WaterWired

Thursday Treat from Terrific Twosome Scott Jasechko & Debra Perrone - Paper: 'Hydraulic Fracturing near Domestic Groundwater Wells'

The Terrific Twosome, Debra Perrone and Scott Jasechko - both now at the University of California - Santa Barbara - have published another excellent groundwater paper: Hydraulic Fracturing near Domestic Groundwater Wells, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  

Here is the blurb from UCSB. 

Download PNAS-2017-Jasechko-1701682114 

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing operations are generating considerable discussion about their potential to contaminate aquifers tapped by domestic groundwater wells. Groundwater wells located closer to hydraulically fractured wells are more likely to be exposed to contaminants derived from on-site spills and well-bore failures, should they occur. Nevertheless, the proximity of hydraulic fracturing operations to domestic groundwater wells is unknown. Here, we analyze the distance between domestic groundwater wells (public and self-supply) constructed between 2000 and 2014 and hydraulically fractured wells stimulated in 2014 in 14 states. We show that 37% of all recorded hydraulically fractured wells stimulated during 2014 exist within 2 km of at least one recently constructed (2000–2014) domestic groundwater well. Furthermore, we identify 11 counties where most (>>50%) recorded domestic groundwater wells exist within 2 km of one or more hydraulically fractured wells stimulated during 2014. Our findings suggest that understanding how frequently hydraulic fracturing operations impact groundwater quality is of widespread importance to drinking water safety in many areas where hydraulic fracturing is common. We also identify 236 counties where most recorded domestic groundwater wells exist within 2 km of one or more recorded oil and gas wells producing during 2014. Our analysis identifies hotspots where both conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells frequently exist near recorded domestic groundwater wells that may be targeted for further water-quality monitoring.

Significance

Millions of Americans rely on self-supply groundwater wells for drinking water, but the number of these wells that are located near hydraulic fracturing operations is unknown. Here, we show that approximately half of all hydraulically fractured wells stimulated in 2014 exist within 2–3 km of one or more domestic (public and self-supply) groundwater wells. Our finding that many hydraulically fractured and domestic groundwater wells are colocated emphasizes that determining how frequently hydraulic fracturing activities impact groundwater quality is important to maintaining high-quality water in many domestic wells.

The Final Paragraph

Although hydraulic fracturing has been used to enhance hydrocarbon production for decades, concerns that hydraulic fracturing operations may contaminate groundwater have gained traction in recent years (5). A key strategy of risk management is to communicate with the public and involve them as legitimate partners when resolving problems (6). Quantifying and communicating actual risks remains challenging because of the lack of publicly available and consistently cataloged information about (i) hydraulically fractured and groundwater well locations, (ii) frequency and severity of spills and leaks linked to hydraulic fracturing (16), (iii) integrity of decommissioned wells (18), (iv) toxicity of hydraulic fracturing fluids, and (v) groundwater quality before and following hydraulic fracturing operations (16). Our analysis identifies hotspots that may be targeted for future fieldwork to better understand the potential for contamination events and possible contaminant migration rates in aquifers. As more shale oil and gas reservoirs become economically and technologically feasible to access with hydraulically fractured wells (4), understanding the frequency that groundwater resources are contaminated will be critical to allocating resources for safeguarding groundwater and addressing public concerns.

Enjoy!

 “If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.” - Isaac Asimov 

Josh Newton's Water Jobs and More! 29 November 2017 (Updated: 4 December 2017)

Last one for November! I will see Josh in Stockholm next week. Looking forward to it - it's been several years. 

Join the @OregonState Water Resources Graduate Program Jobs Listserv! Click here.

Here is a link to the weekly water news for 18 - 24 November 2017. 

Click here for Elaine Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geosciences; 2) Environmental Sciences; 3) Coastal Zone Management - 27 November 2017. 

Jobs

Check out the AGU Career Center for research/academic jobs. 

Here you will find some general job resources and posted jobs I Tweeted during the past week. All the jobs I Tweet are archived at Twitter; the hashtag is #JobWaWi and click on 'Latest' at the top left so that the latest jobs will display.  

You can check out Josh Newton's searchable website for all his jobs. His jobs are on Facebook, too. 

Follow Josh Newton on Twitter: @joshnewtonH2O. Follow Josh's Water Jobs on Twitter: @joshswaterjobs

As more jobs come in I will post them at the bottom (Additional Positions) and date when I post them. I start the additional positions with the ones I posted the week before that are still open. I am also posting some general job sites. 

Some General Employment Resources

Check out @AidJobs - Vacancies in aid, development, humanitarian & nonprofit sector (volunteers, consultants or F-T employment) http://aidjobs.org

AGU Career Center 

UN Jobs in Water Resources

UN Jobs in Water Management

UN Jobs in Water and Sanitation

Global Water Jobs

WASH Vacancies

Academic Jobs Online

Higher Education Job Site

Get Hydrology Jobs

AAG Jobs

@BCWaterNews Jobs Click 'View Jobs' at http://bcwaterjobs.com 

@EcologyWA - Current Openings - Updated every few days. Click here. 

King County (WA) Jobs

Geoscience Job Board

California DWR Jobs

AZ Water Career Center 

Florida Water Jobs

NYC DEP 

Nature Conservancy jobs

State of Washington Careers

Idaho DEQ 

OSU Water Resources Program

Water District Jobs

Academic Jobs in Schools of Physical/Earth Sciences

Mac's List - Jobs in Portland and Beyond!

New Zealand Hydrological Society Jobs Board

California Water Jobs 

Government Jobs

Association of Oregon Counties Job Postings

Soil Science Societies Career Center

How to Find Work Overseas, with Marcelle Yeager. http://bit.ly/1pIopLT  

Josh's Jobs - 29 November 2017

As a PDF: Download 29 November 2017

As Word:  Download 29 November 2017

Josh’s Pick:

1) Young Scientists Summer Program – IIASA (Vienna): 11 January (Highly recommend getting into this summer program)

Minimum experience level requested:

0-4 years

2) Program Associate (Water) – Pisces Foundation (San Francisco): 22 December

3) RA Hydrologist – Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (United Kingdom): 11 December

4) Guyana nationals: Programme Analyst-EEEI – UNDP (Guyana): 4 December

5) Local hire: Disaster Risk Management Analyst – World Bank (Washington DC): 14 December

6) Capacity Development Officer (Civic Space) – Natural Resource Governance Institute (London): 4 December

7) Capacity Development Officer (Civic Space) – Natural Resource Governance Institute (New York): 4 December

8) Program Manager/ Water Resources Institute (Water Resources Policy Initiatives) – California State University (San Bernardino, CA, USA): 30 November

9) Civil Associate I – Michael Baker International (Alexandria, VA, USA): Until filled

10) Engineer-Trainer – AguaClara (India): Until filled

11) Design and Field Engineers – AguaClara (India): Until filled

5-9 years

12) Water Sector Consultant – Deloitte (Arlington, VA, USA): Until filled

13) Sustainable Production Project Manager – WWF (Myanmar): 21 December

14) Chief Environmental and Social Compliance Officer – AfDB: 1 December

15) Data Scientist – SEI (Stockholm): 1 January 2018

16) French speakers: National Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Expert Burkina Faso – Climate Analytics (Burkina Faso): 15 December

17) Capacity Development Officer (Learning Specialist) – Natural Resource Governance Institute (London): 8 December

18) Capacity Development Officer (Learning Specialist) – Natural Resource Governance Institute (New York): 8 December

19) Environmental Specialist – Green Climate Fund (South Korea): 10 January 2018

20) Communication Officer (Press) – Mekong River Commission (Laos): 12 December

21) Environmental and Social Development Specialist – World Bank (Washington DC): 4 December

22) Director of Operations (WASH-FIN) – Tetra Tech (Arlington, VA, USA): Until filled

23) Senior Policy Officer (River Murray Policy and Strategy - Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources) – Government of South Australia (Australia): 29 November

24) Environmental Engineer or Environmental Scientist – LimnoTech (El Segundo, CA, USA): Until filled

10+ years

25) Senior Water Governance Advisor (Transboundary Waters) – Oxfam (Cambodia): 21 December

26) Director (Changing Planet) – National Geographic Society (Washington DC): Until filled

27) Vice President (Environmental Affairs and Sustainability) – U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Washington DC): Until filled

28) Senior Regional Environmental Manager – Amazon.com (Herndon, VA, USA): Until filled

29) Director of Climate Adaption (Caribbean Division) – TNC (Coral Gables, FL, USA): 20 December

Not stated (other):

30) Kiswahili speakers: Sustainable Investment Project Officer – WWF (Tanzania): 4 December

31) Governor (International Development Research Centre) – Government of Canada: 15 December

32) USA nationals: Interdisciplinary Cartographer/Geographer – US Department of the Interior (Lakewood, CO or Rolla, MO, USA): 1 December

Not stated (academic):

33) Visiting Assistant Professor – Northwestern University (Evanston, IL, USA): 1 February 2018

34) Postdoctoral Research Associate I – University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ, USA): 4 December

WASH:

35) Amharic speakers: WASH Evaluation Specialist – Social Impact (Ethiopia): Until filled

36) Amharic speakers: Senior WASH Evaluation Specialist – Social Impact (Ethiopia): Until filled

37) Ghana nationals: WASH Officer (Urban Sanitation) – UNICEF (Ghana): 30 November

38) WASH Operations Officer – IOM (South Sudan): 13 December

39) Roving WASH Water Treatment Plants Rehabilitation Manager – Terre des Hommes (Iraq): Until filled

40) Senior Training Design Specialist – Consortium for DEWATS Dissemination (CDD) Society (India): 16 December

41) WASH Coordinator – ACF (Iraq): Until filled

42) WASH Cluster Co-Coordinator – ACF (Iraq): Until filled

43) WASH Program Manager – Live & Learn Environmental Education (Australia): 8 December

44) WASH Coordinator – Action Against Hunger (Syria): Until filled

45) WASH Technical Advisor – Oxfam (Syria): 12 December

46) Chad nationals: Chargé(e) de l'Eau, Hygiène de Assainissement (WASH Officer) – UNICEF (Chad): 5 December

47) Innovation Specialist (WASH & Education) – UNICEF (Copenhagen): 30 November

48) National Programme Officer (Sanitation Specialist) – SDC (Jordan): 10 December

Consultancies:

49) Spanish speakers: Senior Technical Writer Consultancy – DAI (Honduras): Until filled

50) Moldova Nationals: Public Finance for Development of the National Action Plan for Gradual Implementation of the Sanitary and Hygiene Norms for Preschools – UNICEF (Moldova): 1 December

51) Consultant National: Appui à l'évaluation et la documentation du Marketing de l'Assainissement (SanMark) – UNICEF (Ivory Coast): 30 November

52) Consultant (Transboundary Early Warning Systems) – Oxfam (Nepal): 30 November

53) Balkan region speakers: Technical Advisor for Project South East Europe Urban Resilience Building Action Network – UNDP (Home-based): 6 December

54) French speakers: Expert in Integrated Watershed Management under Climate Change – Union of the Comoros (Comoros): 30 November

55) French speakers: International Expert in Integrated Watershed Management under Climate Change – Union of the Comoros (Comoros): 30 November

56) Communications Consultant – Mekong River Commission (Laos): 30 November

57) National Consultant (Development of National Strategy for WASH in Healthcare Facilities) – UNICEF (Ghana): 29 November

58) Moldova Nationals: Public Finance for Development of the National Action Plan for Gradual Implementation of the Sanitary and Hygiene Norms for Preschools – UNICEF (Moldova): 1 December

59) Moldova nationals: National Action Plan for Gradual Implementation of the Sanitary and Hygiene Norms for Preschools – UNICEF (Moldova): 1 December

RFP:

60) Expression of Interest: Vietnam Aus4Water – Palladium (Vietnam): 18 December

Internships:

61) Support Partnership and Resource Mobilisation Team (and general internship programme) – GWP (Stockholm): Until filled

62) Environment Affairs Intern – UNESCAP (Bangkok): 31 January 2018

63) Internship – CDP (Berlin): Until filled

Scholarships:

64) PhD Candidate – Hydro Nation Scholars Programme (Scotland): 5 January 2018

65) M.S. and Ph.D. in Arctic and agricultural ecohydrology, ecosystem ecology, and expert assessment – Brigham Young University (Provo, UT, USA): 21 December

66) Graduate Assistant – Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI, USA): 22 December

Other:

67) 2018 MIT Water Innovation Prize – MIT: 31 December

Additional Positions

Posted: Earlier This Week 

68) Postdoc Position: @ETH (Zurich) - Climate Modeling/Uncertainty Quantification in Climate Projections. ASAP. http://bit.ly/2zWzd1F  #JobWaWi (tnx @fowler_lara)

 

69) Postdoc Position: @ETH (Zurich) - Climate Modeling/Attribution of Changes in the Water Cycle using Big Data. OUF. http://bit.ly/2hIK3xx  #JobWaWi (tnx @fowler_lara) 

 

70) Position: @EcologyWA (Lacey, WA) - Senior Nonpoint Water Quality and Shellfish Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4). Continuous. http://bit.ly/2BbrzhK  #JobWaWi

 

71) Position: USF (Tampa, FL) - T-T Assistant Professor, GIScience. Application  review: 15 December  Download USF_T-T_GIScience

 

72) Position: @WHO (Geneva) - Chief Information Officer. Closes: 19 December http://bit.ly/2n50d9Z  #JobWaWi

 

73) Position: @WHO (Lyons, FR) - Scientist (Bioinformatics). Closes: 6 December http://bit.ly/2AxUJug  #JobWaWi

 

74) Position: @Caltech (Pasadena, CA) - Foster & Coco Stanback Postdoctoral Fellowship in Global Environmental Science. Closes: 26 December http://bit.ly/2Bi6HED  #JobWaWi

 

75) Position: @EcologyWA (Richland) - Lead Waste Treatment Plant Design Engineer (Environmental Engineer 5). Continuous http://bit.ly/2fvo6kJ  #JobWaWi

 

76) Position: @EcologyWA (Spokane) - Permit Unit Supervisor (Environmental Engineer 5). Continuous http://bit.ly/2xKjNwL  #JobWaWi

77) Position: @EcologyWA (Lacey) - Dam Safety Engineer (Environmental Engineer 2) (In-Training). http://bit.ly/2wBzzFa  #JobWaWi

78) Position: @Harvard (Cambridge, MA) - T-T Climate Scientist - all levels. OUF; Apply by 18 Dec http://bit.ly/2jANUkn  #JobWaWi

79) Position: @Oxfam (New York City) - Inclusive Peace and Security Senior Policy Advisor. Closes: 10 December https://oxf.am/2BvBejl  #JobWaWi

80) Position: The City & County of Broomfield (CO) - Deputy Director of Public Works. Closes: 6 Decrmber http://bit.ly/2Am98sU  #JobWaWi

81) Position: @sbcitywater (CA) - Water Reclamation Plant Supervisor. Closes: 24 December http://bit.ly/2Bxk3O6  #JobWaWi

82) Position: @snocounty (Everett, WA) - Planner (Pollution Prevention Specialist). Closes: 15 December http://bit.ly/2j2DruL  #JobWaWi 

Posted: 4 December 2017

83) Position: OR WRD (Salem) - Natural Resource Specialist 4 (Grant Program Coordinator). Closes: 14 December http://bit.ly/2AqFUXI  #JobWaWi

84) Postdoc Position: @NAU (Flagstaff, AZ) - Mapping, Monitoring, and Modeling Forest Ecosystems. Closes: 1 January 2018 http://bit.ly/2ifEHtY  #JobWaWi

85) Position: @vermont_epscor (Burlington) - Deep-Learning Faculty Researcher OUF; Start: Immediately. Apps reviewed as received. http://bit.ly/2jdsFlD  #JobWaWi

86) Position: @vermont_epscor (Burlington) - Research Assistant or Associate Professor in Lake Modeling. OUF; App review: 15 December http://bit.ly/2jdsFlD  #JobWaWi

87) Position: @DwrCymru - Welsh Water (Cardiff) - Assistant Hydraulic Modeller - Waste. Closes: 13 December http://bit.ly/2A3QyX6  #JobWaWi Gorgeous country, great people!

88) Postdoc Position: Trinity College (Dublin) - Community Water Infrastructures. Closes: 3 January 2018. Download Trinity_College_Dublin_Postdoc 

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
-Thomas A. Edison

Brief Paper: 'Groundwater Depletion: A Significant Unreported Source of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide'

I stumbled across this short paper while checking out the MSU Hydrogeology Lab Twitter: Groundwater Depletion: A Significant Unreported Source of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide by Warren W. Wood and David Hyndman. The paper's senior author is friend Warren W. Wood, who retired from the USGS years ago and then headed home to MSU and is still going strong. Warren's one of the smartest guys in the room when it comes to hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry. Another role model for me. And second author David W. Hyndman is no slouch, either. Those two guys alone will guarantee an excellent paper. 

Citation:

Wood, W. W., & Hyndman, D. W. (2017), Groundwater Depletion: A Significant Unreported Source of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, Earth’s Future, 5. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017EF000586

Download Wood_Hyndman_2017_GW_AtmCO2

Abstract

Quantifying the annual flux of CO2 (carbon dioxide) and equivalent emissions to the atmo- sphere is critical for both policy decisions and modeling of future climate change. Given the importance of greenhouse gas emissions to climate change and a recognized mismatch between sources and sinks (e.g., Liu & Dreybrodt, 2015), it is important to quantify these parameters. A significant and previously unrec- ognized CO2 contribution arises from groundwater depletion (net removal from storage). The average annual 1.7 MMT (million metric tons) CO2 released in the United States from this source is greater than approximately one third of the 23 major sources reported by the US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; US EPA, 2016).

Plain Language Summary

We suggest that groundwater depletion adds significant and mea- surable CO2 to the atmosphere and should be considered as a source in future CO2 budgets as groundwa- ter depletion at the same or greater rate is likely to continue.

Key Point:

• Significant and previously unidentified CO2 source to the atmosphere 

Elaine Hanford noted this research in her 20 November BB - see this post. 

Enjoy!

 “Life is a moderately good play with a badly-written third act.” – Truman Capote 

Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geosciences; 2) Environmental Sciences; 3) Coastal Zone Management - 27 November 2017

Last one in November! As usual, Elaine has sent another excellent group of BBs. 

Elaine reports that the Thanksgiving Day weekend was sunny and warm in Reno  -
until yesterday afternoon. 

Here they are as Word/PDF documents:

As a PDF: Download Bulletin_board_listings_27Nov2017  

Word:  Download Bulletin_board_listings_27Nov2017

If one of the links does not work, paste it into your browser. 

The weekly water news summary is here: 18 - 24 November 2017

Do you know of a colleague and/or student who
would be interested in receiving these Bulletin Board  
listings? Please forward to them. A quick  email to
[email protected]t with the
word “subscribe” in the subject line and  the
email address will be added to the weekly distribution. 

Geoscience Bulletin Board – 27 November 2017 - compiled by Elaine J. Hanford 

NASA visualization of 2017 hurricane paths across the Atlantic Ocean

• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-2017s-hurricanes-swirl-across-globe-nasa-visualization-180967284/

EQ predictions for 2018 – slower rotation of Earth may (or may not) create more large earthquakes

• http://time.com/5031607/earthquake-predictions-2018/
• http://www.newsweek.com/earthquake-risk-and-earths-slowing-rotation-why-there-wont-be-huge-spike-716995
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2017/11/20/earths-spinning-will-cause-more-earthquakes-in-2018-not-so-fast/#22761205139e
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2017/11/20/earths-rotation-is-mysteriously-slowing-down-experts-predict-uptick-in-2018-earthquakes/#3f06d6166f24

M7 EQ off coast of New Caledonia triggers tsunami alert in Australia

• https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/australia-tsunami-alert-warning-issued-after-huge-magnitude-7-earthquake-strikes-off-coast-of-new-a3695401.html

Mastcam helps reveal the geology of Mars

• https://asunow.asu.edu/20171101-discoveries-finding-targets-interest-mars-means-looking-through-special-glasses-asu

New high-resolution maps of bed beneath Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica

• https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/new-maps-reveal-landscape-beneath-antarcticas-weak-underbelly/
• http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42052072
• Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-017-01597-y

Northern portion of Cascadia Subduction Zone has better change of powerful earthquake

• https://phys.org/news/2017-11-seafloor-sediments-earthquake-tsunami-danger.html

Observation of super-hydrated phase of kaolinite may improve understanding of processes that lead to volcanism & EQs

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-11/ded-cmw112017.php

Gaining new insights into and from the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum

• https://phys.org/news/2017-11-hydrological-implications-rapid-global.html

Uncertainty phase still in effect for Öræfajökull volcano as seismic & geothermal activity increase

• http://icelandmag.visir.is/article/uncertainty-phase-still-effect-oraefajokull-volcano

High-altitude volcanic eruptions can enhance the aerosol layer in the tropical stratosphere

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-11/ioap-ftg112017.php

Turning from solar & wind to energy generated from the ocean

• https://qz.com/1129474/a-new-wave-in-renewables-harnesses-the-power-of-the-ocean/

Thin patches of dense rock on the core of Earth dampen seismic waves

• https://news.stanford.edu/2017/11/22/puzzling-patches-earths-interior-billions-years-making/
• https://phys.org/news/2017-11-mysterious-deep-earth-seismic-signature.html

Perspective: Combining chemistry, mineralogy & microbes to manage nuclear waste

• http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/V-Chemistry-minerals-and-microbes-in-nuclear-waste-management-22111702.html

How earthquakes cause tsunamis

• http://www.ibtimes.com/how-earthquakes-cause-towering-tsunamis-2618023

134 EQs rattle the San Andreas – precursors to the “big one” or not?

• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5106621/134-earthquakes-rattle-San-Andreas-fault-just-one-week.html

Probing rocks deep beneath the ocean to investigate how life on Earth first began

• http://www.biographic.com/posts/sto/life-on-the-rocks

Fisherman exploding “seal bombs” to deter seals – may be lawful under MMPA but is potentially harmful to other species including whales

• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/california-fishermen-are-throwing-explosives-sea-lions-180967279/

First came the Cambrian explosion, then the Ordovician radiation

• https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/11/if-you-liked-the-cambrian-explosion-youll-love-the-ordovician-radiation/

Special Report: autumn forecasts winter weather using new seasonal forecast model

• https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/autumnwinter/index.jsp

Exploration of the Fairweather fault – one of the fastest-moving faults in North America

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/return-alaska-wilderness-usgs-scientists-visit-one-north-america-s-fastest-moving-faults

USGS releases map & companion pamphlet on historic and geologic history of Arkansas River Valley in north-central Colorado

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/new-map-showcases-recreational-mining-and-historical-heart-colorado

Planetary Geology: granular flows on Mars where sand & dust move

• https://www.usgs.gov/news/previous-evidence-water-mars-now-identified-grainflows

Crust of the Moon underwent resurfacing after forming from magmatic ocean

• https://phys.org/news/2017-11-moon-crust-underwent-resurfacing-magma.html

November 1929 turbidity current snapped Trans-Atlantic submarine cables

• https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/benchmarks-november-18-1929-turbidity-currents-snap-trans-atlantic-cables

Magnetic field on the Moon lasted until at least 3.2B years ago

• https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/extinct-lunar-magnetic-field-lasted-longer-previously-thought

Down to Earth with: Deep-sea biologist Stace Beaulieu

• https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/down-earth-deep-sea-biologist-stace-beaulieu

Chromium isotope system used to trace history of oxygen on Earth may lead to erroneous results

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171117085219.htm

Longest known sauropod trackway found in the Jura Mountains of France

• http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/worlds-longest-sauropod-trackway-05437.html

New study suggests first of two major explosions at Chernobyl disaster was nuclear – not steam

http://www.sci-news.com/physics/new-study-first-seconds-chernobyl-accident-05452.html

Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 27 November 2017 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Investigation into efforts by Monsanto to save glyphosate – “intrusive & bureaucratic guerrilla warfare”

• Part 1: http:// ehn.org/monsanto-glyphosate-cancer-smear-campaign-2509710888.html
• Part 2: http://www.ehn.org/monsanto-takes-on-world-health-organization-2509721283.html

Houston, Texas, proposing major revisions to floodplain & building code regulations

• http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Harris-County-proposing-dramatic-overhaul-of-12374889.php

Port Arthur chemical plant had largest wastewater spill in Texas after Hurricane Harvey – 100M gallons

• http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Port-Arthur-plant-had-largest-wastewater-spill-in-12375679.php

New dipstick technology that allows DNA & RNA to be extracted in less than a minute  

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-11/p-adt111417.php
• Paper: http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.2003916

Korea developing multi-lingual disaster alert system – “Emergency Ready” app for foreign visitors in advance of February 2018 Peyong Chang Olympics

• http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20171120000826

New uses for old cemeteries – tapping into genealogy, making olive oil, facing mortality

• http://start.att.net/news/read/category/news/article/afp-selling_death_australia_cemeteries_get_new_lease_o-afp

Vietnam veterans may be silently fighting cancer-causing parasite

• https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/11/decades-later-vietnam-vets-may-be-silently-fighting-cancer-causing-parasite/

Book Review: “Modern Poisons” by Alan S Kolok

• https://islandpress.org/book/modern-poisons
• Preview: https://books.google.com/books/about/Modern_Poisons.html?id=p1obDAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button#v=onepage&q&f=false
• Review: https://rosemariecawkwell.wordpress.com/2016/04/17/review-modern-poisons-a-brief-introduction-to-contemporary-toxicology-by-alan-kolok/

Live longer, live healthier!! Get a dog!!!

• http://start.att.net/news/read/category/news/article/business_insider-a_study_of_34_million_people_suggests_dog_owners_a-newscred2
• https://www.webmd.boots.com/heart-disease/news/20171117/do-dog-owners-live-longer
• http://www.mdmag.com/medical-news/how-dogs-could-help-patients-with-hiv-live-longer

Floating cities are being considered for international waters – “seasteading”

• https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/business/dealbook/seasteading-floating-cities.html

Calaveras Dam Replacement Project now costing $810M as part of WSIP to be completed by 2019

• https://www.enr.com/articles/43440-moving-mountains-at-the-calaveras-dam-replacement

What foods are most likely to make you sick due to food-borne viruses or bacteria?

• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/which-foods-are-most-likely-make-you-sick-180967241/

Washington DC seeking to reclaim and use stormwater

• https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/a-triple-win-for-cities-communities-and-developers_us_5a09fd00e4b0065239218323

Long Beach, California, phase one construction for stormwater capture is progressing

• http://www.presstelegram.com/2017/11/16/one-of-the-first-projects-in-la-county-to-capture-storm-water-is-being-built-in-long-beach/

Alternate slightly longer route approved for Keystone XL Pipeline across Nebraska

• https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/20/us/nebraska-pipeline-keystone-xl.html
• http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/361194-keystone-xl-approved-to-run-through-nebraska

Oil pipeline spill are a near-daily occurrence

• http://www.hcn.org/articles/infographic-as-nebraska-regulators-ok-keystone-xl-decision-a-look-at-oil-spills

USEPA seeking 2-year delay in Waters of the US rule

• http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/epa-seeks-two-year-delay-of-obamas-waters-of-the-us-rule/article/2640946

Singapore begins phase two construction of $10B underground sewage highway

• http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/work-starts-on-65b-deep-underground-tunnels-to-transport-used-water-freeing-up

Relationship between economic activity and power use is changing globally

• https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=33812

Southeastern forests at risk as demand for wood pellets increases

• https://www.coastalreview.org/2017/11/scientists-pellet-industry-threatens-forests/

UN FAO survey suggests more countries proactive on antimicrobial resistance in food & agriculture

• http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-national.php?Id=2409&yr=2017

Revolutionary changes in the huge hog-farming industry in China

• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-farming-pigs/chinas-pig-farmers-go-north-upending-worlds-top-meat-grain-market-idUSKBN1DM12P

CRS Report: “Flood-Risk Reduction and Resilience: Federal Assistance and Programs” – more ways that the Federal Government is expected to bail out those who by now should know better

• https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R45017.pdf

Conflicting perspectives on the Temporary Protected Status visa program for Haitians

• https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-haiti/haitians-in-us-malign-trump-decision-to-send-them-back-home-idUSKBN1DM0AR

Study finds “strong association” between high levels of fine particulate air pollution & poor sperm quality

• https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/22/air-pollution-linked-to-poor-sperm-quality

The Marañón River in Peru may cease flowing once Chadin II project is complete

• https://news.mongabay.com/2017/11/peru-the-river-that-will-not-flow/

Tracking physical changes on Earth through 1.4 million daily satellite photos

• https://www.fastcompany.com/40498033/every-day-this-satellite-company-takes-a-snapshot-of-the-entire-planet

American tobacco industry will begin court-ordered national advertising campaign to publicly admit truth about health effects of smoking

• https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2017/11/22/after-long-holdout-tobacco-companies-to-issue-mea-culpas/

3M shipments of cosmetics from nearly 30,000 foreign companies are not tested for safety by the FDA – new legislation may lead to regulating toxic contents

• http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/11/21/lead-arsenic-cosmetics/

Evidence reveals that mountaintop coal mining leads to increased disease and deaths in Appalachia

• http://e360.yale.edu/features/a-troubling-look-at-the-human-toll-of-mountaintop-removal-mining

Slums do indeed exist and have their own “heat island” effect – get 5 to 10 degrees F higher than city

• https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/11/20/564314257/how-much-hotter-is-it-in-the-slums

Perspective: Most Americans drink fluoridated water – is that a good thing?

• https://ensia.com/features/fluoridated-water/

Providing information to the public on progress of Gowanus Canal Superfund progress

• https://www.brownstoner.com/development/gowanus-canal-superfund-site-town-hall/

The number of toxic chemicals on supermarket vegetables has risen 17-fold since the 1960s

• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/21/number-toxic-chemicals-supermarket-vegetables-has-risen-17-fold/
  

Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board – 27 November 2017 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Delaware coastal cleanup in September netted 3.8 tons of trash

• http://www.capegazette.com/article/delaware-coastal-cleanup-nets-38-tons-trash/146115

Tagging sharks in the Nantucket Shoals to collect data to help the declining population in waters that are treacherous for sharks

• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-tool-tracks-interaction-sharks-and- fishing-boats-180967247/

Surfers, scuba divers & anglers may help monitor hard-to-reach coastal areas

• https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/surfing-for-science-ocean-enthusiasts-could- help-gauge-coastal-warming/

17 coastal projects & programs for restoring the Mississippi Delta

• http://mississippiriverdelta.org/conservation-groups-identify-priority-projects-restore- louisianas-coast/

• Report: http://mississippiriverdelta.org/files/2017/11/MRD_PriorityProjectReport.pdf

Is coastal living in jeopardy in Oregon? – Part II: State of Housing

• https://thesiuslawnews.com/article/is-coastal-living-in-jeopardy-part-ii-state-of-housing • Part I: https://thesiuslawnews.com/article/is-coastal-living-in-jeopardy-part-i-sos

Storm surge puts coastal area at risk of erosion in Alaska

• http://www.knom.org/wp/blog/2017/11/21/uaf-storm-surge-research-project-underway-in- coastal-communities-facing-erosion/

Ocean City, Maryland, ACSPP manages & reduces coastal storm risks

• http://www.wmdt.com/news/maryland/oc-continues-ongoing-beach-renourishment-project- that-reduces-coastal-storm-risks/659612522

Increasing population growth & development in southern Georgia pose threats to maritime live oak forest

• http://www.coastalillustrated.com/columns/coastal_columns/article_ef305265-554e-568f- 8074-0eaf2cfd804b.html

Coastal erosion threatening homes and infrastructure in West Africa

• https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/swallowed-sea-where-coastal-infrastructure-and-jobs- meet-climate-change

Coastal erosion may release waste from 10% of historic coastal landfills in England clustered around major estuaries

• https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-11/qmuo-oit111517.php

Quandary: what to do when one endangered species gets eaten by another?

• https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/orca-quandary-other-protected- species-are-eating-their-food-in-puget-sound/

• Paper: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4253872-ChascoEtal-OnlinePDF.html

US F&WS announced it will not list Pacific walrus under Endangered Species Act

• https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/fish-and-wildlife-service-chooses-to-not-list- 25-species-as-endangered

Washington Board of Natural Resources developing plan to manage coastal forests & protect threatened bird species

• https://www.goskagit.com/news/state-plan-could-protect-threatened-bird-and-timber- revenue/article_583d5900-18e5-5889-8547-34025cf6737a.html

• DEIS: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/mmltcs

 "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." - Bob Seger  Against the Wind

CRS Report: '21st Century Flood Reform Act (H.R. 2874): Reforming the National Flood Insurance Program'

Wow! Congress is going to reform floods! Not really, but you can read all about what Congress will reform in Diane P. Horn's 13 November 2017 CRS report, 21st Century Flood Reform Act (H.R. 2874): Reforming the National Flood Insurance Program. 

Download CRS_Flood_Ins_Reform_Act_13Nov2017

Summary

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIA, 42 U.S.C. §4001 et seq.), and was recently reauthorized until December 8, 2017. Unless reauthorized or amended by Congress, the following will occur after December 8, 2017: (1) the authority to provide new flood insurance contracts will expire; (2) the authority for the NFIP to borrow funds from the Treasury will be reduced from $30.425 billion to $1 billion; and (3) the authorization of appropriations for the flood hazard mapping program will expire.

House leaders submitted an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (H.R. 2874ANS) on November 6, 2017, that would modify H.R. 2874, the 21st Century Flood Reform Act, to add provisions from the six other bills approved by the House Financial Services Committee. H.R. 2874 would authorize the NFIP until September 30, 2022. This report summarizes selected provisions of the bill, concentrating on changes related to premiums and surcharges, affordability, increasing participation, the role of private insurance, treatment of multiple loss properties, and some provisions related to floodplain mapping and mitigation.

H.R. 2874ANS would phase out the subsidy provided for primary residences built before the first Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) was published in their community, at a rate of 6.5%-15% compared to the present rate of 5%-18%. The minimum would be phased in over a four-year period. The phaseout of the pre-FIRM subsidy for other categories of properties would remain at 25%. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (HFIAA) surcharge would be increased from $25 to $40 for primary residences and from $250 to $275 for nonresidential properties and most non-primary residences. The reserve fund assessment would be increased by at least one percentage point per year until the statutory reserve ratio is achieved. The bill would cap the premiums for 1-4 unit residential properties at $10,000 per year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would be required over time to include additional considerations in the setting of premium rates, including the use of replacement cost value of a property, the difference in flood risk between coastal and inland locations, and the use of risk assessment tools other than FIRMs. H.R. 2874ANS would authorize a state or a consortium of states to create a voluntary flood insurance affordability program for low-income owner-occupants of 1-4 unit residences, to be funded by a surcharge on other NFIP policyholders in the state(s). The bill would increase the civil penalties from $2,000 to $5,000 on federally regulated lenders for failure to comply with enforcing the mandatory purchase requirement.

H.R. 2874ANS would strike existing statutory language describing how private flood insurance must provide coverage “as broad as the coverage” provided by the NFIP, and would instead require that policies comply with the laws and regulations of the state where the property is located. Federal regulators would be required to develop and implement regulations relating to the financial strength of private insurers, and lenders would have to accept a private insurance policy from a company with adequate financial strength. The mandatory purchase requirement would be eliminated for commercial property (from January 1, 2019, if amendment 15 to H.R. 2874ANS is accepted). The noncompete requirement that currently restricts private companies from selling both NFIP and private flood insurance policies would be eliminated.

H.R. 2874ANS would define a new “multiple-loss property” category, which would include a revised definition of repetitive loss properties, severe repetitive loss properties, and a new category of extreme repetitive loss properties. Any multiple-loss property with at least two claims after enactment would have rates increased by 10% per year until the rates reflect current risks. Those with at least three future claims would have their rates increased by 15% per year.

Enjoy!

"Giving money and power to politicians is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenaged boys." -- P.J. O'Rourke