Legalectric

A quick read before going further, in today’s STrib, Geography of Trumism: Where support is strongest:

When the U.S. Census Bureau asks Americans about their ancestors, some respondents do not give a standard answer like “English” or “German.” Instead, they simply answer “American.”

Places with high concentrations of these self-described Americans turn out to be the places Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has performed the best.

Hadn’t read that yet when I wrote this post, but it makes perfect sense.  Which brings us to…

Omkring Faedrearven, by O.E. Rolvaag, known in English as “Concerning Our Heritage.”  It’s floating around the house lately, because I figured that since Alan’s working on becoming a Minnesotan, he should read Rolvaag!  He’s most of the way through Giants in the Earth, and Peder Victorius is waiting on the shelf.

Here’s one Rolvaag reader’s view:

Why Did My Teacher Make Me Read Giants In The Earth?

We’re going to head west later this year, through Rolvaag’s South Dakota, well, also through Rolvaag’s Northfield on the way.  What I remember most about trips through the Dakotas as a kid were the meadowlarks, and I wonder if they’re still there, because back in 2007 when we went from Denver through the Black Hills and South Dakota, I don’t remember hearing them, and I’ve been wondering ever since.

Anyway, back to Rolvaag.  As Alan slogs through Giants, I’ve been reading Rolvaag’s thoughts about immigration, particularly relevant today.  Rolvaag thought it was crucial to retain ones heritage, to know where we came from, and to bring our characteristics grown from our heritage to our new country.  He thought that someone couldn’t “be all that you can be” without having that solid background knowing who we are.  In his case, he was particularly concerned with keeping traits he identified as Norwegian, not in isolation, but to bring them to the larger culture.  In the extensive introduction, it’s noted that:

Rolvaag felt very strongly that maintaining their ethnic identity was important for their self-respect and for their ability to function positively in the greater American society.

… Rolvaag was what we might today call a “cultural pluralist.”  His vision of America was of a mosaic of ethnic communities, each preserving and promoting its own language, culture, and traditions, which could be united around American political ideals.  … He rejected both assimilation and amalgamation and advocated the right and duty of each immigrant group to preserve its own language, institutions, and cultural heritage.  Members of minority groups would of course learn English and participate in American institutions, but his vision of the United States was of a “cooperation of diversities.”

Something to think about in this day of mudslinging and innuendo and outrageous resistance to immigration.  We need to remember where we came from, how it was when our grandparents or parents came to this country.  Norwegians had a system of churches and schools, even colleges for those Norwegian farmers and then Norwegian women too!  Norwegian newspapers and arts flourished in the Midwest.  The Norwegian culture was kept alive through these efforts, and to this day, we regard ourselves as “Norwegian.”  Or whatever nationality we are, that’s something we descendants of immigrants hold as a significant part of our identity, even us “mutts” who are a little of this and a little of that.

And that retention of cultural identity is exactly what some inflamed “Americans” are demanding not happen with the current round of immigrants, that they not even be let into the country, but for those who are, that they reject their identity, their customs, their religion if not Christian, their character at its core.  How arrogant, and how misguided.  That’s not how our parents and grandparents were as immigrants, they held onto their culture while learning what it is to be an American in this melting pot.  Don’t for a minute forget that unless we’re native, that’s our background.  We’re immigrants, that’s where we came from, that’s why we’re here, and that’s what we all did.

Consider what immigrants bring when they come to the U.S.  Look in the mirror!  Look at your family!  Look at all immigrants have accomplished!

Super highwys, coast to coast, easy to get anywhere
On the transcontinental overload, just slide behind the wheel
How does it feel

When theres no destination-that’s too far
And somewhere on the way, you might find out who you are

Livin’ in America-eye to eye, station to station
Livin’ in America-hand to hand,across the nation
Livin in America-got to have a celebration

Rock my soul

Smokestack, fatback, many miles of railroad track
All night radio, keep on runnin’ through, your rock ‘n’ roll soul
All night diners, keep you ‘wake, on black coffee, and a hard roll

You might have to walk the fine line,
you might take the hard line
But everybody’s workin’ overtime

Livin’ in America-eye to eye, station to station
Livin’ in America-hand to hand,across the nation
Livin in America-got to have a celebration

I live in America, help me out,
but I live in America,
wait a minute
You may not be looking for the promise land,
but you might find it anyway
Under one of those old familiar names
Like New Orleans (New Orleans), Detroit City (Detroit City), Dallas (Dallas), Pittsburg P.A. (Pittsburg P.A.), New York City (New York City), Kansas City (Kansas City), Atlanta (Atlanta) CHICAGO & L.A.!

Livin in America-hit me
Livin in America-yeah,
I walk in and out
Livin’ in America

I live in America-state lines,
gonna make the prime, that
I live in America-hey
I know what it means, I

Livin’ in America…
Livin’ in America- hit me now, eye to eye, station to station
Livin’ in America
Livin’ in America-I feel good!

And last night in Rochester, more of the MPCA “Clean Power Plan” listening sessions.  This one was less well attended that Monday’s in Minneapolis, but packed into a much smaller, almost claustrophobic sized room.  Many concerns were raised, in large part because the “Clean Power Plan” remains a mystery — there is no MPCA plan for us to check out and comment on, and the federal Supreme Court put the EPA’s plan on hold.

The MPCA has been meeting with “stakeholders” which is primarily utilities, with a few energy wonks also attending — see this link, and scroll down for meetings and materials:

Clean Power Plan – Rulemaking (and meetings)

A turnout of this size, both last night and the night before, means that yes, people are interested and concerned, and I hope everyone stays in the loop and participates.

Last night at the Urban League, the MPCA held a meeting, a “listening session” about the proposed Clean Power Plan as a prelude to its rulemaking.

TONIGHT IS ANOTHER MEETING:

MPCA Clean Power Plan Listening Session

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

5:30 p.m. – ?  At least 8 p.m.

Cornerstone Plaza Hotel

401 6th Street S.W.

Rochester, MN

The MPCA has been holding ‘listening sessions,” a/k/a meetings, and has info on its site:

Clean Power Plan: Rulemaking in Minnesota

• Clean Power Plan (carbon pollution)
• Clean Power Plan in depth

Here’s the federal plan, now on hold at order of the court:

Clean Power Plan (U.S. EPA)

I very much do like that they’re going forward, despite the federal stay, because it is going to take some time to ramp up efforts.

Here’s the handout I brought to that meeting.  I ran out, only about 1/4 of the room covered, so that means there were at least 80 people there.

Handout-MPCA Public Meeting_Clean Power Plan

On the other hand, there are a lot of things I take issue with.

One thing that’s discouraging to me is that this is called the “Clean Power Plan” but they have not made any attempt to separate out and prohibit burning of garbage and biomass, both very dirty by any definition.  Incineration must be removed from the definition of “renewable.”

Another issue is that they’re NOT going to put together a rulemaking Advisory Committee, as provided by statute.  I asked about this last night and they verified it.

Minn. Stat. §14.101, Subd. 2.  Advisory committees.

Each agency may also appoint committees to comment, before publication of a notice of intent to adopt or a notice of hearing, on the subject matter of a possible rulemaking under active consideration within the agency.

Instead, what they’re doing is gathering the same ol’ same ol’ folks in an informal process, and they’re not going over a proposed rule prior to its being sent to the MPCA head (remember, there is no Citizens Board thanks to certain MN legislators) for release, and when it’s released, it’s too late for substantive changes.  The MPCA was part of the crew, with DNR and EQB, that so badly mangled that silica sand rulemaking (ummmm, whatever became of that, anyway?).  This does not bode well.

So now, on to tonight’s meeting, gotta do some prep.

And yes, that’s Frank “Coal Ash” Kolasch presenting.  What a moniker!

Tonight’s gathering starts at 5:30 p.m. or so with an open house (coffee & cookies), and the presentation and “listening” starts at 6:30 p.m.

MPCA Clean Power Plan Listening Session

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

5:30 p.m. – ?  At least 8 p.m.

Cornerstone Plaza Hotel

401 6th Street S.W.

Rochester, MN

Be there or be square!

This is the Clearbrook – Clearbrook West 115 kV transmission project proposed route.

Comments were due on the scope of environmental review for this project, and here’s what we filed yesterday:

Erie-Bourdeaux Family Revocable Trust – Scoping Comment

It looks like a simple little thing, right?  WRONG!  What’s not readily apparent is that this transmission line is support for the Sandpiper crude oil pipeline, and is dependent on location of a tank farm and pumping station at the northwest terminus of the transmission line, and it’s way, way premature.

Couple of main points:

1. This transmission line is IN ADDITION to an existing 7 pipelines and the Sandpiper pipeline and the Line 3 rebuild all in that corridor, on the northwest end running cross country through wetlands between Erie Lake and Klongerbo Lake!  That’s 9 pipelines and a transmission line all right there in that narrow strip of property.  How much can a family bear?!?!
2. The Sandpiper pipeline is delayed, even the Enbridge proponents admit that:
   

   Enbridge: Sandpiper Pipeline Delayed Until 2019

3. Clearbrook West terminal is NOT permitted and is NOT a done deal, in fact the MPCA says it ought to be in Crookston!

    20148-102081-01_MPCA Comment-Crookston

So why is Minnkota Power pushing for this transmission line now?  Why would they apply for it in 2014?  There’s no need… not now and maybe not ever.

Yesterday was the Scoping Meetings for the Rochester pipeline project, winding around the NW down and around to the SE of town.  There was quite a large turnout at the afternoon session, probably 50 people, but that may have included Commerce staff, etc.

Comments on the Scope (what all should be included) of the environmental review are due by 4:30 p.m. on April 13, 2016:

larry.hartman@state.mn.us

… or by snail mail:

Larry Hartman, Environmental Review Manager

Minnesota Dept. of Commerce

85 – 7th Place East, Suite 500

St. Paul, MN  55101

I was really surprised to learn that Larry Hartman, the Commerce project manager, did NOT know about the Rochester Public Utilities gas plant proposed at the NW terminal of this project!  And I was also surprised to learn that Northern Natural Gas is running a new gas pipeline into the west side of Rochester, to join with this line at the middle purple blob on the west side of the map.

The RPU plant is not exactly a secret, it was an issue in the 2008 CapX 2020 Certificate of Need hearing:

RPU chooses Boldt to build new $62 million plant

A New Generating Station for Rochester

New Rochester Energy Project Approved

Westside Energy EPC

The RPU studies:

2015_Update_RPU_Infrastructure_Study

2005 RPU_34945_Report on the Electric Utility Baseline Strategy for 2005 – 2030_June_2005 (CapX 2020 CoN Exhibit 157)

This is old, old news…

As to the proposed Northern Natural Gas line that’ll connect to this Rochester project, which it appears is part of its “Northern Lights 2017 Expansion” project narrative, in press release-based industry puff pieces, but it’s not on the Northern Lights 2017 Expansion project map or described, other than “Rochester 1D TBS rebuild” and “Rochester branch line” in any of the FERC filings or other documents I can find.

What about safety?  The environmental review document needs to address the burn radius, which is large for such a large and high pressure pipeline:

• Model for Sizing High Consequence Areas Associated With Natural Gas Pipelines
• Safe Separation Distances From Natural Gas Pipelines

This project is in an area where future development could be, should be, expected, and I sure don’t want to see a scenario like that along the natural gas pipeline along, roughly parallel, to Hwy. 14, where cities have platted developments over the pipeline, and where builders have built homes over the pipeline, and people bought those newly constructed homes with pipelines through their yards, and worse, Minnesota law does not require disclosure for newly constructed homes.

Minn. Stat. 513.54, Subd. 10

Platting new subdivisions over a natural gas transmission pipeline should be criminal… and yet I see another such scenario developing.