Dakota Access – Notice of Intent for Environmental Impact Statement
January 18th, 2017
Yes, here it is, the Federal Register link, the Notice of Intent for an Environmental Impact Statement for the Dakota Access Pipe Line, a/k/a DAPL:
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
Scoping comments are due by February 20, 2017. By mail, and they ask that you include your name, return address, and “NOI Comments, Dakota Access Pipeline Crossing” on the first page of your written comments:
Gib Owen
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works
108 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310-0108
By email to gib.a.owen.civ@mail.mil – use Subject: NOI Comments, Dakota Access Pipeline Crossing
They say they want comments about these issues, but don’t limit your input:
(1) Alternative locations for the pipeline crossing the Missouri River;
(2) Potential risks and impacts of an oil spill, and potential impacts to Lake Oahe, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s water intakes, and the Tribe’s water, treaty fishing, and hunting rights; and
(3) Information on the extent and location of the Tribe’s treaty rights in Lake Oahe.
What does this mean? Well, they’re looking for a way to ram it through, looking for “alternative locations for the pipeline crossing the Missouri River.” They’re probably wanting to avoid any consideration of the entire project, avoid consideration of connected actions here, and the potential for and high risk of impacts downriver. How about need? I’ll bet they don’t want to consider whether there is need for this line, and what it means if there is increased oil output in the region, the impacts of continued extraction! Broaden the scope! From the Notice: “The range of issues, alternatives, and potential impacts may be expanded based on comments received in response to this notice and at public scoping meetings.” So get to work!
More Clean Line whine… and their Motion DENIED!
January 17th, 2017
THE GOOD NEWS:
| (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no pdf document associated with this entry.) ORDER: The motion, No. 25 , is denied without prejudice. We’ll see how the briefing goes. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 1/17/2017. (slb) (Entered: 01/17/2017) |
Here’s the NPR report, as above, the Motion was denied today, without prejudice:
Clean Line Wants Landowners’ Hearing Expedited, Says Delays Imperil $2 Billion Project
Here are the filings leading up to this, from the Eastern Arkansas Federal Court site:
DownwindLLC&GoldenBridgeLLC-v-CleanLine
FirstAmendedComplaint-Exhibits_20-1
02713946136_DefendantFeds-AnswerAmendedComplaint
02713945742_P&ECL-AnswerAmendedComplaint
And as above, the simple text denial of that Motion:
| (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no pdf document associated with this entry.) ORDER: The motion, No. 25 , is denied without prejudice. We’ll see how the briefing goes. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 1/17/2017. (slb) (Entered: 01/17/2017) |
California!! Is it time to go yet?
January 16th, 2017
When the wintry winds starts blowing
And the snow is starting in a fall
Then my eyes went westward knowing
That’s the place that I love best of all
California I’ve been blue
Since I’ve been away from you
I can’t wait till I get blowing
Even now I’m starting in a call
California, here I come
Right back where I started from
Where bowers of flowers bloom in the spring
Each morning at dawning birdies sing at everything
A sun kissed miss said, “Don’t be late!”
That’s why I can hardly wait
Open up that golden gate
California, here I come
California, here I come, yeah
Right back where I started from
Where bowers of flowers bloom in the spring
Each morning at dawning birdies sing at everything
A sun kissed miss said, “Don’t be late!”
That’s why I can hardly wait come on, come on
Open up, open up, open up that golden gate
California, here I come
Comment Extension for Lab USA EAW & Xcel & Lab USA Solid Waste!
January 13th, 2017
Ask and you shall receive, eh? I’d not checked on this, was buried in other stuff this week, but LOOK!
YES! this is good because the MPCA did not release the primary documents until December 30, 2016, and there’s no excuse for denying the public time to review the Application, etc.
Once more with feeling, here are the Comments I’d filed on behalf of the Tyler Hills Neighbors on January 4, 2017, and Comments of Indian Affairs Council and Minnesota Department of Administration:
Comments -_Tyler Hills Neighbors & Exhibits
Comment Letter – Indian Affairs Council
Comment Letter – Dept of Administration
Note the photo at the top of this post — the Lab USA site is contiguous to the City of Red Wing’s laydown yard and crusher — and it wants to build its laydown yard and crusher on a lot that overlaps the Water Tank Mounds. Ummmm, no, I don’t think so!
I’m looking forward to seeing any additional comments filed by the end of the month.
A little birdie told me that there is a Red Wing business that could use “cleaned” ash, and I’d guess there are at least two… it seems the logical thing to do is to put Lab USA’s facility at this other business site, and everyone would be happy! Well, not everyone, but it seems a better fit. This is something the City should look into, because now that the City isn’t doing any “ash mining,” their dog in this has been neutered. We shall see…
DoJ Findings: Use of Force in Violation of Constitutional Rights
January 13th, 2017
The Dept. of Justice’s report on its investigation of the Chicago Police Department practices is out, and the DoJ’s press release notes that its findings, linked below, include:
A consent decree is in the works. We’ll see if that helps.
Primary documents:
- Chicago Police Department Findings
- Chicago Agreement in Principle
- Chicago Police Department Findings Fact Sheet
- Pattern or Practice Accomplishments Document
These are must reads for a cold winter day.