Pa. second in U.S. for smog-producing pollution
Thursday, April 07, 2011
By Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
As Congress considers whether to block rules limiting air pollutants, a new report finds that Pennsylvania's coal-fired power plants emit more unhealthy smog producing pollution than any state except Texas.
The report by PennEnvironment, a statewide environmental group, found that in 2009 Pennsylvania's 47 power plants emitted almost 110,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, which mix with other pollutants in the air on warm sunny days to form ground-level ozone, the primary component of unhealthy smog.
Texas, which has 99 power plants, emitted 138,500 tons of nitrogen oxides in 2009, based on data collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Nationwide, power plants emitted almost 2 million tons of nitrogen oxides.
"Taking a breath should not leave Pennsylvania's children gasping for air," said Matthew Ward, Western Pennsylvania field representative for PennEnvironment. "Smog-forming pollution from power plants puts our children and our environment at risk, and the EPA must act to reduce this life-threatening pollution."
The release of the report coincided with congressional action on legislation aimed at limiting the EPA's ability to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
The report also notes that according to the latest available EPA Air Quality Index data for metropolitan areas in 2008, the Pittsburgh metropolitan area had 34 days when air quality was unhealthy for "sensitive groups" -- including people with lung disease, older adults and children. There was one day that year when the air quality was bad enough to fall into the unhealthy for everyone category.
Seven metropolitan areas, all in California, had more days when air was unhealthy for sensitive groups. In Pennsylvania, Philadelphia had 26 days when the air was unhealthy for sensitive groups and four days when it was unhealthy for everyone.
Randy Francisco, the Sierra Club's organizing representative for its Coal to Clean Energy Campaign in Pennsylvania, said old, dirty power plants in Pennsylvania are damaging the health of people in the state.
"The report points out the importance of EPA regulation and why we need it to act," Mr. Francisco said. "The companies are not going to clean up themselves."
The PennEnvironment report points to the link between power plant emissions and health problems, an issue explored in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's December series, "Mapping Mortality." That eight-day series of articles and videos, along with dozens of interactive maps, showed that there were 12,833 excess deaths, based on national death rates, in the 14-county region of southwestern Pennsylvania, 2000 through 2008, for heart and respiratory disease and lung cancer. Those diseases have been linked to air pollution.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
"Citizens" Bank . . .
DAVE: I know that you hate banks. And I do, too. Even though I get my statements from Citizens online, I am appalled that they are going to start charging people who receive paper statements a fee of $3 per month. I think that is pure lunacy. There are an amazing number of people in this country who are not computer literate or may not even have a computer at home. Plus, it's just outright greed by the banks. All anybody does in this country anymore is take, take, take. Nobody gives.
DAD: Exactly. It isn't as though they are not already making huge profits. But I guess nothing is ever sufficient. Most banks charge merchants a "swipe" fee of between 40 and 45 cents every time a person uses a debit card rather than a credit card, even though it only costs them about 4 cents to process the transaction. Some in congress have suggested a law that will limit the fee the banks can charge for swipes. The response of the banking industry is that, if their swipes fees are limited, they will stop paying interest on checking accounts. They already pay very little interest on checking accounts -- about one-tenth of one per cent. Another example of overbearing greed.
DAVE: My most recent bank statement also informed me that if any previous maintenance charges had been waived for a customer (possibly me), those waivers will no longer be valid. They just make the rules. And change them if they want to.
DAD: Exactly. It isn't as though they are not already making huge profits. But I guess nothing is ever sufficient. Most banks charge merchants a "swipe" fee of between 40 and 45 cents every time a person uses a debit card rather than a credit card, even though it only costs them about 4 cents to process the transaction. Some in congress have suggested a law that will limit the fee the banks can charge for swipes. The response of the banking industry is that, if their swipes fees are limited, they will stop paying interest on checking accounts. They already pay very little interest on checking accounts -- about one-tenth of one per cent. Another example of overbearing greed.
DAVE: My most recent bank statement also informed me that if any previous maintenance charges had been waived for a customer (possibly me), those waivers will no longer be valid. They just make the rules. And change them if they want to.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Brewed On Grant: PNCburgh
Wednesday, 25 May 2011 08:54
Written by Rob Rogers
It is hard not to picture banking CEOs as greedy, bailout-taking, foreclosure-happy, bonus-grabbing monsters. Especially in the colorful mind of a cartoonist. But molds were meant to be broken, I suppose. Jim Rohr and PNC are doing some great things for the city of Pittsburgh in the form of investment downtown. Granted, I am sure there are folks who can still find things to be critical of with PNC. But this cartoon is more about imagining the things I would have drawn if PNC had lived up to my imagination.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011 08:54
Written by Rob Rogers
It is hard not to picture banking CEOs as greedy, bailout-taking, foreclosure-happy, bonus-grabbing monsters. Especially in the colorful mind of a cartoonist. But molds were meant to be broken, I suppose. Jim Rohr and PNC are doing some great things for the city of Pittsburgh in the form of investment downtown. Granted, I am sure there are folks who can still find things to be critical of with PNC. But this cartoon is more about imagining the things I would have drawn if PNC had lived up to my imagination.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Jim and I were talking about Jennifer Aniston's new movie and her new dark brown hair color (http://blog.movies.yahoo.com/blog/1387-jennifer-aniston-debuts-new-do-in-horrible-bosses) . . .
JIM: It is amazing to me though that she has stayed as popular as she has for as long as she has.
DAVE: Nipples.
JIM: Plenty of women have those. And are more prone to showing them off. It has to be something else.
DAVE: Even John Mayer couldn't take his eyes off of them.
JIM: You win.
JIM: It is amazing to me though that she has stayed as popular as she has for as long as she has.
DAVE: Nipples.
JIM: Plenty of women have those. And are more prone to showing them off. It has to be something else.
DAVE: Even John Mayer couldn't take his eyes off of them.
JIM: You win.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
JIM: http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110523/ts_yblog_thelookout/doomsday-prophet-followers-flabbergasted-world-didnt-end
DAVE: Best comment following that story:
"Oh cheer up Harold. We all make mistakes. Its not the end of the world."
JIM: These people get what they deserve.
On the other hand, I have to wonder what it must be like to be able to have that much faith in something. Anything.
DAVE: Cindy's most obvious flaw is that she worships Lance Armstrong because he beat cancer. There are way too many people out there with that much faith in something.
JIM: But don't you wonder what it would feel like to be able to put that much faith in something or someone?
DAVE: As a natural born cynic, I can't even imagine it. Even I regularly question my own beliefs.
DAVE: Best comment following that story:
"Oh cheer up Harold. We all make mistakes. Its not the end of the world."
JIM: These people get what they deserve.
On the other hand, I have to wonder what it must be like to be able to have that much faith in something. Anything.
DAVE: Cindy's most obvious flaw is that she worships Lance Armstrong because he beat cancer. There are way too many people out there with that much faith in something.
JIM: But don't you wonder what it would feel like to be able to put that much faith in something or someone?
DAVE: As a natural born cynic, I can't even imagine it. Even I regularly question my own beliefs.
Monday, May 23, 2011
In the words of Rob Lowe on "Parks and Recreation," I litrally laughed out loud when I saw this cartoon.
Trippin'
Sunday, 22 May 2011 08:08
Written by Rob Rogers
President Obama made a speech about the Middle East last week where he encouraged Israel to go back to its 1967 borders with Palestine. This speech came hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the White House to discuss peace in the Middle East in the midst of the Arab Spring. Needless to say, Netanyahu was not happy with this idea.
Trippin'
Sunday, 22 May 2011 08:08
Written by Rob Rogers
President Obama made a speech about the Middle East last week where he encouraged Israel to go back to its 1967 borders with Palestine. This speech came hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the White House to discuss peace in the Middle East in the midst of the Arab Spring. Needless to say, Netanyahu was not happy with this idea.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Osama
Tuesday, 17 May 2011 17:03
Written by Rob Rogers
According to the intelligence found at Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, the terrorist leader was still obsessed with attacking the U.S. mainland. So why hadn't he tried yet? Maybe he was watching the news and saw the partisan budget fights, the Tea Party haters and the crazy birthers ... and figured we were doing enough damage. Who knows?
It's true, you know. Following 9/11, this country got horribly off course, culminating in a terrible recession that continues to wreak havoc, despite not being in the news headlines. Bin Laden took down two buildings, and then the country followed.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011 17:03
Written by Rob Rogers
According to the intelligence found at Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, the terrorist leader was still obsessed with attacking the U.S. mainland. So why hadn't he tried yet? Maybe he was watching the news and saw the partisan budget fights, the Tea Party haters and the crazy birthers ... and figured we were doing enough damage. Who knows?
It's true, you know. Following 9/11, this country got horribly off course, culminating in a terrible recession that continues to wreak havoc, despite not being in the news headlines. Bin Laden took down two buildings, and then the country followed.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
How would AG Corbett like Gov. Corbett?
Thursday, May 19, 2011
By Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Gov. Tom Corbett is recovering from back surgery in Pittsburgh, and I know firsthand, or at least fifthvertebra, how hard that can be.
Despite the pain, Mr. Corbett needs to get back doublequick to his jobs in Harrisburg.
I say jobs because many of us still think of Mr. Corbett as the attorney general attacking corruption in Harrisburg, and we know we need that man now more than ever.
"When is Attorney General Corbett going to do something about the governor we have?" Bob Dickson of Shaler asked in a recent e-mail.
"I can't believe he is letting someone who took all of that campaign money from the Marcellus Shale gas folks before he got elected, then kisses their rings by refusing to consider a severance tax, leaving us the only state that doesn't levy one.
"That just doesn't pass the smell test. I'm sure that the Corbettinator is just getting his ducks in a row before taking him down."
In fairness to the governor, there is no evidence of any actual ring-kissing in Harrisburg. Drillers did give him some $900,000 in campaign contributions, and he's been awfully nice to them, but rings? They haven't been kissed.
Still, one can't fault Mr. Dickson for being nostalgic for the old Mr. Corbett. As attorney general, he cut a wide swath through America's Largest Full-Time State Legislature. Eight people have been sentenced thus far in the corruption trials collectively dubbed "Bonusgate."
Former Democratic Whip Mike Veon of Beaver Falls has been the biggest fish taken in Mr. Corbett's net, but the attorney general's office has been trying to keep a line moving from the statehouse to the jailhouse. Two former House speakers, Republican John Perzel of Philadelphia and Democrat Bill DeWeese of Waynesburg, also have been accused of using state staff and the people's money on their political campaigns.
That's the kind of non-partisan action that Mr. Dickson would like to see again from Mr. Corbett.
"Could someone find him and persuade him to come back to the AG office?" Mr. Dickson asked. "Someone has to do something about this governor."
It is, of course, a truth universally acknowledged that what is legal in Harrisburg is often more dangerous than what's banned. There is nothing illegal about oil drillers all but dropping bags of Benjamins at the governor's feet, provided the proper paperwork is filled out.
Nor is there anything illegal about a governor with an anti-tax pledge sticking to that, but with the state facing a $4 billion budget hole and industry officials saying they'd be OK with a tax, it's hard to make sense of Mr. Corbett's position.
No less a conservative stalwart than Sarah Palin instituted a state tax on oil profits in her brief time as governor before she became a reality television star. As Joshua Green points out in the June issue of The Atlantic, Alaska's Clear and Equitable Share has left that state with a $12 billion surplus, and Gov. Palin cooperated with Democrats to get that done.
Meanwhile, back in Pennsylvania, we're told that the gas industry is in its infant stages and thus Pennsylvania alone cannot impose a tax that the industry expects everywhere else. But this industry is hardly a babe in Penn's Woods.
The state Department of Environmental Protection announced Tuesday a $1.1 million fine against Chesapeake Energy for drilling operations that led to water contamination in Bradford County and a February fire at its Avella site. This is only just, given the fire that injured three workers and gas migration into the drinking water supplies of 16 families in Bradford County.
Chesapeake can take a $1 million hit and keep drilling. No one in the industry worries overmuch about the increase in drilling impact fees that Senate Republicans are proposing. Mr. Corbett says he'll consider that fee, as the lion's share of the revenue will stay in the counties and municipalities with drilling activity.
As for dedicating a portion of that money to the general fund the way other states do, the governor says no.
Mr. Corbett isn't exactly rolling over for the gas industry. In addition to the recent DEP fines, Mr. Corbett has stood against the "forced pooling" practice that would allow drillers to take gas out from under property owners who hadn't signed a lease. But his explanation for that seemed odd. He told an audience last month that "the industry will take the tax but only if it gets the regulations on forced pooling."
That sounds like the industry, not the people of Pennsylvania, is setting the terms -- after passing around piles of money. That's the sort of thing Attorney General Corbett used to get upset about.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
By Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Gov. Tom Corbett is recovering from back surgery in Pittsburgh, and I know firsthand, or at least fifthvertebra, how hard that can be.
Despite the pain, Mr. Corbett needs to get back doublequick to his jobs in Harrisburg.
I say jobs because many of us still think of Mr. Corbett as the attorney general attacking corruption in Harrisburg, and we know we need that man now more than ever.
"When is Attorney General Corbett going to do something about the governor we have?" Bob Dickson of Shaler asked in a recent e-mail.
"I can't believe he is letting someone who took all of that campaign money from the Marcellus Shale gas folks before he got elected, then kisses their rings by refusing to consider a severance tax, leaving us the only state that doesn't levy one.
"That just doesn't pass the smell test. I'm sure that the Corbettinator is just getting his ducks in a row before taking him down."
In fairness to the governor, there is no evidence of any actual ring-kissing in Harrisburg. Drillers did give him some $900,000 in campaign contributions, and he's been awfully nice to them, but rings? They haven't been kissed.
Still, one can't fault Mr. Dickson for being nostalgic for the old Mr. Corbett. As attorney general, he cut a wide swath through America's Largest Full-Time State Legislature. Eight people have been sentenced thus far in the corruption trials collectively dubbed "Bonusgate."
Former Democratic Whip Mike Veon of Beaver Falls has been the biggest fish taken in Mr. Corbett's net, but the attorney general's office has been trying to keep a line moving from the statehouse to the jailhouse. Two former House speakers, Republican John Perzel of Philadelphia and Democrat Bill DeWeese of Waynesburg, also have been accused of using state staff and the people's money on their political campaigns.
That's the kind of non-partisan action that Mr. Dickson would like to see again from Mr. Corbett.
"Could someone find him and persuade him to come back to the AG office?" Mr. Dickson asked. "Someone has to do something about this governor."
It is, of course, a truth universally acknowledged that what is legal in Harrisburg is often more dangerous than what's banned. There is nothing illegal about oil drillers all but dropping bags of Benjamins at the governor's feet, provided the proper paperwork is filled out.
Nor is there anything illegal about a governor with an anti-tax pledge sticking to that, but with the state facing a $4 billion budget hole and industry officials saying they'd be OK with a tax, it's hard to make sense of Mr. Corbett's position.
No less a conservative stalwart than Sarah Palin instituted a state tax on oil profits in her brief time as governor before she became a reality television star. As Joshua Green points out in the June issue of The Atlantic, Alaska's Clear and Equitable Share has left that state with a $12 billion surplus, and Gov. Palin cooperated with Democrats to get that done.
Meanwhile, back in Pennsylvania, we're told that the gas industry is in its infant stages and thus Pennsylvania alone cannot impose a tax that the industry expects everywhere else. But this industry is hardly a babe in Penn's Woods.
The state Department of Environmental Protection announced Tuesday a $1.1 million fine against Chesapeake Energy for drilling operations that led to water contamination in Bradford County and a February fire at its Avella site. This is only just, given the fire that injured three workers and gas migration into the drinking water supplies of 16 families in Bradford County.
Chesapeake can take a $1 million hit and keep drilling. No one in the industry worries overmuch about the increase in drilling impact fees that Senate Republicans are proposing. Mr. Corbett says he'll consider that fee, as the lion's share of the revenue will stay in the counties and municipalities with drilling activity.
As for dedicating a portion of that money to the general fund the way other states do, the governor says no.
Mr. Corbett isn't exactly rolling over for the gas industry. In addition to the recent DEP fines, Mr. Corbett has stood against the "forced pooling" practice that would allow drillers to take gas out from under property owners who hadn't signed a lease. But his explanation for that seemed odd. He told an audience last month that "the industry will take the tax but only if it gets the regulations on forced pooling."
That sounds like the industry, not the people of Pennsylvania, is setting the terms -- after passing around piles of money. That's the sort of thing Attorney General Corbett used to get upset about.
DAVE: The Pirates are starting to fade. If they remain true to form since interleague play began, then they should be about 20 games under .500 by the end of June.
JIM: Stop it.
Speaking of starting to fade, will there be anyone (other than Newt) left for the Republicans to run against Obama? Potential Republican presidential candidates are falling like flies.
DAVE: I will keep these emails, and we will see where the Pirates are at the end of June.
I think that someone who we don't even know about will eventually be the republican candidate. I would be more happy about Trump officially dropping out, except that I still have to hear the ridiculousness that comes out of his mouth. For a guy with a lot of money (and in theory, a brain to have accomplished all of that), he always sounds stupid to me. I can't stand the guy. But his wife sure is pretty.
JIM: He is good at getting attention though. Sometimes, that is half the battle.
JIM: Trump's wife deserves to be on your blog.
JIM: Stop it.
Speaking of starting to fade, will there be anyone (other than Newt) left for the Republicans to run against Obama? Potential Republican presidential candidates are falling like flies.
DAVE: I will keep these emails, and we will see where the Pirates are at the end of June.
I think that someone who we don't even know about will eventually be the republican candidate. I would be more happy about Trump officially dropping out, except that I still have to hear the ridiculousness that comes out of his mouth. For a guy with a lot of money (and in theory, a brain to have accomplished all of that), he always sounds stupid to me. I can't stand the guy. But his wife sure is pretty.
JIM: He is good at getting attention though. Sometimes, that is half the battle.
JIM: Trump's wife deserves to be on your blog.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
I like cookies . . .
Medicinal cookie costs man cash, probation
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Rarely has half a cookie cost a man so much.
San Francisco artist Kinman Chan was sentenced on Tuesday to three to five years of probation, plus payment of $6,804 in restitution, for interfering with a flight crew after munching a double dose of medical marijuana cookies.
Mr. Chan, now 32, was responsible for a US Airways pilot's decision to divert his Philadelphia-to-San Francisco flight to Pittsburgh International Airport on Jan. 31, 2010, Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Picking told U.S. District Judge Gustave Diamond.
Initially unusually cheery upon boarding the plane, he eventually went to the lavatory and started shouting, screaming and throwing things, Ms. Picking said. When he emerged, partially unclothed, he tried to elbow flight attendant Lorin Gorman, who used her martial arts training to subdue him. Mr. Chan was then placed, with hands bound, between two burly passengers while the pilot landed.
Once grounded, Mr. Chan told FBI agents that he is prescribed marijuana for carpal tunnel syndrome. He takes it in cookies, and his usual dose is half of a cookie. But in Philadelphia, he ate an entire cookie.
His luggage was lost, so no uneaten cookies were entered into evidence.
"I made some mistakes and am really sorry for it," Mr. Chan told Judge Diamond, as he pleaded guilty and was promptly sentenced.
The judge called it "an aberrant instance induced by an overdosing on a prescription" that is illegal in Pennsylvania but allowed in California. He noted that Mr. Chan has no other criminal record and is employed, sometimes working for film companies. Mr. Chan was sentenced to probation for five years, but that drops to three years if he pays US Airways $6,804 in restitution to make up for the cost of diverting the flight.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Rarely has half a cookie cost a man so much.
San Francisco artist Kinman Chan was sentenced on Tuesday to three to five years of probation, plus payment of $6,804 in restitution, for interfering with a flight crew after munching a double dose of medical marijuana cookies.
Mr. Chan, now 32, was responsible for a US Airways pilot's decision to divert his Philadelphia-to-San Francisco flight to Pittsburgh International Airport on Jan. 31, 2010, Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Picking told U.S. District Judge Gustave Diamond.
Initially unusually cheery upon boarding the plane, he eventually went to the lavatory and started shouting, screaming and throwing things, Ms. Picking said. When he emerged, partially unclothed, he tried to elbow flight attendant Lorin Gorman, who used her martial arts training to subdue him. Mr. Chan was then placed, with hands bound, between two burly passengers while the pilot landed.
Once grounded, Mr. Chan told FBI agents that he is prescribed marijuana for carpal tunnel syndrome. He takes it in cookies, and his usual dose is half of a cookie. But in Philadelphia, he ate an entire cookie.
His luggage was lost, so no uneaten cookies were entered into evidence.
"I made some mistakes and am really sorry for it," Mr. Chan told Judge Diamond, as he pleaded guilty and was promptly sentenced.
The judge called it "an aberrant instance induced by an overdosing on a prescription" that is illegal in Pennsylvania but allowed in California. He noted that Mr. Chan has no other criminal record and is employed, sometimes working for film companies. Mr. Chan was sentenced to probation for five years, but that drops to three years if he pays US Airways $6,804 in restitution to make up for the cost of diverting the flight.
Pittsburgh Justice
Monday, 16 May 2011 18:23
Written by Rob Rogers
The U.S. Justice Department ended its investigation into the beating of Jordan Miles without issuing any charges. The officers involved were reinstated to active duty without any real explanation of what happened. Police Chief Nate Harper said, "There is no question that Mr. Jordan Miles sustained physical injuries, but there is no evidence to show it was the result of wrongful conduct by the officers."
That is not a satisfactory answer. Pittsburgh deserves better and so does Jordan Miles.
Monday, 16 May 2011 18:23
Written by Rob Rogers
The U.S. Justice Department ended its investigation into the beating of Jordan Miles without issuing any charges. The officers involved were reinstated to active duty without any real explanation of what happened. Police Chief Nate Harper said, "There is no question that Mr. Jordan Miles sustained physical injuries, but there is no evidence to show it was the result of wrongful conduct by the officers."
That is not a satisfactory answer. Pittsburgh deserves better and so does Jordan Miles.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Disturbing Photos
Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:49
Written by Rob Rogers
Last week senior executives of the five biggest oil companies went before the Senate Finance Committee to explain why, in this failing economy, they still need unaffordable tax incentives. It was nothing more than political theater. They have no intention of giving up their profits or their tax deductions, even if it would help Congress avoid other cuts in education and health care. With gas prices close to $5 a gallon, it is hard to feel sorry for the oil companies in this fight.
Sunday, 15 May 2011 15:49
Written by Rob Rogers
Last week senior executives of the five biggest oil companies went before the Senate Finance Committee to explain why, in this failing economy, they still need unaffordable tax incentives. It was nothing more than political theater. They have no intention of giving up their profits or their tax deductions, even if it would help Congress avoid other cuts in education and health care. With gas prices close to $5 a gallon, it is hard to feel sorry for the oil companies in this fight.
Dirty business . . .
Shale drilling fines drop under Corbett
Sunday, May 15, 2011
By Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The state Department of Environmental Protection assessed significantly fewer fines on Marcellus Shale drilling operations during the first few months of the Corbett administration than under the Rendell administration, according to state data analyzed by Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future.
The statewide environmental organization's review found the DEP took 36 enforcement actions on 313 violations identified by field inspectors during the first three months of 2011 -- a rate of one enforcement action for every 8.69 violations. That's a much lower rate of enforcement than in the first quarter of 2010, when Gov. Ed Rendell was in charge and 122 enforcement actions were taken on 207 violations, or one enforcement action for every 1.7 violations.
The enforcement rate for the first quarter of 2011 also falls far below the annual rate for 2010 of one enforcement action for every 3.94 violations, and the 2009 rate of one for every 3.16 violations.
"It shows that the DEP is not taking enforcement actions at the same rate as it has in the last couple of years and not by just a little bit," said Jan Jarrett, president and chief executive officer of PennFuture. "It seems significant.
"Reading between the lines it seems to signal more emphasis on 'compliance assistance.' Instead of assessing fines and penalties, it seems the system is geared more to achieving compliance, and that seems ill-advised, given the scope of the natural gas drilling activities in the state."
The DEP was asked to explain the difference, and took a week to issue the following one-sentence response by spokeswoman Katy Gresh: "Before we comment on PennFuture's alleged conclusions, DEP will conduct our own analysis of the data."
Ms. Gresh would not say when the department will complete its analysis.
The apparent significant difference in enforcement actions coincided with an attempted procedural change by the Corbett administration in March -- that it has since rescinded and disavowed -- requiring field inspectors to get approval from department administrators before issuing notices of violation to Marcellus Shale drilling operations. The DEP had said the procedural changes were aimed at fostering consistency in writing up violations, but Ms. Jarrett said the PennFuture analysis shows a change in how the agency is handling enforcement penalties under new Secretary Michael Krancer.
She pointed to a June 2010 EOG Resources Marcellus Shale well blowout in Clearfield County that discharged thousands of gallons of fracking fluid and brine into a nearby creek. The accident caused DEP to shut down the company's drilling operations for 40 days statewide, and six weeks after the accident, it fined EOG and a drilling contractor a total of $400,000.
Contrast that, she said, with the Corbett DEP's response following a February 2011 flash fire that injured three workers at a Chesapeake Energy Marcellus Shale well drilling site west of Avella in Washington County and another accident at a Chesapeake well in Bradford County in April that allowed thousands of gallons of fracking fluid to flow from the site.
Chesapeake voluntarily stopped hydraulic fracturing activities in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia to assess the cause of the April well accident, but DEP didn't mandate a shutdown and, although it did issue a notice of violation, has yet to assess any penalties for either incident, although one is expected soon, possibly this week.
Chesapeake resumed fracking in Ohio and West Virginia last month and Friday announced that it would resume operations in Pennsylvania. The company told the DEP that it would use local well-control specialists on any future accidents; for the Bradford incident a company from Texas was used, which DEP said delayed arrival of specialists.
"If any incident warranted fines, it should have been those," Ms. Jarrett said. "The fire at the well near Avella happened in February and it's May."
Sunday, May 15, 2011
By Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The state Department of Environmental Protection assessed significantly fewer fines on Marcellus Shale drilling operations during the first few months of the Corbett administration than under the Rendell administration, according to state data analyzed by Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future.
The statewide environmental organization's review found the DEP took 36 enforcement actions on 313 violations identified by field inspectors during the first three months of 2011 -- a rate of one enforcement action for every 8.69 violations. That's a much lower rate of enforcement than in the first quarter of 2010, when Gov. Ed Rendell was in charge and 122 enforcement actions were taken on 207 violations, or one enforcement action for every 1.7 violations.
The enforcement rate for the first quarter of 2011 also falls far below the annual rate for 2010 of one enforcement action for every 3.94 violations, and the 2009 rate of one for every 3.16 violations.
"It shows that the DEP is not taking enforcement actions at the same rate as it has in the last couple of years and not by just a little bit," said Jan Jarrett, president and chief executive officer of PennFuture. "It seems significant.
"Reading between the lines it seems to signal more emphasis on 'compliance assistance.' Instead of assessing fines and penalties, it seems the system is geared more to achieving compliance, and that seems ill-advised, given the scope of the natural gas drilling activities in the state."
The DEP was asked to explain the difference, and took a week to issue the following one-sentence response by spokeswoman Katy Gresh: "Before we comment on PennFuture's alleged conclusions, DEP will conduct our own analysis of the data."
Ms. Gresh would not say when the department will complete its analysis.
The apparent significant difference in enforcement actions coincided with an attempted procedural change by the Corbett administration in March -- that it has since rescinded and disavowed -- requiring field inspectors to get approval from department administrators before issuing notices of violation to Marcellus Shale drilling operations. The DEP had said the procedural changes were aimed at fostering consistency in writing up violations, but Ms. Jarrett said the PennFuture analysis shows a change in how the agency is handling enforcement penalties under new Secretary Michael Krancer.
She pointed to a June 2010 EOG Resources Marcellus Shale well blowout in Clearfield County that discharged thousands of gallons of fracking fluid and brine into a nearby creek. The accident caused DEP to shut down the company's drilling operations for 40 days statewide, and six weeks after the accident, it fined EOG and a drilling contractor a total of $400,000.
Contrast that, she said, with the Corbett DEP's response following a February 2011 flash fire that injured three workers at a Chesapeake Energy Marcellus Shale well drilling site west of Avella in Washington County and another accident at a Chesapeake well in Bradford County in April that allowed thousands of gallons of fracking fluid to flow from the site.
Chesapeake voluntarily stopped hydraulic fracturing activities in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia to assess the cause of the April well accident, but DEP didn't mandate a shutdown and, although it did issue a notice of violation, has yet to assess any penalties for either incident, although one is expected soon, possibly this week.
Chesapeake resumed fracking in Ohio and West Virginia last month and Friday announced that it would resume operations in Pennsylvania. The company told the DEP that it would use local well-control specialists on any future accidents; for the Bradford incident a company from Texas was used, which DEP said delayed arrival of specialists.
"If any incident warranted fines, it should have been those," Ms. Jarrett said. "The fire at the well near Avella happened in February and it's May."
Friday, May 13, 2011
Speaking of jumping the shark . . . Welcome to Mr. Kutcher . . .
Ashton Kutcher lands on 'Two and a Half Men'
By DAVID BAUDER
AP Television Writer
May 13, 3:41 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) -- Acting with an imminent deadline to keep alive a hit comedy after it had been derailed by Charlie Sheen's troubles this season, CBS and Warner Bros. Television said Friday that actor Ashton Kutcher will replace Sheen in "Two and a Half Men."
The show goes into production this summer and will be on CBS' schedule in the fall.
The deal apparently came together quickly, following reports earlier this week that negotiations with film actor Hugh Grant to join the show had fallen through. Kutcher is familiar to television audiences through his role on Fox's "That 70s Show," film roles like the romantic comedy "No Strings Attached" and for producing and hosting the prank show "Punk'd."
A deadline on deciding whether the show would continue was looming with CBS set to unveil its fall schedule to advertisers in New York next Wednesday.
Kutcher is not as well known as Sheen but is 12 years younger and has a huge following of fans who check in on his every utterance on Twitter. He said Friday he believes that "we can fill the stage with laughter that will echo in viewers' homes.
"I can't replace Charlie Sheen but I'm going to work my ass off to entertain the hell out of people," he said.
Kutcher's quote was the only mention of Sheen in Friday's news release. Warner cut short the show's eighth season and fired Sheen two months ago following his public implosion through hard partying and angry criticism of show creator Chuck Lorre.
"We are so lucky to have someone as talented, joyful and just plain remarkable as Ashton joining our family," said Lorre, also the show's executive producer. "Added to that is the deep sigh of relief knowing that our family stays together. If I was any happier, it'd be illegal."
Lorre or CBS executives did not make themselves available to address how Kutcher would be integrated in a show where Sheen's character Charlie Harper was the comic center, portraying an advertising jingle writer with a playboy lifestyle not unlike the actor's own. Jon Cryer portrays Sheen's brother, and Angus T. Jones plays Cryer's son.
Sheen offered his replacement a welcome on Friday - sort of.
"Kutcher is a sweetheart and a brilliant comedic performer ... Oh, wait, so am I," Sheen said.
"Enjoy the show, America," he said. "Enjoy seeing a 2.0 in the demo every Monday, WB."
Sheen used TV lingo to predict failure for the revamped "Two and a Half Men." He referred to a 2.0 Nielsen Co. rating among the 18-to-49-year-old demographic that advertisers often seek. This season, "Two and a Half Men" averaged a 4.1 rating in that group, so Sheen was suggesting the Kutcher-led show would have half the young audience than it had with him.
Actually, Kutcher might be expected to have a younger following than Sheen and one which could be curious about his new role. The difficulty might be the older makeup of CBS' audience in general, more Sheen's crowd than Kutcher's.
"He's not a star, I don't think, the way Charlie Sheen is," said Brad Adgate, an analyst for the firm Horizon Media. "He's more like a supporting cast."
Still, Adgate said, "it's a hit show and it's something worth trying before you pack it in. You just never know."
Actually, I think they should learn from multiple previous failures of trying to continue a hit comedy without the lead actor and pack it in. And don't think I'm not watching you carefully, "The Office," to see where you plan to take the show without Steve Carell.
By DAVID BAUDER
AP Television Writer
May 13, 3:41 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) -- Acting with an imminent deadline to keep alive a hit comedy after it had been derailed by Charlie Sheen's troubles this season, CBS and Warner Bros. Television said Friday that actor Ashton Kutcher will replace Sheen in "Two and a Half Men."
The show goes into production this summer and will be on CBS' schedule in the fall.
The deal apparently came together quickly, following reports earlier this week that negotiations with film actor Hugh Grant to join the show had fallen through. Kutcher is familiar to television audiences through his role on Fox's "That 70s Show," film roles like the romantic comedy "No Strings Attached" and for producing and hosting the prank show "Punk'd."
A deadline on deciding whether the show would continue was looming with CBS set to unveil its fall schedule to advertisers in New York next Wednesday.
Kutcher is not as well known as Sheen but is 12 years younger and has a huge following of fans who check in on his every utterance on Twitter. He said Friday he believes that "we can fill the stage with laughter that will echo in viewers' homes.
"I can't replace Charlie Sheen but I'm going to work my ass off to entertain the hell out of people," he said.
Kutcher's quote was the only mention of Sheen in Friday's news release. Warner cut short the show's eighth season and fired Sheen two months ago following his public implosion through hard partying and angry criticism of show creator Chuck Lorre.
"We are so lucky to have someone as talented, joyful and just plain remarkable as Ashton joining our family," said Lorre, also the show's executive producer. "Added to that is the deep sigh of relief knowing that our family stays together. If I was any happier, it'd be illegal."
Lorre or CBS executives did not make themselves available to address how Kutcher would be integrated in a show where Sheen's character Charlie Harper was the comic center, portraying an advertising jingle writer with a playboy lifestyle not unlike the actor's own. Jon Cryer portrays Sheen's brother, and Angus T. Jones plays Cryer's son.
Sheen offered his replacement a welcome on Friday - sort of.
"Kutcher is a sweetheart and a brilliant comedic performer ... Oh, wait, so am I," Sheen said.
"Enjoy the show, America," he said. "Enjoy seeing a 2.0 in the demo every Monday, WB."
Sheen used TV lingo to predict failure for the revamped "Two and a Half Men." He referred to a 2.0 Nielsen Co. rating among the 18-to-49-year-old demographic that advertisers often seek. This season, "Two and a Half Men" averaged a 4.1 rating in that group, so Sheen was suggesting the Kutcher-led show would have half the young audience than it had with him.
Actually, Kutcher might be expected to have a younger following than Sheen and one which could be curious about his new role. The difficulty might be the older makeup of CBS' audience in general, more Sheen's crowd than Kutcher's.
"He's not a star, I don't think, the way Charlie Sheen is," said Brad Adgate, an analyst for the firm Horizon Media. "He's more like a supporting cast."
Still, Adgate said, "it's a hit show and it's something worth trying before you pack it in. You just never know."
Actually, I think they should learn from multiple previous failures of trying to continue a hit comedy without the lead actor and pack it in. And don't think I'm not watching you carefully, "The Office," to see where you plan to take the show without Steve Carell.
DAVE: My impression of JA is that she's overexposed. Similar to Jennifer Lopez at this point. Like all celebrity beauties watching as their beauty starts to fade, I wouldn't be surprised to see JA in Playboy before she turns 45. That's three years. Farrah Fawcett (a great love of my youth) did Playboy when she was around 50, I think. It was kind of sad. As much I had loved her, I never saw one nude photo of her. [Farrah Fawcett posed for Playboy in 1997 when she was 50. Both Jim and I have now seen a photo of her bare breasts from that photo spread. They were magnificent.]
JIM: Never saw a nude photo of Farrah either. But I did see her boobs in the movie Outland. First rated R movie I ever saw in the theater.
DAVE: Like JA, she had great boobs. Always erect. I love that on women who are not porn stars. Cindy always had erect nipples. They were small. But always hard. She used to tape them down with Scotch tape. Good times.
JIM: After writing that email, I thought about if for a moment and thought something wasn't right. So I looked it up. Farrah was not in Outland; it was Saturn 3. I am getting my very early '80s sci-fi movies mixed up. You can understand that though. I mean, Outland and Saturn 3 were really basically the same movie, just one has Sean Connery, Peter Boyle, and John Ratzenberger, and the other has Farrah and her boobs. Oh those wonderful boobs...
JIM: Never saw a nude photo of Farrah either. But I did see her boobs in the movie Outland. First rated R movie I ever saw in the theater.
DAVE: Like JA, she had great boobs. Always erect. I love that on women who are not porn stars. Cindy always had erect nipples. They were small. But always hard. She used to tape them down with Scotch tape. Good times.
JIM: After writing that email, I thought about if for a moment and thought something wasn't right. So I looked it up. Farrah was not in Outland; it was Saturn 3. I am getting my very early '80s sci-fi movies mixed up. You can understand that though. I mean, Outland and Saturn 3 were really basically the same movie, just one has Sean Connery, Peter Boyle, and John Ratzenberger, and the other has Farrah and her boobs. Oh those wonderful boobs...
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
I have been infatuated with Jennifer Aniston since the first time I saw her on the first episode of "Friends" many years ago now. I have always maintained that I find her very physically attractive, somewhat of a rarity, given that she and I are the same age, and I tend to prefer younger women (See last week's photo homage to Pippa Middleton.). But I think maybe Jennifer has become overexposed in recent years. Too many bad movies. Too many bad relationships. Too much Jennifer. And now a perfume bearing her name? I think it's just possible that my beloved Jennifer Aniston has jumped the shark. And where is her upper lip?
Monday, May 9, 2011
Re-Hope 2012: Dave critiques Obama . . .
Obama's second and biggest mistake as President was not making repealing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans his FIRST priority (yes, before health care). That additional tax money would have more than paid for Obamacare, which would not have given the republicans ammunition about the growing budget deficit, perhaps meaning different outcomes in the 2010 elections. He should have made sure he had the money before they started putting together such a massive spending program. And he never should have allowed the bank CEOs and top executives to receive pay bonuses after they received bailouts. That was his first mistake.
Of course, he did get bin Laden.
Now, it's time to break camp and get out of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and any other Stan in which we're currently performing military operations. Let's get out of the Middle East and tend to matters here at home. What? Oh, my bad. Oil. Maybe someday natural gas will replace oil, and our dependence on foreign oil will finally stop controlling foreign, political, and public policy in this country. Will I live to see that day? It could happen. Apparently, there's a shitload of natural gas deep underground in Pennsylvania.
Of course, he did get bin Laden.
Now, it's time to break camp and get out of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and any other Stan in which we're currently performing military operations. Let's get out of the Middle East and tend to matters here at home. What? Oh, my bad. Oil. Maybe someday natural gas will replace oil, and our dependence on foreign oil will finally stop controlling foreign, political, and public policy in this country. Will I live to see that day? It could happen. Apparently, there's a shitload of natural gas deep underground in Pennsylvania.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Sharkistan
Thursday, 05 May 2011 08:29
Written by Rob Rogers
Everybody keeps saying our relationship with Pakistan is "complicated." What does that mean exactly? In personal relationships it usually means your partner is bat-#@&% crazy, unfaithful and duplicitous ... but the sex is phenomenal. The payoff in the relationship with Pakistan, once we get past the lies and ineptitude, is the intelligence and access to the big players in the war on terrorism. But let's not fool ourselves into thinking they aren't playing both sides of the fence.
Thursday, 05 May 2011 08:29
Written by Rob Rogers
Everybody keeps saying our relationship with Pakistan is "complicated." What does that mean exactly? In personal relationships it usually means your partner is bat-#@&% crazy, unfaithful and duplicitous ... but the sex is phenomenal. The payoff in the relationship with Pakistan, once we get past the lies and ineptitude, is the intelligence and access to the big players in the war on terrorism. But let's not fool ourselves into thinking they aren't playing both sides of the fence.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Men arrested for stealing antlers from NRA convention
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Two men working for an exhibition service at the National Rifle Association convention over the weekend were arrested late Sunday for stealing two sets of elk antlers.
According to Pittsburgh police, the antlers were stolen from a vendor's booth while the operator was waiting to pack up his truck at the loading dock of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
An employee at Velvet Ranch, a hunting lodge in Rexburg, Idaho, confirmed the antlers were stolen from the company's booth but could not elaborate on what occurred.
The owner, who did not return messages left for him, told Pittsburgh police the antlers were priceless.
The theft was reported about 8:45 p.m. Sunday. Security officers in the area spotted two men on the east side of the convention center walking with the antlers, and they were detained.
Stephen C. Lee, 44, of Cumberland, Md., and Gary C. Felts, 49, of Joppa, Md., are charged with theft and criminal conspiracy, and taken to the Allegheny County Jail.
Both men worked for Brede Exposition Services, of Beltsville, Md.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Two men working for an exhibition service at the National Rifle Association convention over the weekend were arrested late Sunday for stealing two sets of elk antlers.
According to Pittsburgh police, the antlers were stolen from a vendor's booth while the operator was waiting to pack up his truck at the loading dock of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
An employee at Velvet Ranch, a hunting lodge in Rexburg, Idaho, confirmed the antlers were stolen from the company's booth but could not elaborate on what occurred.
The owner, who did not return messages left for him, told Pittsburgh police the antlers were priceless.
The theft was reported about 8:45 p.m. Sunday. Security officers in the area spotted two men on the east side of the convention center walking with the antlers, and they were detained.
Stephen C. Lee, 44, of Cumberland, Md., and Gary C. Felts, 49, of Joppa, Md., are charged with theft and criminal conspiracy, and taken to the Allegheny County Jail.
Both men worked for Brede Exposition Services, of Beltsville, Md.
Isn't it amazing how it seems that just a week ago, there were only buds on the trees and other foliage? And a week before that, there were virtually no signs of spring? But suddenly, Pittsburgh is rich with green. Trees, bushes, lawns. A rich, emerald green. That's what it looks like in Seattle. It's one of the few places I've been. And Pittsburgh's ubiquitous rain and gray skies is just like Seattle. I hate Seattle. The upside? No stink bugs.
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