Fracking in N.D. Contaminated Soil & Water with Elev. Levels of NORM

Fracking in Bakken, ND leaves 9,700 wells producing 119million m³ of wastewater: Study

Unconventional oil and gas production from hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in the Bakken region in North Dakota has been rising significantly since 2007. Some 9,700 unconventional wells have produced an estimated 119 million cubic meters of oil and gas wastewater (OGW), according to a new study.

Map of western North Dakota that includes well density (number of wells per 5 km radius), reported brine spills from 2007 to 2015 (red circles), and sampling sites of samples collected in July 2015 (green triangles). Note the association between spill locations and well density, with higher occurrences of spills in areas of high well density. Spill data were compiled from the North Dakota Department of Health and include both contained and uncontained brine spills. Oil well data were downloaded from the North Dakota Industrial Commission, Oil and Gas Division. [Image source]

“In 2014, the Bakken region was producing an average of over 1 million barrels of oil per day, compared to production levels that consistently lingered at approximately 100 thousand barrels per day before 2007. This rapid rise in production has been made possible by intense development of oil and gas infrastructure in western North Dakota, including approximately 9700 unconventional wells that have produced an estimated 31.4 × 10 ⁹ gallons (118.9 × 10 ⁹ L) of oil and gas wastewater (OGW).”

In addition to the elevated concentrations of major elements—Na, Cl, Br—the study found Bakken brines are rich in “metals, metalloids and other potential contaminants” including Se, V, Sr, Li, B, Mn, Ni, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ba, Pb, Ra, NH4, all of which have “human and ecological health implications.”

NORM in the Bakken Brines and Impact on Spill Sites

Produced waters can have elevated levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), primarily the long-lived radium isotopes 228Ra. Read More…

The study Brine Spills Associated with Unconventional Oil Development in North Dakota was conducted by the Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, N.C.

Multiple Crop Disasters Hit Eight U.S. States

Multiple disasters destroy or damage crops in 130 counties across eight states

USDA has designated 29 counties across four states—Nevada, California, Idaho and Oregon—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought that occurred from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2015. Those counties are:

Nevada. Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe and White Pine counties.

California. Alpine, El Dorado, Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer and Sierra counties.

Idaho. Owyhee County.

Oregon. Harney, Lake and Malheur counties.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Feb. 17, 2016.

Crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by multiple disaster conditions

USDA has designated 101 counties across four states—North Dakota,  South Dakota,  Montana and Minnesota—as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by multiple disaster conditions.

Disaster Number 1: USDA has designated the following counties as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of excessive heat, excessive rain, frost, excessive snow, drought, hail, flooding, high winds, lightning, weather-related insects and diseases that occurred from Jan. 1, 2015, and continues.

North Dakota. Benson, Burke, Burleigh, Cavalier, Divide, Eddy, Grand Forks, Griggs, Kidder, McHenry, McLean, Mountrail, Nelson, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Renville, Sheridan, Steele, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Ward, Wells, and Williams counties.

Disaster Number 2: USDA has designated the following counties as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of freeze, frost, and drought that occurred from March 1, 2015, through Oct. 1, 2015.

North Dakota. Benson, Billings, Burke, Cavalier, Divide, Dunn, Eddy, Foster, Golden Valley, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, McKenzie, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Nelson, Ramsey, Slope, Stark, Towner, Walsh, Wells, and Williams continues.

Montana. Fallon, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan and Wibaux counties.

Disaster Number 3: USDA has designated the following counties as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of drought, excessive heat, high winds and hail that occurred from March 15, 2015, through Oct. 30, 2015.

North Dakota. Benson, Billings, Burleigh, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Golden Valley, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Nelson, Oliver, Pierce, Ramsey, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stutsman, Towner, Ward and Wells counties.

Montana. Fallon and Wibaux counties.

South Dakota. Campbell and Corson counties.

Disaster Number 4: USDA has designated the following counties as crop disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain that occurred from April 1, 2015, and continues.

North Dakota. Burleigh, Cavalier, Emmons, Grand Forks, Kidder, McLean, Morton, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Ramsey, Sheridan and Walsh counties.

Minnesota. Marshall County.

All counties listed above were designated natural disaster areas on Feb. 24, 2016.

Links to previous disaster listings posted at

• Crop Disasters Declared in Montana February 25, 2016
• Crop Disasters Declared in the U.S. States of North Carolina and Virginia February 11, 2016

• Crop Disasters Declared in Two U.S. States February 5, 2016
• Extreme Weather Events Destroy Crops in Georgia & the Carolinas January 24, 2016
• Multiple Crop Disasters Declared in Three U.S. States January 9, 2016
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

 

Freeze Warning in Effect for NE Minnesota, Douglas County Wisconsin

Temperatures forecast to drop to as low as 20s (F)

These conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation, according to the NWS Forecast.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
The areas covered by the Freeze Warning includes the cities of International Falls, Ely, Basswood Lake, Bbutterfly Lake, Eagle Mountain, Forest Center, Isabella, Murphy City, Sawbill, Landing, Bigfork, Hhibbing, Virginia, Chisholm, Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Ggrand Marais, Walker, Cass Lake, Remer, Backus, Hackensack, Grand Rapids, Cohasset, East Gull Lake, Lake Shore, Pine River, Pillager, Brainerd, Baxter, Hill City, Aitkin, Duluth, Pine City, Sandstone, Hinckley, Rock Creek, Lake Nebagamon, Solon Springs, Poplar, Superior and Oliver, said NWS in Duluth.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
Freeze Warning areas includes the cities of Roseau, Warroad, Greenbush, Baudette, Newfolden, Middle River, Grygla, Red Lake, Redby, Ponemah, Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, Fosston, Fertile, Mcintosh, Erskine, Bagley, Clearbrook, Bemidji, Mahnomen, Naytahwaush, Waubun, Alida, Ebro, Lake Itasca, Long Lost Lake, Lower Rice Lake, Roy Lake, Upper Rice Lake, Park Rapids, Wolf Lake, Wadena and Menahga.

Frost Advisory is in effect for a wide band of areas encircling the locations under Freeze Warning in the two states as well as eastern North Dakota.

Major Disaster Declared for North Dakota

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR DISASTERS
SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING
FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARED
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 101, 066, 023, 02
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N.D. Declared a Federal Disaster Area after  Severe Storms, Flooding (DR-4190)

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of North Dakota in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding during the period of June 25 to July 1, 2014.

Areas worst affected by severe storms and flooding include counties of Benson, Bottineau, Divide, Eddy, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, and Ward and the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.

Latest Federal Disaster Declarations

• Federal Disaster Declared in Washington August 15, 2014
• Major Disaster Declared for Iowa August 7, 2014
• Federal Disaster Declared in Minnesota July 23, 2014
• Federal Disaster Declared for Iowa  July 16, 2014
• Federal Disaster Declared for New York July 11, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Tap Water Catches Fire in North Dakota

FRACKED IN NORTH DAKOTA
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N.D. resident sets tap water on fire

Jacob Haughney, who works in North Dakota oil fields, has made a video in which he sets his tap water on fire with a lighter.

There’s “nothing like a refreshing glass of fire…  First time I did it, it was a huge fireball [and] took up the entire sink—so that’s why I’m a little jumpy doing it. I don’t want to blow up the bathroom here,” he explains, laughing during the demonstration.

How to set tap water on fire in two steps, as shown by the N.D. resident Jacob Haughney.

High concentration of methane in the water may be responsible  for the flammable water, according to the experts.

North Dakota has experienced a fracking boom over the past few years. It’s currently the second largest oil-producing state in the US, with about 912,000 barrels of shale gas per day.

Gasland 2010

In the 2010 award winning documentary “Gasland 2010,”  filmmaker Josh Fox travel across 32 states meeting other rural residents on the front lines of fracking. “He discovers toxic streams, ruined aquifers, dying livestock, brutal illnesses, and kitchen sinks that burst into flame.”

GASLAND Trailer 2010

Major Disaster Declared in North Dakota

North Dakota Declared Federal Disaster Area due to Damage Caused by Severe Winter Storm

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of North Dakota due to extensive damage caused by a severe winter storm during the period of October 4-5, 2013.

Areas worst affected by the severe winter storm are the counties of Adams, Bowman, Grant, Hettinger, Morton, Sioux, and Slope, said The White House Office of the Press Secretary.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments, said FEMA.

Recent Federal Disaster Declarations

• North Carolina Declared Federal Disaster Area October 31, 2013
• Major Disaster Declared in New Mexico October 30, 2013
• Kansas Declared Federal Disaster Area October 30, 2013

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – October 12, 2013

Pipeline leak in North Dakota likely due to corrosion

The 20,600-barrel leak on Tesoro Logistics LP pipeline in North Dakota was probably caused by corrosion on the 20-year-old pipeline, state regulators said.

A farmer discovered oil gushing out of the six-inch pipeline, which carries oil from the Bakken shale play to the Stampede rail facility near Columbus, North Dakota, on September 29, said a report.

“This is the largest oil spill in the state since it became a major U.S. producer. It is the biggest oil leak on U.S. land since March, when an Exxon Mobil pipeline spilled 5,000 to 7,000 barrels of heavy Canadian crude in Mayflower, Arkansas.”

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Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Iraq Bloodbath

October casualties in the ongoing Iraqi violence so far stands at 381 civilians killed, and about 1,000 others wounded.

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Majority of U.S. Citizens say: “The hell with the Congress!”

Six in ten Americans say they would replace every single member of the U.S. Congress if they could, according to a new poll by NBC News and Wall Street Journal.

As for the state of U.S. economy over the next 12 months, 42 percent of the people believe it will get worse, while only 17 percent are optimistic, and 38 percent see no change.

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Conflicts of interest in the Syria debate

22 media commentators, and seven think tanks that participated in the media debate on whether the US should bomb Syria, had major  conflicts of interest, says Public Accountability Initiative.

The most egregious example cited is Stephen Hadley, former national security adviser to George W. Bush. “Hadley argued strenuously for military intervention in appearances on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and Bloomberg TV, and authored a Washington Post op-ed headlined ‘To stop Iran, Obama must enforce red lines with Assad.'”

“In each case, Hadley’s audience was not informed that he serves as a director of Raytheon, the weapons manufacturer that makes the Tomahawk cruise missiles that were widely cited as a weapon of choice in a potential strike against Syria. Hadley earns $128,500 in annual cash compensation from the company and chairs its public affairs committee. He also owns 11,477 shares of Raytheon stock, which traded at all-time highs during the Syria debate ($77.65 on August 23, making Hadley’s share’s worth $891,189).” The report said.

Hadley was presented to the audience as an experienced, independent national security expert, said the report. Read more…

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events – 29 April 2013

Devastating Floods in Kentucky Wash Out Bridges, Destroy Infrastructure

Two weeks of severe flooding in eastern and southeastern Kentucky have devastated the region. Many bridges are washed out and dozens of roads and culverts in the region are severely damaged prompting Gov. Beshear to declare a state of emergency for 12 counties on Friday.

• The 12 counties covered by the declaration are Bell, Clay, Crittenden, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Owsley, Rockcastle and Whitley, said a report.

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North Dakota and Minnesota

Flood Threat increases for Red and Souris Rivers in North Dakota and Minnesota: River levels on the Souris and Red Rivers in North Dakota are rising as warmer temperatures allow the snowpack to begin a more aggressive thaw. Stream and river rises will continue, along with an increased risk of overland flooding. Flood Watches and Flood Warnings are now in effect in northern North Dakota and Minnesota. —NWS

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Flash floods injure 10, force about 1,000 to flee their homes in North Sumatra, Indonesia

The Aek Mata and Aek Ranto rivers in North Sumatra, Indonesia overflowed on Sunday following an extreme rain event, injuring at least 10 people, 6 of them severely, and forcing about 1,000 people to flee their homes.

• Scores of houses were swept away by the floods, according to a report.
  

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Bangladesh: Death toll from Dhaka building collapse nears 400

At least 385 people are now confirmed dead following Rana Plaza building collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Reuters reported.

• Hundreds of other mostly female garment workers remain unaccounted for.
• The Bangladeshi garment industry employs up to 4 million people, most of them female, some of whom earn just over $1 a day.
  
• About 60 percent of Bangladesh’s low-cost garment exports go to Europe,  23 percent to the U.S., and 5 percent to Canada.

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Famine in Somalia killed 260,000 people in 2011

The 2011 famine in Somalia killed an estimated 260,000 people, half of them aged 5 and under, according to a new report, which is being made public on Thursday by FEWSNET, a Western official briefed on the report told AP.

• The report more than doubles previous death toll estimates by the U.K. government which said between 50,000 and 100,000 people had died in the famine.

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DISASTER CALENDAR – April 29, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,048 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,048 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

N.D. Declares Drought Emergency

87 percent of ND experiencing drought conditions

Gov. Dalrymple’s drought emergency declaration includes 49 of the state’s 52 counties and the five Indian reservations.

“We are seeing significant crop losses, both in yield and quality,” said Dalrymple. “Drought conditions also have reduced hay and other livestock feed sources and will contribute to water supply shortages.”

Map of the Agricultural Weather Assessments for U.S. Corn Conditions for the week ending August 4, 2012. Source: USDA

• As of August 7, 2012 portions of 20 ND counties were experiencing severe drought condition.
• According to USDA Crop Progress, as of August 12  30 percent of the pasture and range in the state was in poor condition and a further 13 percent listed as being in very poor condition.
• “Durum wheat development was listed at 28 percent across the state, significantly lower than the last four-year average of 56 percent,” said a report.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Corn Progress

• More Corn Grilled on the Cob Posted on August 7, 2012
• Half U.S. Corn in Very Poor or Poor Condition Posted July 30, 2012
• Deadly Drought Worsens Corn, Soybean, Pasture and Range Conditions Posted July 24, 2012

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Fargo Flooding Foregone?

Image of the Day

Nature’s Sense of Humor: Ice, Snow and Water

An aerial view shows a vehicle at a crossroad as snow, ice, and water from overland flooding make county roads nearly impassable south of Fargo, North Dakota March 29, 2009. REUTERS/Allen Fredrickson. Image may be subject to copyright.

Fargo Flood Highlights:

• A Red River dike failed early  Sunday swamping Oak Grove Lutheran School in Fargo.
• Hundreds of National Guards,  residents and volunteers have been building and reinforcing all types of floodwalls around the city.
• The river edged lower to about 40 feet at 2:15 pm CDT on Sunday, down from a record of nearly 41 feet on Saturday.
• At least two deaths and 50 flood-related injuries have been reported so far.
• The North Dakota flood has damaged 215 homes and destroyed five in the state.
• About 430 people were evacuated under  orders. More than 2,000 elderly and disabled people were also evacuated from nursing homes and similar facilities, including 88 disabled children from a center in Jamestown, North Dakota, Reuters reported.
• The temperature in Fargo dropped to  minus 1 Celsius (31 degrees F) on Sunday.
• Large snowmelt expected to start by Wednesday.
• The National Weather Service forecast 15 – 30 cm of snow for the Fargo area by Tuesday.
• Higher winds could damage floodwalls.
• Red River is expected to crest at 51 feet in Grand Forks, North Dakota, by Thursday, NWS said.

Related Links:

• North Dakota Floods

North Dakota Floods

Red River in Fargo, N.D. may see a 12.5m (41-ft) crest by Saturday breaking an all-time record by 0.3m set in 1897.

US President Obama has declared North Dakota a federal disaster area because of record flooding across the state.

Source: NWC/NOAA

About 20,000 volunteers and 1,000 national guards are bagging sand for levees. More than 1.5 million bags have been filled so far, a report said.

More than a thousand students and residents of Fargo gather at the Fargodome on Monday evening to make sandbags around the clock to help prevent the nearby Red River from flooding. Photo By Garrett Hubbard, USA TODAY. Image may be subject to copyright.

North Dakota and Minnesota are preparing for the worst flooding in more than 100 years, affecting farmer decision to plant wheat this spring.

The U.S. Agriculture Department predicts about ½ million hectares (~ 1 million acres) acres in North Dakota will go unseeded this spring, half of which is due to the flooding and the other half prompted by lower wheat prices.

The North Dakota Wheat Commission had already expected wheat plantings from  North Dakota, as well as Minnesota, Montana  and South Dakota to fall by about 5 percent from 5.2  million in 2008 to under 5 million hectares this year.

“Producers want to grow a crop, that’s how they generate their income, but if you just perpetually get stuck all the time or you mud a crop in … it’s like playing in the mud when you’re a kid. It gets hard and packed and pretty poor (for) germination.” Said Jim Peterson, marketing director of the farmer-run N.D. Wheat Commission.

“Western North Dakota, out of the reach of the Red River, is also fighting floods because of ice jams on the Missouri River. The number of residents forced to evacuate statewide was not available on Thursday.” Reuters reported.

Related Links:

• Residents continue sandbagging in Fargo [Video]

• FACTBOX-U.S. Red River Valley braces for floods
• Northern US flooding may cut wheat crop

• US Flooding Observation