Fire conditions are expected to worsen across the Northwest Territories over the next few days as some blazes grow significantly. The Wood Buffalo fire, which is threatening the communities of Fort Smith and Fort Fitzgerald, Alta., has seen ‘significant growth’.
Author Archives: Steve
Fukushima fallout: Is Japan ‘irresponsible’ to dump treated nuclear wastewater?
Fukushima fallout: Is Japan ‘irresponsible’ to dump treated nuclear wastewater?: In a final report released in July, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that the release, if conducted as designed, will cause negligible impact on the environment and human health.
After taking into account possible bioconcentration of low-dose radionuclides that still remain in the water, the environmental and health impact is still negligible, TEPCO officials said.
Most scientists support the IAEA’s view, but some say the long-term impact of the low-dose radioactivity that remains in the water needs attention.
Greenpeace said on Tuesday that the radiological risks have not been fully assessed and that the biological impacts of tritium, carbon-14, strontium-90 and iodine-129 – which will be released with the water – “have been ignored.”
Safety inspections are required on inactive Alberta oil and gas wells. Thousands are overdue | The Narwhal
Safety inspections are required on inactive Alberta oil and gas wells. Thousands are overdue | The Narwhal: More than 10 per cent of the approximately
75,000 inactive oil and gas wells in Alberta are overdue for
inspection, according to data from the provincial energy regulator
compiled by The Narwhal.
The number of wells overdue for inspection has more than doubled since 2018, to more than 7,500.
Inactive wells no longer produce oil or gas but have not yet been permanently sealed, nor has the land around them been cleaned up.
Alberta has no timelines on how long wells can sit inactive but does
require them to be monitored by the companies that own them, with
results reported back to the regulator.
Inspections are supposed to be carried out to check for risks to the public and environment, including excess pressure, leaks, wellhead failures and other problems.
As of Aug. 8, there were 7,596 wells identified on the Alberta Energy Regulator’s inactive well list that were overdue for inspections out of a total of 73,989 inactive wells covered under what’s known as Directive 013, which sets out the rules for suspending inactive wells.
Bell: Danielle Smith’s UCP on rent controls — Forget about it!
Bell: Danielle Smith’s UCP on rent controls — Forget about it!: Alberta UCP government of Premier Danielle Smith says rent control not happening. Jason Nixon, the minister for housing, calls it socialism.
Ya’ it ain’t happening. The UCP campaigned with making life more affordable – and that’s UCP speak for lying. They have no intention of making Alberta more affordable. Just look at insurance, groceries and energy costs…