The State of Wyoming and Energy Resources

There are many factors that contribute to Idaho’s pollution problem, but mining may be the biggest. Mining is a huge industry in Idaho, hence the nickname “The Gem State”. The biggest product from Idaho’s mines is silver. Silver mines are some of the largest polluters in the state. Bunker Hill, or Silver Valley, as the Coeur d’Alene region is known for its numerous mines, was recently named a Superfund site. A Superfund site is a site under protection for removal of toxic wastes by the EPA. Although that beautiful valley was also once known for its abundant wildlife, now the rivers are flooded with phosphorous, selenium, zinc, lead, silver, cadmium, and arsenic, all from tailings of several mines in the region. Lake Coeur d’Alene now contains over 70 million tons of toxic waste sediments in its bottom. This pollution has endangered people in the area for years. In Smelterville, where a smelter ran for nearly 100 years, a large number of people have been diagnosed with health complications caused by extremely high levels of lead and other toxins in their blood. These conditions, for most, have existed nearly all their lives. Many remember being ill for most of their childhood and on. In 1973, before the smelter was closed, the average lead toxin level per deciliter of blood in children tested was 70. A reading of 10 is considered high alert. Rocky Hill, who grew up in Smelterville and

Some of West Virginia’s resources are coal, stone, salt, cement, and oil. Coal is the most important mined product in West Virginia. This state makes money by saleing livestock, crops

The national or federal environmental administration asks their states to help maintain a safe and clean environment for all of its’ people to enjoy. The National Environmental Policy Act or also known as NEPA was established in 1969 to aid federal agencies to help convey the message for the need to protect the environment. “Federal agencies are required to systematically assess the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and consider alternative ways of accomplishing their missions, which are less damaging to and protective of the environment” (U.S. General Services Administration). Even though the National Environmental Policy Act “requires” federal agencies to ensure states to follow through, Texas has not fully committed to the requirement. “Texas contains an abundance of natural resources, but efforts to impost environmental regulations have faced roadblocks for many decades” (The Texas Tribune). Texas has neglected to keep the environment’s safety in mind and thought of only the business boom. The natural resources found on the land of Texas represents a magnet that attracts people. Texas desires to continue the attraction of people into the state as it is allowing the state to flourish in economic matters. During the past few decades, “From 1970 and 1980, as oil prices spiraled upward and people flocked to Texas,” (Petersen and Assanie) there has been little attempt made in conserving

In light of the current events in North Dakota dealing with the Bakken pipeline, the resulting possibility of manmade environmental disasters on Native American land, and Robert Verchick’s lecture regarding the Isle de Jean Charles, I was interested in performing a high-level analysis of the resilience of Native American tribes in the US. In this reaction paper, I would like to address one central question – are Native American tribes in the US adequately resilient to disaster risk? As we have discussed, in the disaster risk context, resilience can be broadly defined as “the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events.” However, according to Farber, the concepts of vulnerability and resilience are complexly intertwined, and one cannot be studied without the other. I would like to briefly examine both the special vulnerabilities of Native American tribes and the sufficiency of modern federal disaster legislation in advocating their resilience.

Texas has always been proud of their heritage and their industry. The boost in the economy is much appreciated by Texas, and our government appears to be hushed by the counter weights and balances where money appears to overpower the concern of environmental harm. Two articles that were reviewed gave the opportunity to enlightened Texans about how production appears to be affecting air quality and water and in turn is hurting Texans’ health. Through facts presented, it is apparent that Texas government must take measures to improve the regulatory agencies so that the health of Texans is secure. I am personally appalled by the facts stated in the articles, and reform is definitely required.

Water contamination is a recurring theme in Wyoming. Encana Corporation, a natural gas company in Wyoming, has planted over 50 oil wells in Pavillion Field, Wyoming, and uses hydraulic fracturing, a technical machine that blasts a mix of water and chemicals 8,000 feet into the ground, to drill for natural gas. During this process, more than 596 chemicals are used and are deposited into groundwater, some chemicals being potentially toxic. In regards to being transparent with the chemicals that they use during hydraulic fracturing, Encana Corporation does not disclose this information, and local residents who live nearby Pavillon Field learn the hard way, in which they discover that their healths become negatively impacted and that their water

Since 1742, West Virginia has provided our nation and the world with the finest coal found anywhere. As of today, West Virginia’s coal miners apply useful and effective mineral removal technology that makes other countries envy their counterparts around the world. West Virginia’s exports more coal than any other state in the country. West Virginia has more longwall mining systems than any other state. This leads the nation in underground coal productions and sets the pace for the rest of the industry in recovery and environment protection. At the same time, West Virginia coal industry displays a sense of responsibility for health, safety and environmental that is incomparable anywhere in the world. Over the years, coal has

“Some of the pollutants released by drilling are benzene, toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene (BTEX), particulate matter and dust, ground level ozone, or smog, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and metals contained in diesel fuel combustion—with exposure to these pollutants known to cause short-term illness, cancer, organ damage, nervous system disorders and birth defects or even death.” There is a 2007 report prepared for the Western Governor's Association, that inventoried present and future nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions from oil and gas drilling in the west, projects Montana to experience a 310% increase in smog. On top of all this there ARE NO regulations on fracking because of the Halliburton

The industry or corporations has the authority over the Navajo Reservation, their goal is to extract natural resources to meet energy demand of the state. There are Acts that exempt fracking, but it is enforced only to benefit the fracking companies. However, the tribal government supplies low-cost water to local coal mines and coal-fired power plants which tens of thousands of acre-feet of water each year is going to extractive industries and for power plant cooling towers.

The government invested in the railroad because they knew they would make a large profit. "The Pacific Railway Act of 1862 provided for land grants to the two companies-- ten sections of public land for each mile of track laid-- and first mortgage loans in the form of government bonds (T.A. Larson p.37)." The railroad knew they would make their money back, plus interest. The railroad would also make money selling the land.

(4 States Confirm Water Pollution from Drilling). There have been many other states with the same reported problems and complaints only increase as more hydraulic fracturing wells are being dug. In many cases the water of residents become flammable when touched by a flame this is due to the chemicals that have leached out into the wells of peoples

Summary and implications: Mining/fracking in New Mexico has been linked to many chronic cases of water contamination and air pollution. These pollutants threaten public health and economy and contribute toward global warming. Additionally, mining/fracking near populated areas drastically increases sound pollution –yet, city residents typically do not have a voice regarding whether mining/fracking occurs in their area. Oil and natural gas production is not new to New Mexico and recent plans to begin fracking in Sandoval County is a leading cause for concern and controversy this year.

Hydraulic fracturing has numerous negative effects on Oklahoma. A nearly unavoidable byproduct of fracking that cannot be ignored is the pollution that stems from it. During the fracking process, a portion of the methane produced, which is shown to trap heat twenty-five times more effectively than carbon dioxide, another common greenhouse gas, escapes into the atmosphere as it is brought to the surface (Hoffman). Studies conducted in Weld County, Colorado, which has a comparable number of fracking wells to many places in Oklahoma; show that this loose methane is the equivalent of the carbon emissions of nearly three million cars (Hoffman). Furthermore, fracking has been shown to release large amounts of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide into the air, which are two of the main components of smog (Hoffman). Even in places such as

In Chapter 1: The Saudi Arabia of Coal, Goodell (2006) defines the coal mining industry as a foundation for the “life cycle” of coal mining and production in Gillette, Wyoming, the “Saudi Arabia” of coal production in the United States, 40% of American coal is produced in Wyoming’s Powder River basin (p.4).

Coal mining is a great resource for our state, but it comes with dangerous side effects. The companies come into our state and start destroying everything because all they worry about is the