight.”
— Tracy Schmidt, Manitoba Environment and Climate Change Minister
Why this matters:
Critics argue that this incident underscores the need for stronger regulatory practices to prevent such disruptions and protect the environment. The province’s current oversight mechanisms have been deemed insufficient to address the complexities and risks associated with oil and gas operations. Environmental advocates are particularly worried about the potential for oil spills and other ecological impacts that could arise from such regulatory failures.
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Railway ordered to pay tribe $400 million for trespassing with oil trains
A federal judge has ordered BNSF Railway to pay nearly $400 million to the Swinomish Tribe for repeatedly trespassing with oil trains across their reservation.
In short:
- BNSF Railway intentionally ran 100-car crude oil trains across the Swinomish reservation, violating a 1991 easement limiting trains to 25 cars per day.
- The tribe sued in 2015, leading to a ruling that BNSF profited significantly from the trespassing, resulting in the large financial judgment.
- The tribe expects BNSF to appeal the ruling, which includes both profits from the trespassing and additional post-tax profits.
Key quote:
“We know that this is a large amount of money. But that just reflects the enormous wrongful profits that BNSF gained by using the Tribe’s land day after day, week after week, year after year over our objections.”
— Steve Edwards, chairman of the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
Why this matters:
The Swinomish Tribe, located in Washington State, has long fought to protect its lands and waters from the risks associated with transporting hazardous materials like crude oil. The judge's decision emphasizes the importance of honoring agreements with Native American tribes and the need for companies to respect tribal sovereignty. For the Swinomish, the ruling is a significant victory that will provide much-needed funds to address the environmental impacts and potential risks posed by these unauthorized trains.
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New Mexico considers reuse of oil and gas wastewater amid safety concerns
New Mexico regulators propose reusing treated oil and gas wastewater in industrial processes but prohibit its discharge into rivers due to safety concerns.
In short:
- New Mexico generates billions of gallons of toxic wastewater annually from oil and gas drilling, currently injected underground or transported to Texas for disposal.
- Proposed rules allow treated wastewater reuse in industry but prohibit river discharges, citing insufficient safety data.
- Environmental advocates worry about risks, while industry groups argue the rules are too restrictive compared to other states.
Key quote:
“The scientific research that would allow us to protectively permit treated produced water discharge simply does not exist.”
— Andrew Knight, NMED assistant general counsel
Why this matters:
New Mexico faces severe water shortages and must explore alternatives to traditional water sources. Safe reuse of treated wastewater could provide a new water supply but poses potential environmental and public health risks.
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Alabama residents endure lack of public water access for over a decade
In rural Marion County, Alabama, hundreds of households, including the McClungs, have been waiting for public water access for over a decade, relying on private wells to meet their daily needs.
In short:
- Around 40% of households in Marion County lack public drinking water, depending instead on private wells.
- The McClung family and their neighbors have been promised public water access for years, but it remains unfulfilled.
- Socioeconomic and racial disparities exacerbate water access issues across Alabama.
Key quote:
“Less than a year after one of the worst droughts in the history of our state, the Governor’s decision to put the brakes on an already overdue and lengthy process sets all of Alabama back in the progress that’s been made to date.”
— Sarah Stokes, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center
Why this matters:
Lack of access to public water in rural Alabama highlights significant infrastructural gaps and socioeconomic disparities. Well water quality can be unpredictable, often subject to contamination from agricultural runoff, industrial activities, and natural mineral deposits. This poses significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. As climate change increases drought risks, reliable water access becomes even more critical.
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Rising sea levels threaten septic systems in the South
Rising sea levels are causing septic system failures in South Florida, posing significant health and environmental risks.
Brady Dennis, Kevin Crowe, and John Muyskens report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Flooding and malfunctioning septic systems are common in Miami neighborhoods, contaminating waterways with untreated sewage.
- Sea levels in the South have risen significantly, pushing groundwater higher and compromising septic system functionality.
- Miami-Dade County is investing heavily to replace septic systems with municipal sewer connections, a costly and extensive project.
Key quote:
“These are ticking time bombs under the ground that, when they fail, will pollute.”
— Andrew Wunderley, executive director of the nonprofit Charleston Waterkeeper
Why this matters:
Septic systems, which manage waste from homes and businesses not connected to centralized sewer systems, are designed to treat and disperse wastewater safely into the ground. However, with the water table rising due to climate change, these systems are increasingly unable to function properly. When groundwater levels rise, they can inundate the drain fields of septic systems, causing untreated or partially treated sewage to back up into homes or, worse, leach into the environment.
Be sure to read: What happens when you flush?
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Rising tides increase fecal bacteria in coastal waters, study finds
High tide events now bring more than just seawater to North Carolina's beaches; they also raise the risk of fecal contamination in coastal waters.
In short:
- NC State's latest study links sunny day flooding—clear day tidal overflows—to increased fecal bacteria in water.
- Lead researcher Megan Carr highlights growing frequency of these floods due to environmental changes.
- Despite contamination spikes during high tides, these high bacteria levels tend to be temporary.
Key quote:
"What we know from our study is the floodwaters are fecally contaminated. During high tides, we have floods which move through underground infrastructure, such as stormwater networks."
— Megan Carr, Ph.D. student at NC State
Why this matters:
Fecal contamination can lead to significant health risks such as gastrointestinal illnesses and infections. Residents and visitors coming into contact with these waters might face conditions ranging from minor skin rashes to serious diseases like hepatitis.For the local flora and fauna, the stakes are similarly high. Ecosystems that rely on clean water are disrupted, often with long-lasting effects on marine and coastal biodiversity.
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Contamination at Oklahoma farm highlights oil industry's neglect
Oklahoma farm suffers extensive environmental damage as local family battles oil companies over contaminated land and water sources.
Mark Olalde, reports for ProPublica, and Nick Bowlin for Capital & Main.
In short:
- Salt water leakage from an oil well on the Ledgerwood's farm killed vegetation and contaminated their drinking water.
- The family struggled to get accountability from oil companies, which often evade cleanup costs through bankruptcy.
- The estimated cleanup cost for Oklahoma's unplugged wells is about $7 billion, with insufficient funds set aside by the oil industry.
Key quote:
"We don’t get these years back. There’s no way to pay for that. We’ll never have back what we had."
— Stan Ledgerwood, Oklahoma farmer
Why this matters:
The contamination of land and water can lead to a cascade of adverse effects, not just on the immediate agricultural output but also on local wildlife and ecosystems. The potential seepage of pollutants into groundwater, for example, poses a significant risk to human health, affecting communities' access to clean drinking water.
Related: Dead livestock and poisoned water — Texas farmers sue over PFAS contamination
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