Tankers In West Virginia Explosion Were Newer, Supposedly Safer Model

The railroad cars involved in the fiery derailment in West Virginia on Monday were a newer model that was supposed to be safer than older tankers blamed in other oil train explosions.

The ruptured cars were built to specifications adopted by the railroad industry in 2011 amid criticism that older tankers were dangerously susceptible to puncture and a risk of explosion. Called CPC 1232 cars, they were also involved in an April 2014 derailment and explosion in Lynchburg, Va.

The specifications for the newer cars were issued by the Association of American Railroads, whose members include major freight carriers in North America. They came amid concerns that older models called DOT-111s, which still carry a majority of the crude oil shipped by rail, were unsafe.

CSX spokeswoman Melanie Cost today confirmed that the ruptured tankers that caught fire were CPC 1232 models.

Read more:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2015/02/17/Derailed-CSX-train-in-West-Virginia-hauled-newer-model-tank-cars-oil/stories/201502170171

4 Years After BP Spill, Questions On Long-Term Health

English: Platform supply vessels battle the blazing remnants of the off shore oil rig Deepwater Horizon. A Coast Guard MH-65C dolphin rescue helicopter and crew document the fire aboard the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon, while searching for survivors. Multiple Coast Guard helicopters, planes and cutters responded to rescue the Deepwater Horizon’s 126 person crew. Français : Les restes en feu de la plateforme Deepwater Horizon. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

CHALMETTE, LA — When a BP oil well began gushing crude into the Gulf of Mexico four years ago, fisherman George Barisich used his boat to help clean up the millions of gallons that spewed in what would become the worst offshore spill in U.S. history.

Like so many Gulf Coast residents who pitched in after the April 20, 2010, explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig, Barisich was motivated by a desire to help and a need to make money — the oil had destroyed his livelihood.

Today he regrets that decision, and worries his life has been permanently altered. Barisich, 58, says respiratory problems he developed during the cleanup turned into pneumonia and that his health has never been the same.

“After that, I found out that I couldn’t run. I couldn’t exert fast a walk,” he said. His doctor declined to comment.

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2014/04/11/4130069/4-years-after-spill-questions.html?sp=/99/116/128/#storylink=cpy

Oil Slicks Found In Hunt For Missing Malaysia Jet

English: Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 flight MH138 docked at Adelaide Airport awaiting departure (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) – Vietnamese air force planes on Saturday spotted two large oil slicks close to where a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 went missing earlier in the day, the first sign that the aircraft carrying 239 people had crashed.

The air force planes were part of a multinational search operation launched after Flight MH370 fell off radar screens less than an hour after it took off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing early Saturday morning.

The oil slicks were spotted late Saturday off the southern tip of Vietnam and were each between 10 kilometers (6 miles) and 15 kilometers (9 miles) long, the Vietnamese government said in a statement. There was no confirmation that the slicks were related to the missing plane, but the statement said they were consistent with the kinds that would be produced by the two fuel tanks of a crashed jetliner.

Two-thirds of the missing plane’s passengers were from China, while others were from elsewhere in Asia, North America and Europe.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20140308_ap_dbcb6cb957af47f2a9af43a6fcc9c652.html#jurFVE7mgOFHoq0K.99

Railroad Ups Estimate Of Oil Spilled In Vandergrift Derailment

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Westmoreland County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Norfolk Southern Railroad officials say four of the derailed tanker cars in Vandergrift leaked more than 3,500 gallons of crude oil.

Initial reports Thursday said only about 1,000 gallons had leaked from one tanker.

David Pidgeon, Norfolk Southern spokesman, estimated that between 3,500 and 4,500 gallons of viscous “heavy” crude oil leaked from four tanker cars after the derailment. Pidgeon said most of the oil ended up in an MSI Corp. parking lot. None of it made it into the Kiski River.

In Thursday’s cold temperatures, the oil congealed soon after hitting the snow and workers were removing the oil and contaminated soil for proper disposal.

Read more: http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourallekiskivalley/yourallekiskivalleymore/5596923-74/railroad-oil-norfolk#ixzz2tKEFEJyM
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook

Train Carrying Crude Oil Derails In Vandergrift

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Westmoreland County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Twenty-one cars of a freight train hauling oil and gas derailed this morning in Vandergrift, striking a building that houses a specialty metals firm, authorities said. No one was injured.

Hazmat crews responded to MSI Corp. in the 200 block of First Street in Vandergrift, and the state Department of Environmental Protection was sending a three-member emergency response team after reports that oil was leaking from overturned cars.

The 120-car Norfolk Southern Railway train with three locomotives was headed east around 8 a.m. when it derailed. Nineteen of the 21 derailed cars overturned.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/westmoreland/2014/02/13/Train-carrying-crude-oil-derails-in-Vandergrift/stories/201402130275#ixzz2tF0xF5Zs

BP, Plaintiffs Reach $7.8 Billion Settlement

NEW ORLEANS, La. (TheStreet) — BP(BP) and the plaintiffs in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill case have reached an estimated $7.8 billion settlement.

In a news release early Saturday, the U.K. petroleum giant said it had reached the settlement with the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, which represents diverse plaintiffs in the complex case.

The settlement, news of which comes just two days before the trial was scheduled to start, is subject to final written agreement, the release said.

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-times-herald/story/bp-plaintiffs-reach-78-billion-settlement/11442438

Gulf Oil Spill Panel Findings Leaked!

Image via Wikipedia

Here is an article about the leaked findings from the presidential panel on the BP Oil Spill Disaster:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40956664/40777506

Oil Spill Closer To Home Threatens Harrisburg Water Supply

A tanker truck carrying over 7,000 gallons of fuel had an accident near Clarks Ferry.  Almost all the fuel in the tanker spilled near the confluence of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers, north of Harrisburg. 

The tanker, owned by Nittany Oil Company of State College, swerved to avoid another vehicle exiting the Clarks Ferry Truck Stop parking lot.  The other vehicle pulled out in front of tanker.  The tanker rolled over and only an inch of fuel remained in the tanker after the accident.  About 7,000 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel spilled into the Juniata River, creating a “minor” fish kill.  I suppose it’s only minor if you aren’t one of the dead fish.

The fuel spill has spread 8 – 10 miles down river, which is causing Harrisburg to consider shutting off a water intake valve from the Susquehanna.  A boom has been placed on the river to contain the spill.

This sounds eerily familiar.  Fortunately, Tony Hayward is not involved in the cover-up clean-up.

Panic brews on Gulf coast under suspicions of oil spill media blackout of threats to public safety

Panic brews on Gulf coast under suspicions of oil spill media blackout of threats to public safety.

Video From Destin Beach Florida – The BP Oil Spill

It is heart breaking to see how bad this is and that now Florida is being affected!  This video gives some perspective on the damage being done.  Please take 4 minutes and watch this video.  It is certainly illuminating!

BP Narrows Oil Leaks From Three To Two

First of all, I didn’t realize there was more than one leak!  The biggest oil leak is still gushing!  The plan is to lower a 4 story containment dome over the worst leak and then hopefully concentrate on the last one.  The dome will allow the oil to be funneled up to a rig on the surface.

Meanwhile, the weather is finally cooperating!  Other methods of containment include a controlled burn of oil on the surface, skimmers, barriers and floating devices used to corral oil.  The most risky method is the chemical dispersant idea.  There is a link to that story below.

Off-Shore Oil Spill Threatens Louisiana

A massive oil spill is threatening the Louisiana coastline.  BP has been unable to stop the massive flow of oil (210,000 gallons a day) from a well explosion that is leaking from as deep as a mile underwater.  The government is now getting involved because of BP’s inability to solve their own problem.  BP is responsible for the $6 million dollar a day price tag. 

One third of the nation’s seafood comes from Louisiana and the delta area is in great danger.  This could eclipse the Exxon Valdez spill if not contained soon.  Oil has already reached the coastline which is teaming with wildlife.

Louisiana has never fully recovered from Katrina.  This disaster could not come at a worse time.