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Northern Access Project: Exporting PA's Marcellus Gas Northward
February 16, 2017 /6 Comments/in Articles, Data and Analysis, Oil/Gas, Pipelines /by Karen Edelstein
In March 2015, the National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation and Empire Pipeline Company filed a joint application with the Federal Energy Resource Commission (FERC) to construct a new natural gas pipeline and related infrastructure, known collectively as the Northern Access Project (NAPL). The pricetag on the project is $455 million, and is funded through international, as well as local, financial institutions. The Public Accountability Initiative recently produced a report detailing the funding for this pipeline project, entitled "The Power Behind the Pipeline".
The proposed Northern Access Project consists of a 97-mile-long, 24" pipe that would carry Marcellus Shale gas from Sergeant Township (McKean County), PA, to the Porterville Compressor Station in the Town of Elma (Erie County), NY. Nearly 69% of the proposed main pipeline will be co-located in existing pipeline and power line rights-of-way, according to FERC. The agency says this will streamline the project and reduce the need to rely on eminent domain to most efficiently route the project.
A $42 million, 15,400 horsepower Hinsdale Compressor Station along the proposed pipeline route was completed in 2015. In addition to the pipeline itself, the proposed project includes:
Additional 5,350 HP compression at the existing Porterville Compressor Station, a ten-fold increase of the capacity of that station
A new 22,214 HP compressor station in Pendleton (Niagara County), NY
Two miles of pipeline in Pendleton (Niagara County), NY
A new natural gas dehydration facility in Wheatfield (Niagara County), NY
An interconnection with the Tennessee Gas Pipeline in Wales (Erie County), NY, as well as tie-ins in McKean, Allegany, and Cattaraugus counties
A metering, regulation and delivery station in Erie County
Mainline block valves in McKean, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Erie counties; and
Access roads and contractor/staging yards in McKean, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Erie counties
Map of Proposed Northern Access Project
View map fullscreen | How FracTracker maps work
The above map shows the proposed pipeline (green) and related infrastructure (bright pink). The pale yellow and pink lines on the map are the existing pipelines that the Northern Access Project would tie into. Click here to explore the map fullscreen.
National Fuel maintains that the goal of the proposed project would be to supply multiple markets in Western New York State and the Midwest. The project would also supply gas for export to Canada via the Empire Pipeline system, and New York and New England through the Tennessee Gas Pipeline 200 Line. The company anticipates that the project would be completed by late 2017 or early 2018. Proponents are hoping that NAPL will keep fuel prices low, raise tax revenues, and create jobs.
Push-back against this project has been widespread from citizens and environmental groups, including Sierra Club and RiverKeeper. This is despite an environmental assessment ruling in July 2016 that FERC saw no negative environmental impacts of the project. FERC granted a stamp of approval for the project on February 4, 2017.
Concerns about the Proposed Pipeline
The Bufffalo-Niagara Riverkeeper, asserts that the project presents multiple threats to environmental health of the Upper Lake Erie and Niagara River Watersheds. In their letter to FERC, they disagreed with the Commission's negative declaration that the project would result in "no significant impact to the environment." The pipeline construction will require crossings of 77 intermittent and 60 perennial streams, 19 of which are classified by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) as protected trout streams. Twenty-eight of the intermittent streams impacted also flow into these protected streams. Resulting water quality deterioration associated with bank destabilization, increased turbidity, erosion, thermal destabilization of streams, and habitat loss is likely to impact sensitive native brook trout and salamanders. Riverkeeper found that National Fuel's plan on how to minimize impacts to hundreds of wetlands surround the project area was insufficient. FERC's Environmental Assessment of the project indicated that approximately 1,800 acres of vegetation would affected by the project.
Several groups have also taken issue with the proposed project's plan to use the "dry crossing" method of traversing waterways. Only three crossings will be accomplished using horizontal directional drilling under the stream bed — a method that would largely protect the pipes from dynamic movement of the stream during floods. The rest will be "trenched" less than 5 feet below the stream bed. Opponents of the project point out that NYSDEC, federal guidelines, and even industry itself discourage pipe trenching, because during times of high stream flow, stream scour may expose the pipes to rocks, trees, and other objects. This may lead to the pipes leaking, or even rupturing, impacting both the natural environment, and, potentially, the drinking water supply.
A December 2016 editorial to The Buffalo News addressed the impacts that the proposed Northern Access Project could have to the Cattaraugus Creek Basin Aquifer, the sole source of drinking water for 20,000 residents in surrounding Cattaraugus, Erie, and Wyoming counties in New York. In particular, because the aquifer is shallow, and even at the surface in some locations, it is particularly vulnerable to contamination. The editorial took issue with the absence of measures in the Environmental Assessment that could have explored how to protect the aquifer.
Other concerns include light and noise pollution, in addition to well-documented impacts on climate change, created by fugitive methane leakage from pipelines and compressors.
NYSDEC has held three public hearings about the project already: February 7th at Saint Bonaventure University (Allegany, NY), February 8th at Iroquois High School (Elma, NY), February 9th at Niagara County Community College (Sanborn, NY). The hearing at Saint Bonaventure was attended by nearly 250 people.
While FERC approved the project on February 4, 2017, the project still requires approvals from NYSDEC – including a Section 401 Water Quality Certification. These decisions have recently been pushed back from March 1 to April 7.
Proponents for the project – particularly the pipefitting industry – have emphasized that it would create up to 1,700 jobs during the construction period, and suggested that because of the experience level of the construction workforce, there would be no negative impacts on the streams. Other speakers emphasized National Fuel's commitment to safety and environmental compliance.
Seneca Nation President Todd Gates expressed his concerns about the gas pipeline's impacts on Cattaraugus Creek, which flows through Seneca Nation land (Cattaraugus Indian Reservation), and is downstream from several tributaries traversed by the proposed pipeline. In addition, closer to the southern border of New York State, the proposed pipeline cuts across tributaries to the Allegheny River, which flows through the Allegany Indian Reservation. One of New York State's primary aquifers lies beneath the reservation. The closest that the proposed pipeline itself would pass about 12 miles from Seneca Nation Territory, so National Fuel was not required contact the residents there.
Concerns about Wheatfield dehydration facility & Pendleton compressor station
According to The Buffalo News, National Fuel has purchased 20 acres of land from the Tonawanda Sportsmen's Club. The company is building two compressors on this property, totaling 22,000 HP, to move gas through two miles of pipeline that are also part of the proposed project, but 23 miles north of the primary stretch of newly constructed pipeline. Less than six miles east of the Pendleton compressor stations, a dehydration facility is also proposed. The purpose of this facility is to remove water vapor from the natural gas, in accordance with Canadian low-moisture standards. According to some reports from a National Fuel representative, the dehydration facility would run only a few days a year, but this claim, has not been officially confirmed.
Residents of both Pendleton and Wheatfield have rallied to express their concerns about both components of the project, citing potential impacts on public health, safety, and the environment relating to air and water quality.
Northern Access Project Next Steps
The deadline for public comment submission is 5 pm on February 24, 2017 — less than two weeks away. To file a comment, you can either email NYS DEC directly To Michael Higgins at NFGNA2016Project@dec.ny.gov, or send comments by mail to NYS DEC, Attn. Michael Higgins, Project Manager, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, NY 12233.
Note: this article originally stated that the Porterville Compressor Station would double its capacity as a result of the NAPL project. In fact, the capacity increase would be ten-fold, from 600 hp to about 6000 hp. We regret this error.
by Karen Edelstein, Eastern Program Coordinator, FracTracker Alliance
https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Northern-Access-Project-Feature-1.jpg 400 900 Karen Edelstein https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fractracker-Color-Logo.jpg Karen Edelstein2017-02-16 11:16:482017-03-28 13:42:24Northern Access Project: Exporting PA's Marcellus Gas Northward
Remaining Questions on Mariner East Technical Deficiencies
February 9, 2017 /1 Comment/in Articles, Data and Analysis, Pennsylvania, Pipelines /by FracTracker Alliance
In the summer of 2015, Sunoco Logistics submitted applications to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to build its massive Mariner East 2 pipeline. The ME 2 pipeline would have the capacity to transport 275,000 barrels a day of propane, ethane, butane, and other hydrocarbons from the shale fields of Western Pennsylvania to the Marcus Hook export terminal, located on the Delaware River.
Sunoco's applications were to satisfy the state's Chapter 105 (water obstruction and encroachment) and Chapter 102 (erosion/sediment control and earth disturbance) permitting requirements. The DEP responded to Sunoco's application, issuing 20 deficiency letters totaling more than 550 pages. Sunoco resubmitted their application in the summer of 2016 and the DEP again rejected many of its plans to disturb streams, ponds, and wetlands. In December, Sunoco resubmitted its revised application for a third time, hoping for final approval.
FracTracker Alliance first wrote about ME 2's risks to watershed in August 2016, following Sunoco's second application. Readers who want a general overview of the issues may find that article worth reading. In this new article, we dig deeper into the subject. Along with its December application, Sunoco also supplied the DEP with revised GIS files illustrating ME 2's new route and documents summarizing its impacts to nearby water bodies. We have created a new map utilizing newly available data and provide contextual analysis valuable in determining how Sunoco responds to the DEP's review of its prior rejected applications.
Detailed Mapping of Water Body Impacts
At the end of December, the DEP finally released Sunoco's GIS files detailing water bodies that will be impacted by ME 2, as well as Sunoco's data tables outlining alternative methods that might mitigate certain impacts. Our map (below) combines these new datasets to show the locations where ME 2's route has changed since Sunoco's initial application, presumably in response to the DEP's technical deficiency letter.
Also on this map are water bodies: 1) implicated in ME 2's environmental impact assessment, 2) determined by the DEP as likely impacted by construction, and 3) identified by Sunoco as having viable construction alternatives to mitigate impacts.
Mariner East 2 Technical Deficiencies Map
By viewing the map fullscreen and zooming in, one can click on a water feature to reveal its data tables (see below example). These tables contain information on the water body's flow regime, the extent of permanent and temporary impacts, alternative crossing methods that could be used, and what benefits might come from those alternate methods. Also in the tables are a number of designations such as:
USGS Fish and Wildlife wetland classification (see guide). Most common are PEM (palustrine emergent wetland), PSS (palustrine scrub-shrub wetland), PFO (palustrine forested wetland), and PuB (palustrine unconsolidated bottom – i.e. ponds).
PA DEP stream designation (see guide). Most common are WWF (warm water fishes), CWF (cold water fishes), HQ (high quality), and EV (exceptional value).
PA Fish and Boat Commission classifications (see guide). Most common are ATW (approved trout water), STS (stocked trout stream), Class A (class A water), and WTS (wilderness trout stream).
An example water body data table that can be found on the map:
Our analysis of this new data reveals the number of water crossings in question is significantly higher than what we estimated in August: now totaling 1,222 streams, 34 ponds, and 708 wetlands crossings. This increase is primarily due to Sunoco's data also containing information on ephemeral and intermittent waters that are not typically accounted for in USGS data (all that was available at the time of our prior analysis).
Defining Impacts
The DEP's Chapter 105 Joint Permit Application Instructions break down "impacts" into two broad categories: permanent and temporary. These are primarily used to assess environmental impact fees, but are also valuable in determining what parameters Sunoco will be held to during and after ME 2's construction.
Permanent impacts: are "areas affected by a water obstruction or encroachment that consist of both direct and indirect impacts that result from the placement or construction of a water obstruction or encroachment and include areas necessary for the operation and maintenance of the water obstruction or encroachment located in, along or across, or projecting into a watercourse, floodway or body of water."
Permanent impacts are calculated using the pipeline's 50-foot permanent right-of-way. For streams, all bed and banks are to be restored to pre-construction conditions. For ponds and wetlands, permanent impacts are assumed to remain even if the area is considered restored.
Temporary impacts: are "areas affected during the construction of a water obstruction or encroachment that consists of both direct and indirect impacts located in, along or across, or projecting into a watercourse, floodway or body of water that are restored upon completion of construction." Temporary impacts consist of areas such as temporary workspaces and access roads.
The below table lists the total impacted acres broken down by county. Of interest here is that more than 175 acres would be permanently impacted — equivalent to 134 football fields — with an additional 82 acres temporarily impacted.
Table 1. Impacted Acres by County
County Permanent Impacts (acres) Temporary Impacts (acre)
Allegheny 1.85 0.39
Berks 11.14 4.88
Blair 11.70 6.72
Cambria 20.21 8.48
Chester 10.30 3.92
Cumberland 24.06 7.61
Dauphin 8.12 6.55
Delaware 5.05 3.33
Huntingdon 18.75 8.04
Indiana 11.42 4.73
Juniata 5.25 3.02
Lancaster 4.65 1.66
Lebanon 6.48 2.53
Perry 5.58 2.63
Washington 9.37 2.94
Westmoreland 17.72 12.36
York 3.46 2.16
Total 175.12 81.93
Viable Options to Reduce Impacts
An open cut wet crossing (image source)
Pipeline companies cross water bodies using a variety of methods depending on their classification. The DEP maintains three general categories for water crossings: minor (in streams less than or equal to 10 feet wide at the water's edge at the time of construction), intermediate (perennial stream crossings greater than 10 feet wide but less than 100 feet wide at the water's edge at the time of construction), and major (crossings of more than 100 feet at the water's edge at the time of construction).
Minor and intermediate crossings often employ rudimentary trenching along "open cut" crossings where the water is either temporarily diverted (wet crossing) or allowed to flow during construction (wet crossing). After the cuts, the company attempts to repair damage done in the process of trenching.
In more sensitive places, such as in exceptional value streams, wetlands, and always in major crossings, a company uses conventional boring to tunnel under a water feature. When boring over long distances, such as under a lake or river, a company turns to Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), a more engineered form of boring. An example of HDD boring is seen below (image source):
We were surprised by the number of water crossings identified by Sunoco as having options to minimize impact. As the table below shows, more than 44% (869) of Sunoco's crossings have an alternate method identified in the resubmitted applications. In most of these instances, the intended crossing method is either trenching through open cuts or dry crossings. The majority of identified alternatives would reduce impacts simply by altering the trenching route. 53 of the 869 were shown to have feasible conditions for conventional or HDD boring, but Sunoco categorized all of these as impracticable options despite their environmental benefits.
Table 2. Number of Crossings With and Without Viable Alternate Methods
Crossings Assessed but Unimpacted Impacted with No Alternative Impacted with Alternatives Total
Streams 313 925 297 1,535
Ponds 66 3 31 100
Wetlands 963 167 541 1,671
1,342 1,095 869 3,306
Absorbing the Costs of Environmental Impacts
If executed, these alternative methods would decrease the length of crossings, limit right-of-way encroachments, prevent land fragmentation, and significantly reduce risks to larger water bodies. More likely, Sunoco will pay the impact fees associated with the less complicated crossing methods. We've summarized these fees (found in Sunoco's resubmitted application) in the table below. In total, Sunoco would pay roughly $1.8 million in exchange for nearly 2,000 water body crossings – a fraction of the project's $2.5 billion estimated cost:
Table 3. Impact Fees for Sunoco's Preferred Crossings
County Permanent Impacts area (fees) Temporary Impact area (fees) Admin Fees Total Fees
Allegheny $15,200 $1,600 $1,750 $18,550
Berks $89,600 $19,600 $1,750 $110,950
Blair $94,400 $27,200 $1,750 $123,350
Cambria $162,400 $34,000 $1,750 $198,150
Chester $83,200 $16,000 $1,750 $100,950
Cumberland $192,800 $30,800 $1,750 $225,350
Dauphin $65,600 $26,400 $1,750 $93,750
Delaware $40,800 $13,600 $1,750 $56,150
Huntingdon $150,400 $32,400 $1,750 $184,550
Indiana $92,000 $19,200 $1,750 $112,950
Juniata $42,400 $12,400 $1,750 $56,550
Lancaster $37,600 $6,800 $1,750 $46,150
Lebanon $52,000 $10,400 $1,750 $64,150
Perry $44,800 $10,800 $1,750 $57,350
Washington $75,200 $12,000 $1,750 $88,950
Westmoreland $142,400 $50,000 $1,750 $194,150
York $28,000 $8,800 $1,750 $38,550
$1,408,800 $332,000 $29,750 $1,770,550
This week, acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell met with residents who voiced frustration that the agency failed to provide an additional public comment period following Sunoco's application resubmission. Nevertheless, the DEP is expected to greenlight Sunoco's plans any day now, adding another to the list of recent pipeline approvals in the region. Sunoco needs its permits now in order to begin clearing trees prior to endangered species bat nesting season, which begins in April.
Meanwhile, communities along the pipeline's path are preparing for the sudden wave of disruption that may ensue. Some have threatened lawsuits, arguing that the resubmitted application still contains many deficiencies including missing wetlands and private drinking wells that must be accounted for. Indeed, the map and data presented in this article confirms that there is still a lot that the general public does not know about ME 2 – in particular, the extent of water impacts the DEP seems willing to accept and the range of options at Sunoco's disposal that might mitigate those impacts if it were forced to do so.
Finally, it is encouraging to see that the DEP is becoming more transparent in sharing datasets, compared to other pipeline projects. However, this data is complex and not easily understood without sufficient technical expertise. We are discouraged to think that it is unlikely the public will learn about additional changes to the construction plan until after permits are issued. In order for data to be useful, it must be made available throughout the process, not at the end stages of planning, and done so in a way that it becomes integrated into the agency's public participation responsibilities.
by Kirk Jalbert, Manager of Community-Based Research & Engagement
https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ME2_technical_def_header.jpg 400 900 FracTracker Alliance https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fractracker-Color-Logo.jpg FracTracker Alliance2017-02-09 11:47:092018-05-08 15:28:38Remaining Questions on Mariner East Technical Deficiencies
The Dakota Access Pipeline: An Uncertain Future
December 10, 2016 /2 Comments/in Articles, Environmental Justice, Geopolitics, North Dakota, Pipelines, Water /by Kyle Ferrar, MPH
By Kyle Ferrar, Western Program Coordinator, FracTracker Alliance
Eliza Czolowski, Program Associate, PSE Healthy Energy
Since April 2016, demonstrators in North Dakota have been protesting a section of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) being built by Dakota Access LLC, a construction subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners LP. The proposed pipeline passes just 1.5 miles north of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Lands, where it is planned to cross Lake Oahe, the largest Army Corps of Engineers reservoir created on the Missouri River. The tribe argues that the project will not only threaten their environmental and economic well-being, but will also cut through land that is sacred.
Given how quickly circumstances have changed on the ground, we have received numerous requests to post an overview on the issue. This article examines the technical aspects of the DAPL proposal and details the current status of protests at Standing Rock. It includes a discussion of what the Army Corps' recent denial of DAPL's permits means for the project as well as looks towards the impacts of incoming Trump administration. We have also created the below map to contextualize DAPL and protest activities that have occurred at Standing Rock.
Standing Rock Protest Map
DAPL is a $3.78 billion dollar project that was initially slated for completion on January 1, 2017. The DAPL is a joint venture of Phillips 66, Sunoco Logistics, and other smaller fossil fuel companies including Marathon Petroleum Corporation, and Enbridge Energy Partners. Numerous banks and investment firms are supporting the project and financing the related infrastructure growth, including Citi Bank, JP Morgan Chase, HSBC, PNC, Community Trust, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, ING, Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, SunTrust, Us Bank, UBS, Compass and others.
Its route travels from Northwestern North Dakota, south of Bismarck, and crosses the waterway made up of the Missouri River and Lake Oahe just upriver of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Area. From North Dakota the pipeline continues 1,172 miles to an oil tank farm in Pakota, Illinois. DAPL would carry 470,000 barrels per day (75,000 m3/d) of Bakken crude oil with a maximum capacity up to 570,000 barrels per day. That's the CO2 equivalent of 30 average sized coal fired power plants.
As documented by the NY Times map, in addition to the Missouri River and Lake Oahe, the pipeline crosses 22 other waterways that also require the pipeline to be drilled deep under these bodies of water. But Standing Rock portion is the only section disputed and as of yet unfinished. Now the pipeline project, known by the protesters as "the black snake," is over 95% complete, despite having no official easement to cross the body of water created by the Missouri River and Lake Oahe. The easement is required for any domestic pipeline to cross a major waterway and because the land on either side of the Army Corps Lake Oahe project is managed by the Army Corps (shown in the protest map). An easement would allow Dakota Access LLC to drill a tunnel for the pipeline under the federally owned lands, including the lake and river.
Safety & Environmental Racism
Proponents of the project tout the opinion that pipelines are the safest method of moving oil large distances. Trucking oil in tankers on highways has the highest accident and spill rates, whereas moving oil by railways presents a major explosive hazard when incidents do occur. Pipeline spills are therefore considered the "safe" alternative. On November 11, Kelcy Warren was interviewed on CBS News, claiming Dakota Access, LLC takes every precaution to reduce leaks and that the likelihood of a leak is highly unlikely. The problem with comparing the risk for each of these transportation methods is that rates of incidence are the only comparison. The resulting hazard and impact is ignored. When pipelines rupture, they present a much larger hazard than trucks and trains. Large volumes of spilled oil result in much greater water and soil contamination.
We know that pipelines do rupture, and quite often. An analysis by the U.S. DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in 2012 shows that there have been 201 major incidents (with volumes over 1,000 gallons) related to liquid leaks in the U.S. over the last ten years that were reported to the Department of Transportation. The "average" pipeline therefore has a 57% probability of experiencing a major leak, with consequences over the $1 million range, in a ten-year period. FracTracker's recent analysis of PHMSA data shows the systemic issue of pipeline spills: there have been 4,215 pipeline spill incidents just since 2010 resulting in 100 reported fatalities, 470 injuries, and property damage exceeding $3.4 billion! The recent (December 12) spill of 176,000 gallons of crude oil into a stream just 150 miles from the Standing Rock protest site highlights the Tribes' concerns.
A previously proposed route for the DAPL would have put Bismarck—a city that is 92% white—just downriver of its Missouri River crossing. This initial route was rejected due to its potential threat to Bismarck's water supply, according to the Army Corps. In addition to being located upriver of Bismarck's water intake, the route would have been 11 miles longer and would have passed through "wellhead source water protection" areas that are avoided to protect municipal water supply wells. Passing through this "high consequence area" would have required further actions and additional safety measures on the part of Dakota Access LLC. The route would also have been more difficult to stay at least 500 feet away from homes, as required by the North Dakota Public Service Commission. The route was changed and pushed as close to Sioux County as possible, the location of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.
Protests: The Water Protectors
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has taken an active stance against Bakken Oil Development in the past. In 2007, the Reservation passed a resolution to prevent any oil and gas development or pipelines on the Tribal Lands. However, deep concerns about the safety of DAPL led protesters to begin demonstrations at Standing Rock in April, 2016. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe then sued the Army Corps in July, after the pipeline was granted most of the final permits over objections of three other federal agencies. Construction of it, they say, will "destroy our burial sites, prayer sites and culturally significant artifacts." A timeline of The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's litigation addressing DAPL through this period can be found on the EARTHJUSTICE website.
Photo by Derrick Broze/cc
In August, a group organized on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation called ReZpect Our Water brought a petition to the Army Corps in Washington, D.C. stating that DAPL interferes with their ancestral land and water rights. The Tribe sued for an injunction citing the endangerment of water and soil, cultural resources, and the improper use of eminent domain. The suit argued that the pipeline presents a risk to Sioux Tribe communities who live near or downstream of the pipeline. The Missouri River is the main water source for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. In September, members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe in North Dakota finally made headlines.
Federal Injunction
On September 9, District Judge James Boasberg denied the Standing Rock Sioux Tribes preliminary injunction request to prevent the Army Corps from granting the easement. The Judge ordered Dakota Access to stop work only on the section of pipeline nearest the Missouri river until the Army Corps granted the crossing easement. The excavation of Standing Rock burial grounds and other sacred sites, where direct action demonstrators were clashing with Dakota Access security and guard dogs, was allowed to continue. Later that same day, a joint statement was released by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Army:
"We request that the pipeline company voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20 miles east or west of Lake Oahe."
In the map above the 20-mile buffer zone is shown in light green. Regardless of the request from the three federal agencies to pause construction, Dakota Access's parent company Energy Transfer Partners LP ignored requests to voluntarily halt construction. Dakota Access LLC has also disregarded the instructions of the federal judge. The Army Corps declared Dakota Access LLC would not receive the easement required to cross the waterway until after 2016, but that has not stopped the company from pushing forward without the necessary permits. The pipeline has been built across all of Cannonball Ranch right up to Lake Oahe and the Missouri River, which can be seen in the map above and in drone footage taken November 2, 2016 showing the well pad for the drill rig has been built.
On November 4 the Army Corps requested Dakota Access LLC voluntarily halt construction for 30 days; then on November 8 (Election Day), Dakota Access ignored the request and announced they would begin horizontally drilling under the waterway within weeks. On November 14 Dakota Access filed a lawsuit against the Army Corps arguing that permits are not legally required. Later that day, the Army Corps responded with a statement that said any construction on or under Corps land bordering Lake Oahe cannot occur because the Army has not made a final decision on whether to grant an easement. In the issued statement, Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy said "in light of the history of the Great Sioux Nation's dispossession of lands [and] the importance of Lake Oahe to the Tribe," the Standing Rock Sioux tribe would be consulted to help develop a timetable for future construction plans. The Army Corps has since denied the easement entirely.
Violence Against Protesters
Law enforcement has used physical violence to disrupt demonstrations on public lands and to prevent direct action activities as protesters aim to shut down construction on private land held by Energy Transfer Partners LP. Since September 4, law enforcement agencies led by the Morton County Sheriff's Department have maintained jurisdiction over the protests. Officers from other counties and states have also been brought in to assist. Morton County and the State of North Dakota do not have the jurisdiction to evict protesters from the camps located on Army Corps land. Well over 500 activists have been arrested.
The majority of clashes with law enforcement have occurred on the roadways exiting the Army Corps lands, or at the access points to the privately owned Cannonball Ranch (shown on the map). Morton County has spent more than $8 million keeping direct action protesters from shutting down excavation and construction activities along the path of the pipeline. Meanwhile, the state of North Dakota has spent over $10 million on additional law enforcement officials to provide assistance to Morton County.
DAPL protests from video by UnicornRiot/cc
The first violent confrontation occurred on September 3 after Dakota Access bulldozed an area of Cannonball Ranch identified by the Tribe as a sacred site hosting burial grounds. At that time, the site was actively being contested in court and rulings still had not been made. The Tribe was seeking a restraining order, known as a "preliminary injunction" to protect their cultural heritage. Direct action demonstrators put themselves in the way of bulldozers to stop the destructive construction. In response, Dakota Access LLC security personnel assaulted protesters with pepper spray and attack dogs. The encounter was documented by Democracy Now reporter Amy Goodman.
October 27, the Morton County Sheriff's Department reinforced with 300 police from neighboring counties and states, raided the frontline camp site making mass arrests. In response, demonstrators reinforced a blockade of the 1806 bridge, shown in the map above. The most violent clash was witnessed on public lands on November 20, 2016 at this bridge, which demarcates Army Corps land. The Police forces' use of "non-lethal" bean bag rounds, rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper spray, water hoses, LRAD, and explosive flash grenades on peaceful demonstrators has been criticized by many groups. Fire hoses were used on protesters in freezing conditions resulting in dozens of demonstrators needing treatment for hypothermia. In total 300 people were injured according to a release from the standing rock medic and healer council.
Most recently, the Army Corps has targeted the Standing Rock Demonstration by determining that it is no longer safe to stay at the Sacred Stone and Oceti Sakowin camps located on Army Corps property. North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple has frequently blasted the Army Corps for not removing the protesters.
As of December 5th, federal authorities consider the protesters to be trespassing on federal lands, leaving protesters vulnerable to various citations and possible arrest. The Army Corps has also said that emergency services may no longer be provided in the evacuation area. The Army Corps has jurisdiction on Army Corps lands, and only federal authorities can remove the protesters from federal lands. There are now more than 5,000 activists demonstrating at Standing Rock, and an additional 2,000 U.S. veterans joined the protest this past week for an action of solidarity. Nevertheless, U.S. authorities have said that there are no plans to forcibly remove activists, despite telling them to leave.
Victory and an Uncertain Future
Perhaps as a result of this mass outcry, the Army Corps announced on December 4th—only a day before trespassing claims would be imposed—that Dakota Access LLC's permit application to cross under the Missouri River and Lake Oahe had been denied. Jo-Ellen Darcy, the Army's Assistant Secretary for Civil Works, announced:
"Although we have had continuing discussion and exchanges of new information with the Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access, it's clear that there's more work to do…The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing."
To determine alternate routes, the Army Corps has announced it will undertake an environmental impact statement which could take years to complete. While this is a major victory for the "water protectors" demonstrating at Standing Rock, it is not a complete victory. Following the Army Corps' announcement, the two main pipeline investors, Energy Transfer Partners LP and Sunoco Logistics, responded that they:
"…are fully committed to ensuring that this vital project is brought to completion and fully expect to complete construction of the pipeline without any additional rerouting in and around Lake Oahe. Nothing this Administration has done today changes that in any way."
In fact, prior to the Army Corps denying the easement, numerous democrats in congress called for President Obama to shut down the pipeline. While President Obama has not heeded these calls to shut down the project entirely, he also has not given the green light for the project either. Instead the President stated that the situation needed to be handled carefully and urged the Army Corps to consider rerouting the pipeline. "We're monitoring this closely and I think, as a general rule, my view is that there's a way for us to accommodate sacred lands of Native Americans…. I think right now the Army Corps is examining whether there are ways to reroute this pipeline," the President said.
The Corps decision to conduct a lengthy environmental impact statement is encouraging but, ultimately, the Trump administration may have the final say on the DAPL easement. President-elect Trump has voiced support for the easement in the past, and on December 5th, just one day following the Army Corps' decision, Trump spokesman Jason Miller commented:
"That's something we support construction of, and we will review the full situation in the White House and make an appropriate determination at that time."
Energy Transfer Partners LP CEO Kelcy Warren donated $103,000 to the Trump campaign and the President-elect has investments in Energy Transfer Partners LP totaling up to $1 million according to campaign financial disclosures. President-elect Trump has made it clear that pipeline projects, specifically the Keystone Access Pipeline rejected by President Obama, will be allowed to move forward along with additional fossil fuel extraction projects.
If the construction company, Dakota Access LLC, continues building the pipeline they are liable to be fined. It is not yet clear whether Dakota Access LLC will "eat" the fine to continue building and drilling, or whether the Army Corps will forcefully stop DAPL. Analysts say the expense of changing the route, such as to the south of the tribal lands, would make the economics of the pipeline a total loss. It is cheaper for Dakota Access LLC to continue to fight the protest despite overwhelming disapproval of the project.
Meanwhile, protestors have refused to leave Standing Rock in fear that the Army Corp will reverse its decision and allow DAPL to proceed, despite requests by the chairman of the Sioux Tribe that demonstrators go home. Many are hopeful that, by stalling the project past January 1st—the deadline by which Energy Transfer Partners LP promised oil companies it would complete construction—the possibility exists that contracts will expire and DAPL loses support from investors.
Other Mapping Resources
This web map shows the current construction progress of the pipeline.
The New York Times website is hosting a map focusing on the many water crossings of the pipeline route.
The Guardian has a static map on their website similar to our interactive map.
Header photograph by Joe Brusky/flickr/cc
https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/DAPL_header.jpg 400 900 Kyle Ferrar, MPH https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fractracker-Color-Logo.jpg Kyle Ferrar, MPH2016-12-10 16:52:482019-07-22 11:59:40The Dakota Access Pipeline: An Uncertain Future
Mariner East 2: At-Risk Schools and Populations
December 9, 2016 /10 Comments/in Articles, Environmental Justice, Health/Community, Pennsylvania, Pipelines /by FracTracker Alliance
with technical assistance from Seth Kovnant
In September, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) rejected a number of permits for wetland crossings and sedimentation control that were required for Sunoco Pipeline's proposed "Mariner East 2" pipeline. According to Sunoco, the proposed Mariner East 2 is a $2.5 billion, 350-mile-long pipeline that would be one of the largest pipeline construction projects in Pennsylvania's history.
If built, Mariner East 2 could transport up to 450,000 barrels (18,900,000 gallons) per day of propane, ethane, butane, and other liquefied hydrocarbons from the shale fields of western Pennsylvania to export terminals in Marcus Hook, located just outside Philadelphia. A second proposed pipeline, if constructed, could carry an additional 250,000 barrels (10,500,000 gallons) per day of these same materials. Sunoco submitted revised permit applications to PADEP on Tuesday, December 6th.
The industry often refers to ethane, propane and butane collectively as "natural gas liquids." They are classified by the federal government as "hazardous, highly volatile liquids," but that terminology is also misleading. These materials, which have not been transported through densely populated southeast Pennsylvania previously, are liquid only at very high pressure or extremely cold temperatures. At the normal atmospheric conditions experienced outside the pipeline, these materials volatilize into gas which is colorless; odorless; an asphyxiation hazard; heavier than air; and extremely flammable of explosive. This gas can travel downhill and downwind for long distances while remaining combustible. It can collect (and remain for long periods of time) in low-lying areas; and things as ordinary as a cell phone, a doorbell or a light switch are capable of providing an ignition source.
Many who have followed the proposed Mariner East 2 project note that, while much has been written about the likely environmental impacts, insufficient investigation has been conducted into safety risks to those who live, work and attend schools in the proposed pipeline's path. We address these risks in this article, and, in doing so, emphasize the importance of regulatory agencies allowing public comments on the project's resubmitted permit applications.
The Inherent Risks of Artificially Liquified Gas
Resident of Pennsylvania do not need to look far for examples of how pipeline accidents pose serious risk. For instance, the 2015 explosion of the Enterprise ATEX (Appalachia to Texas) pipeline near Follansbee, WV, provides a depiction of what a Mariner East 2 pipeline failure could look like. This 20-inch diameter pipeline carrying liquid ethane is similar in many ways to the proposed Mariner East 2. When it ruptured in rural West Virginia, close to the Pennsylvania border, it caused damage in an area that extended 2,000 feet—about ½ square mile—from the place where the pipeline failed.
In another recent instance, the Spectra Energy Texas Eastern methane natural gas pipeline ruptured in Salem, PA, this April as a result of corroded welding. The explosion, seen above (photo by PA NPR State Impact), completely destroyed a house 200ft. away. Another house, 800ft. away, sustained major damage and its owner received 3rd degree burns. These incidents are not unique. FracTracker's recent analysis found that there have been 4,215 pipeline incidents nation-wide since 2010, resulting in 100 reported fatalities, 470 injuries, and property damage exceeding $3.4 billion ("incident" is an industry term meaning "a pipeline failure or inadvertent release of its contents." It does not necessarily connote "a minor event").
Calculating Immediate Ignition Impact Zones
It is difficult to predict the blast radius for materials like ethane, propane and butane. Methane, while highly flammable or explosive, is lighter than air and so tends to disperse upon release into the atmosphere. Highly volatile liquids like ethane, propane and butane, on the other hand, tend to concentrate close to the ground and to spread laterally downwind. A large, dispersed vapor cloud of these materials may quickly spread great distances, even under very light wind conditions. A worst-case scenario would by highly variable since gas migration and dispersion is dependent on topography, leak characteristics, and atmospheric conditions. In this scenario, unignited gas would be allowed to migrate as an unignited vapor cloud for a couple miles before finding an ignition source that causes an explosion that encompasses the entire covered area tracing back to the leak source. Ordinary devices like light switches or cell phones can serve as an ignition source for the entire vapor cloud. One subject matter expert recently testified before a Municipal Zoning Hearing board that damage could be expected at a distance of three miles from the source of a large scale release.
The federal government's "potential impact radius" (PIR) formula, used for natural gas (methane) isn't directly applicable because of differences in the characteristics of the material. It may however be possible to quantify an Immediate Ignition Impact Zone. This represents the explosion radius that could occur if ignition occurs BEFORE the gas is able to migrate.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) provides instructions for calculating the PIR of a methane natural gas pipeline. The PIR estimates the range within which a potential failure could have significant impact on people or property. The PIR is established using the combustion energy and pipeline-specific fuel mass of methane to determine a blast radius: PIR = 0.69*sqrt(p*d^2). Where: PIR = Potential Impact Radius (in feet), p = maximum allowable operating pressure (in pounds per square inch), d = nominal pipeline diameter (in inches), and 0.69 is a constant applicable to natural gas
The Texas Eastern pipeline can use the PIR equation as-is since it carries methane natural gas. However, since Mariner East 2 is primarily carrying ethane, propane, and butane NGLs, the equation must be altered. Ethane, propane, butane, and methane have very similar combustion energies (about 50-55 MJ/kg). Therefore, the PIR equation can be updated for each NGL based on the mass density of the flow material as follows: PIR = 0.69*sqrt(r*p*d^2). Where: r = the density ratio of hydrocarbons with similar combustion energy to methane natural gas. At 1,440 psi, methane remains a gas with a mass density 5 times less than liquid ethane at the same pressure:
The methane density relationships for ethane, propane, and butane can be used to calculate an immediate-ignition blast radius for each hydrocarbon product. The below table shows the results assuming a Mariner East 2-sized 20-inch diameter pipe operating at Mariner East 2's 1,440psi maximum operating pressure:
Using these assumptions, the blast radius can be derived as a function of pressure for each hydrocarbon for the same 20in. diameter pipe:
ME2 Immediate Ignition Blast Radius
Note the sharp increase in blast radius for each natural gas liquid product. The pressure at which this sharp increase occurs corresponds with the critical pressure where each product transitions to a liquid state and becomes significantly denser, and in turn, contains more explosive power. These products will always be operated above their respective critical pressures when in transport, meaning their blast radius will be relatively constant, regardless of operating pressure.
Averaging the "Immediate Ignition Blast Radius" for ethane, propane, and butane gives us a 1,300 ft (about 0.25 mile) potential impact radius. However, we must recognize that this buffer represents a best case scenario in the event of a major pipeline accident.
Additional information on these calculations can be found in the Delaware County-based Middletown Coalition for Community Safety's written testimony to the Pennsylvania Legistlature.
Living near the Mariner East 2
FracTracker has created a new map of the Mariner East 2 pipeline using a highly-detailed GIS shapefile recently supplied by the DEP. On this map, we identify a 0.5 mile radius "buffer" from Mariner East 2's proposed route. We then located all public and private schools, environmental justice census tracts, and estimated number of people who live within this buffer in order to get a clearer picture of the pipeline's hidden risks.
Proposed Mariner East 2 and At-Risk Schools and Populations
Populations at Risk
In order to estimate the number of people who live within this 0.5 mile radius, we first identified census blocks that intersect the hazardous buffer. Second, we calculated the percentage of that census block's area that lies within the buffer. Finally, we used the ratio to determine the percentage of the block's population that lies within the buffer. In total, there are an estimated 105,419 people living within the proposed Mariner East 2's 0.5 mile radius impact zone. The totals for each of the 17 counties in Mariner East 2's trajectory can be found in the interactive map. The top five counties with the greatest number of at-risk residents are:
Chester County (31,632 residents in zone)
Delaware County (17,791 residents in zone)
Westmoreland County (11,183 residents in zone)
Cumberland County (10,498 residents in zone)
Berks County (7,644 residents in zone)
Environmental Justice Areas
Environmental justice designations are defined by the DEP as any census tract where 20% or more of the population lives in poverty and/or 30% or more of the population identifies as a minority. These numbers are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, last updated in 2010, and by the federal poverty guidelines. Mariner East 2 crosses through four environmental justice areas:
Census Tract 4064.02, Delaware County
Census Tract 125, Cambria County
Census Tract 8026, Westmoreland County
DEP policies promise enhanced public participation opportunities in environmental justice communities during permitting processes for large development projects. No additional public participation opportunities were provided to these communities. Furthermore, no public hearings were held whatsoever in Cambria County and Delaware County. The hearing held in Westmoreland County took place in Youngwood, nine miles away from Jeanette. Pipelines are not specified on the "trigger list" that determines what permits receive additional scrutiny, however the policy does allow for "opt-in permits" if the DEP believes they warrant special consideration. One would assume that a proposed pipeline project with the potential to affect the safety of tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians qualifies for additional attention.
At-Risk Schools
One of the most concerning aspects of our findings is the astounding number of schools in the path of Mariner East 2. Based on data obtained from the U.S. Department of Education on the locations of schools in Pennsylvania, a shocking 23 public (common core) schools and 17 private schools were found within Mariner East 2's 0.5 mile impact zone. In one instance, a school was discovered to be only 7 feet away from the pipeline's intended path. Students and staff at these schools have virtually no chance to exercise their only possible response to a large scale release of highly volatile liquids, which is immediate on-foot evacuation.
Middletown High School in Dauphin County in close proximity to ME2
One reason for the high number of at-risk schools is that Mariner East 2 is proposed to roughly follow the same right of way as an older pipeline built in the 1930s (now marketed by Sunoco as "Mariner East 1."). A great deal of development has occurred since that time, including many new neighborhoods, businesses and public buildings. It is worth noting that the U.S. Department of Education's data represents the center point of schools. In many cases, we found playgrounds and other school facilities were much closer to Mariner East 2, as can be seen in the above photograph. Also of note is the high percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch programs at these schools, suggesting that many are located in disproportionately poorer communities.
Click here to view a complete list of at-risk schools
Now that PADEP has received revised permit applications from Sunoco, presumably addressing September's long list of technical deficiencies, the agency will soon make a decision as to whether or not additional public participation is required before approving the project. Given the findings in our analysis, it should be clear that the public must have an extended opportunity to review and comment on the proposed Mariner East 2. In fact, public participation was extremely helpful to DEP in the initial review process, providing technical and contextual information.
It is, furthermore, imperative that investigations into the potential impacts of Mariner East 2 extend to assess the safety of nearby residents and students, particularly in marginalized communities. Thus far, no indication has been made by the DEP that this will be the case. However, the Pennsylvania Sierra Club has established a petition for residents to voice their desire for a public comment period and additional hearings.
Seth Kovnat is the chief structural engineer for an aerospace engineering firm in Southeastern PA, and regularly consults with regard to the proposed Mariner East 2 pipeline. In November, Seth's expertise in structural engineering and his extensive knowledge of piping and hazardous materials under pressure were instrumental in providing testimony at a Pennsylvania Senate and House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee discussion during the Pennsylvania Pipeline Infrastructure Citizens Panel. Seth serves on the board of Middletown Coalition for Community Safety and is a member of the Mariner East 2 Safety Advisory Committee for Middletown Township, PA. He is committed to demonstrating diligence in gathering, truth sourcing, and evaluating technical information in pipeline safety matters in order to provide data driven information-sharing on a community level.
NOTE: This article was modified on 12/9/16 at 4pm to provide additional clarification on how the 1,300ft PIR was calculated.
https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/ME2_schools_header.jpg 400 900 FracTracker Alliance https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fractracker-Color-Logo.jpg FracTracker Alliance2016-12-09 08:36:102019-07-19 06:43:59Mariner East 2: At-Risk Schools and Populations
Updated Pipeline Incident Analysis
November 23, 2016 /6 Comments/in Articles, Data and Analysis, National, Pipelines, States /by Matt Kelso, BA
By Matt Kelso, Manager of Data & Technology
As massive new pipeline projects continue to generate news, the existing midstream infrastructure that's hidden beneath our feet continues to be problematic on a daily basis. Since 2010, there have been 4,215 pipeline incidents resulting in 100 reported fatalities, 470 injuries, and property damage exceeding $3.4 billion.
Figure 1: Cumulative impacts pipeline incidents in the US. Data collected from PHMSA on November 4th, 2016. Operators are required to submit incident reports within 30 days.
In our previous analyses, pipeline incidents occurred at a rate of 1.6 per day nationwide, according to data from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Rates exceeding 1.9 incidents per day in 2014 and 2015 have brought the average rate up to 1.7 incidents per day. Incidents have been a bit less frequent in 2016, coming in at a rate of 1.43 incidents per day, or 1.59 if we roll results back to October 4th in order to capture all incidents that are reported within the mandatory 30 day window.
Figure 2: Pipeline incidents per day for years between 2010 and 2016. Incidents after October 4, 2016 may not be included in these figures.
These figures are the aggregation of three reports, namely natural gas transmission and gathering pipelines (828 incidents since 2010), natural gas distribution (736 incidents), and hazardous liquids (2,651 incidents). Not all of the hazardous liquids are petroleum related, but the vast majority are. 1,321 of the releases involved crude oil, and an additional 896 involved other liquid petroleum products, accounting for 84% of hazardous liquid incidents. The number could be higher, depending on the specific substances involved in the 399 highly volatile liquid (HVL) related incidents. The HVL category includes propane, butane, liquefied petroleum gases, ethylene, and propylene, as well as other volatile liquids that become gaseous at ambient conditions.
What is causing all of these pipeline incidents?
Figure 3: Cause of pipeline incidents for all reports received from January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2016.
Nonprofits, academics, and concerned citizens looking for accurate pipeline data will find that it is restricted, with the argument that releasing accurate pipeline data constitutes a threat to national security. This makes little sense for several reasons. First, with over 2.4 million miles of pipelines, they are nearly omnipresent. Additionally, similar data access restrictions only apply to midstream infrastructure such as pipelines and compressor stations, whereas the locations for wells, refineries, and power plants are all publicly available, despite the presence of the same volatile hydrocarbons at these facilities. Additionally, pipelines are purposefully marked with surface placards to help prevent unintentionally impacting the infrastructure.
In fact, a quick look at the causes of pipeline incidents reveal that it it much more dangerous to not know where the pipelines are located. In the "Other Incident Cause" category (Figure 3) there are 152 incidents that were caused by unsuspecting motor vehicles. When this is combined with incidents resulting from excavation damage, we have 558 cases where "not knowing" about the pipeline's location likely contributed to the failure. On the other hand, there are 14 incidents (only .003%) where the cause is identified as intentional. While even one case of tampering with pipeline infrastructure is unacceptable, PHMSA incident data indicate that obfuscated pipelines are 40 times more likely to cause a problem when compared to sabotage. Equipment failures and corrosion account for more than half of all incidents.
Where do these incidents occur?
PHMSA is not allowed to make accurate pipeline location data available for download, but such rules apparently do not apply to pipeline incidents. The following map shows the 4,215 pipeline releases since 2010, highlighting those that have resulted in injuries and fatalities.
Pipeline incidents in the US. Please zoom in to access specific incident data. To see the legend and other tools, Please click here.
Figure 4: Pipeline incidents by state for reports received 1/1/2010 through 11/4/2016.
While operators are required to submit the incident's location as a part of their report to PHMSA, data entry errors are common in the dataset. The FracTracker Alliance has been able to identify and correct a few of the higher profile errors, such as the February 9, 2011 explosion in Allentown, PA, the report for which had mangled the latitude and longitude values so badly that the incident was rendered in Greenland. Other errors persist in the dataset, however. Since 2010, pipeline incidents have occurred in Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and 49 states (the exception being Vermont). Ten states have at least 100 incidents apiece during the past six years (see Figure 4), and more than a quarter of all pipeline incidents in that time frame have occurred in Texas.
Which operators are responsible?
Figure 5: This table shows the ten operators with the most reported incidents, along with the length of their pipeline network.
Altogether, there are 521 pipeline operators with reported releases, although many of these are affiliated with one another in some fashion. For example, the top two results in Figure 5 are almost certainly both subsidiaries of Enterprise Products Partners, L.P.
The real outlier in Figure 5, in terms of incidents per 100 miles, is Kinder Morgan Liquid Terminals; LLC. However, this is one of ten or more companies that share the Kinder Morgan name when reporting pipeline inventories. When taken in aggregate, companies with the Kinder Morgan name accounted for 142 incidents over a reported 7,939 miles, for a rate of 1.8 incidents per 100 miles. It should be noted that this, along with all of the statistics in Figure 5, are entirely based on matching the operator name between the incident and inventory reports. Kinder Morgan's webpage boasts of 84,000 miles of pipelines in the US — there are numerous possible explanations for the discrepancy in pipeline length, including additional Kinder Morgan subsidiaries, as well as whether gathering lines that aren't considered to be mains are on both lists.
The operators responsible for the most deaths from pipeline incidents since 2010 include Pacific Gas & Electric (15), Washington Gas Light (9), and Consolidated Edison Co. of New York (8). Of course, the greatest variable in whether or not a pipeline explosion kills people or not is whether or not the incident happens in a populated location. In the course of this analysis, there were 230 explosions and 635 fires over 2,500 days, meaning that there is pipeline explosion somewhere in the United States every 11 days, on average, and a fire every fourth day. The fact that only 65 of the incidents resulted in fatalities indicates that we have been rather lucky with incidents in the midstream sector.
https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/pipeline_incidents_header3.jpg 400 900 Matt Kelso, BA https://www.fractracker.org/a5ej20sjfwe/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Fractracker-Color-Logo.jpg Matt Kelso, BA2016-11-23 15:49:212016-11-23 15:49:21Updated Pipeline Incident Analysis
FracTracker Alliance studies, maps, and communicates the risks of oil and gas development to protect our planet and support the renewable energy transformation.
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Data Statement


text:
Matwiga is an administrative ward in the Chunya district of the Mbeya Region of Tanzania. In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics report there were 9,852 people in the ward, from 8,939 in 2012.

Villages / vitongoji
The ward has 3 villages and 15 vitongoji.

 Matwiga
 Ilindi
 Konde
 Maendeleo
 Majengo
 Mlimani.
 Moyo
 Tankini
 Mazimbo
 Kiyombo
 Mavinge
 Mazimbo
 Isangawana
 Igomaa
 Isangawana A
 Isangawana B
 Mkange
 Mpakani

References

Wards of Mbeya Region

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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text:
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/McCain-Obama-tie-in-TV-ratings-3270573.php
McCain, Obama tie in TV ratings
Published 4:00 am PDT, Saturday, September 6, 2008
John McCain and Barack Obama finished in a dead heat in the contest for television viewers.
Nielsen Media Research said that 38.9 million people watched McCain accept the Republican presidential nomination on six commercial networks Thursday. PBS estimates its audience for McCain was 3.5 million, for a grand total of 42.4 million.
Last week, Obama's speech in Denver was seen by 38.4 million people on commercial networks and 4 million people on PBS, for the same total of 42.4 million.
An average of 34.5 million viewers watched the GOP convention over three days, while the Democrats had an average audience of 30.2 million over four days, Nielsen said.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
Kim Kardashian Asks Media, Public for 'Compassion' as Kanye West Lives With Bipolar Disorder
"Living with bipolar does not diminish or invalidate his dreams and his creative ideas," Kardashian says
Brian Welk | July 22, 2020 @ 9:13 AM	Last Updated: July 22, 2020 @ 9:43 AM
Roy Rochlin / Getty Images
Kim Kardashian is asking the media and the public for "compassion and empathy" for Kanye West as he lives with his bipolar disorder in a public spotlight.
Kardashian said that though she has never commented about how West's bipolar disorder has impacted their home life out of respect for West's privacy and the privacy of their children, she said in a statement to her Instagram Story Wednesday that it is important for her to address it because of the "stigma and misconceptions" about mental health.
"We as a society talk about giving grace to the issue of mental health as a whole, however we should also give it to individuals who are living with it in times when they need it most," Kardashian wrote. "I kindly ask that the media give us compassion and empathy that is needed so we can get through this. Thank you for those who have expressed concern for Kanye's well-being and your understanding."
She signed her statement as Kim Kardashian West.
Also Read: Kanye West Campaign Rally Leaves Attendees Stunned With His Bizarre Statements
Kardashian's statement comes after West's recent comments and actions have led fans and pundits concerned about his mental state to ask questions. West announced on July 4 that he would be running for president, and despite conflicting reports that he had already dropped out, West will appear on the presidential ballot in Oklahoma. He even gave a campaign rally in Charleston, South Carolina, that made headlines for his wide-ranging comments.
Kanye at one point in his rally broke down into tears as he discussed abortion and said that famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman "never actually freed the slaves, she just had them work for other white people."
Kardashian said that while she understands that West is subject to criticism as a public figure, she defended his genius and explained that the pain he feels from his bipolar disorder is compounded by him losing his mother and from being a Black man and artist.
Also Read: Kim Kardashian West to Co-Host Criminal Justice Podcast For Spotify
"Those who are close with Kanye know his heart and understand his words sometimes do not align with his intentions," Kardashian said. "Living with bipolar does not diminish or invalidate his dreams and his creative ideas, no matter how big or unattainable they may feel to some. That is part of his genius, and as we have all witnessed, many of his big dreams have come true."
West has also in recent days teased that a new album, "DONDA," will also be on the way as early as this week.
See Kardashian's full statement (via Yashar Ali) below:
Statement from @KimKardashian pic.twitter.com/W6On7i74lo
— Yashar Ali ???? (@yashar) July 22, 2020
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit nami.org.
Kanye's Presidential Run Draws Billionaires' Support - and Celebrity Eye Rolling
Kanye West decided to add to the surreality of 2020 by announcing on the Fourth of July that he's running an independent campaign to become President of the United States. While a couple of big names threw their support behind the "Jesus Is King" rapper, other celebs rolled their eyes. Here are some of the bigger reactions.
Elon Musk • The Tesla founder supported Andrew Yang during the 2020 Democratic primary, but enthusiastically switched his back to West, tweeting that the rapper had his "full support."
Mark Cuban • While the Dallas Mavericks owner and "Shark Tank" investor wasn't as full-throated in his support as Musk, he did have this to say when asked on Twitter if he would back West: "If there was Rank Choice voting available and [Kanye] was on the ballot with [Biden] and [Trump,] I would have [Kanye] ahead of [Trump]"
Rose McGowan • The actress-activist also likes the idea of a Kanye candidacy, but only as a spoiler for Trump. "I support this mission," she said in response, captioning a planet circling the sun and tagging West. In a subsequent tweet, she wrote, "Do you think Kanye's doing it to split votes or just be an anarchist?" she quipped.
Octavia Spencer • On the other hand, the "Shape of Water" actress wasn't having any of this. "Too much foolishness today," she tweeted. "It's obvious that some people live in a bubble. It's about time to burst it."
Producers Guild of America
Tiffany Haddish • Some actors took West's announcement as an opportunity to "declare" their candidacy as well. Sort of. "We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I too am running for president of the United States!" Haddish tweeted. And her running mate? Dave Chappelle.
Bob Saget • "Should I run for President too?" the "Full House" actor tweeted. "I don't much about anything."
Paris Hilton • The media personality and socialite had the same idea as Haddish and Saget, but Hilton even came up with a great hashtag. "#PresidentParis," she tweeted. "I like the sound of that. #ThatsHot #MakeAmericaHotAgain."
Billy Eichner • The "Billy of the Street" creator also got in on the big announcements. "Excited to announce I'm running for President....of SAG!!!!!" Eichner wrote. Gabrielle Carteris probably won't be happy about that.
Eric Balfour • "Do you guys think this is all a joke? That potentially pulling votes away from the only nominee who can defeat Donald Trump is cute or funny?" the "Charmed" actor tweeted. "This is the height of privilege, ultimately it won't hurt you, you're wealthy enough to survive 4 more years of Trump! Come the f--- on!"
Meghan McCain • "The View" cohost went all-in on West's fitness for the job. "There is no woman on planet earth, celebrity or private who could behave as unhinged and erratic as Kanye has the past few years & be taken seriously as a presidential candidate," McCain tweeted. "Women are punished for raising our voices on tv, let alone saying things like 'slavery was a choice.'"
Chaley Rose • And the Nashville singer got right to the point, tweeting, "The cherry on top of a shit year." So, how do you really feel Chaley?
Comedic actress Tiffany Haddish jokes, "I too am running for president of the United States!" Her running mate? Dave Chappelle
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Sense of people and places gives feeling of belonging
Church Notes by Christopher BrooksParishioner, Our Lady Start of the Sea Church, LowestoftHAVING researched and shared the story of Lowestoft evacuees and contributed to significant moments and anniversaries with other teachers in the life of three Lowestoft schools, where my teaching career was based, it seems somewhat satisfyingly appropriate to be involved in the organisation of the centenary celebrations of my old 'Alma Mater'.
Church Notes by Christopher Brooks
Parishioner, Our Lady Start of the Sea Church, Lowestoft
HAVING researched and shared the story of Lowestoft evacuees and contributed to significant moments and anniversaries with other teachers in the life of three Lowestoft schools, where my teaching career was based, it seems somewhat satisfyingly appropriate to be involved in the organisation of the centenary celebrations of my old 'Alma Mater'.
A particular milestone for the Denes High School is this centenary year of the foundation and opening of its premises at Yarmouth Road, firstly as the Lowestoft Municipal Secondary School in 1910, becoming the Lowestoft Grammar School in 1945, which I attended from 1955 to 1962, and with comprehensive education introduced in 1970 becoming the Denes High School.
Many have benefited from the education they received there from dedicated teachers, some of whom will be attending reunions to be held there later this month.
The premises have greatly altered during the years particularly since the last war and it has been my privilege and joy registering former secondary and grammar students who wish to come back to the Denes to meet once again and view the changes.
This sense of people and place where we live and have our roots - our homes, where we have decided to live and experience much of our being - give us a sense of ease, identity and belonging.
Lowestoft, I decided is where I belong and where I chose to work as a teacher, marry, bring up a family and establish friendly relationships through mutual interests with others.
I truly value the acceptance accorded to me amongst various communities and groups in the town and at various churches through my ecumenical involvement over the years with Christians Together and in my own church.
Will it always be thus? Do we readily acknowledge and can we ultimately achieve the promise of our heavenly home which awaits us in the life to come? If we believe Jesus is the son of God and that he died for each one of us personally so we could be saved, how could he not accept us? And how could we refuse him?
St Paul, quoting from the Prophet Isaiah in 1 Corinthians 2:9 says: 'But as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.'
It is the richest prize of all but we know we cannot get to heaven of our own accord having to rely absolutely on God's infinite mercy and love.
When Jesus was teaching the apostles after the last supper, Thomas the Apostle asked him: 'How can we know the way?' Jesus said to him: 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except by me.' (John 14: 5-6).
Surely then, to come home to God in heaven, we must turn to him and cooperate with his Holy Spirit, praying in faith that our sins will be forgiven and resolve to follow ever more closely the commands of life that Jesus, the son of God, came to teach.


You can learn in many ways: from books, lectures, and visual presentations. While these methods can be effective in acquiring knowledge about history or biology, in the "people business" there are no substitutes for direct interaction and firsthand experience.
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Mock interviews are relatively formal sessions where you will attempt to answer questions similar to those you will face during your medical school interviews. Your 'mock interviewer' can give you invaluable feedback about areas where you can improve your delivery, can point out idiosyncrasies in your speech or mannerisms which you may wish to eliminate, and can help you hone your answers to concise, informative responses.


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Certainly one of one of the most popular electrical wiring issues is on how to wire a switch. Even though making use of switches at your house is fairly effortless, wiring a person may well not be that easy for everyone. An ON-OFF switch is in fact quite simple to wire. There are various kinds of switches, but for this example, let's say you're putting in a single-pole toggle switch, a very widespread switch (as well as the easiest).
You will find three shades of wires within a standard single-pole toggle switch: black, white, and inexperienced. Splice the black wire in two and join them to the terminal screws - just one on major and the other on the base screw in the swap. The white wire serves to be a source of uninterrupted electrical power and is also commonly related to your gentle colored terminal screw (e.g., silver). Hook up the green wire on the ground screw within your change.
These actions would normally be sufficient for making an average change operate with out a issue. On the other hand, should you are not self-assured that you choose to can attain the activity effectively and safely and securely you better enable the professionals do it instead. Immediately after all, there is certainly a cause why this process has become the most typical electrical wiring inquiries questioned by the majority of people.
For many reason, the best way to wire a ceiling fan can be among by far the most prevalent electrical wiring queries. To simplify this process, you can utilize only one switch for any single ceiling fan. To wire the lover, it can be simply a issue of connecting the black wire of the ceiling fan into the black wire of the swap. If there is a light-weight, the blue wire needs to be linked into the black wire on the swap likewise.
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South Africa Horizon
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Empowering communities to be owners and managers of forestry resources
Posted on : September 2, 2022 By shadmin
Through the Forestry Masterplan, government hopes to attract an investment of around R24.9 billion in the sector and create more than 100 000 jobs within the five-year implementation period.
"The Forestry Masterplan seeks among others to empower communities to be owners and managers of forestry resources in the rural areas of South Africa.
"Furthermore, it intends to assist to optimise timber production by ensuring that beneficiaries receive post-settlement support and, where feasible, they are linked to a strategic partner," Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Makhotso Sotyu said on Thursday.
Addressing the launch of the National Arbor Month, Sotyu said to date about 6 000 jobs have been created and R11.5 billion has been invested mainly in down-stream processing industries.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), through a directive from the President, is leading the rollout of the Ten Million Trees Programme.
The aim is to plant at least two million trees countrywide each year for five years through a coordinated effort by government, non-government organisations, community-based organisations, the corporate sector and the general public.
In the first year of implementation, the coordinated effort saw the planting of 850 000 trees. Of this total number about 198 000 trees were planted by the public.
As part of the launch activities, the Deputy Minister planted trees at the Shabalala Secondary School and in a few homes in Shabalala Trust Village, in Hazyview, Mpumalanga.
"To heighten the Presidential Ten Million Trees programme, at least 7 000 trees will be planted in the Ehlanzeni District by the end of the Arbor Month 2022. This includes 3 000 in Mbombela and 1 000 in each for the other four municipalities in the district," Sotyu said.
Annually, the department in partnership with Total Energies South Africa celebrates National Arbor Month campaign from 1– 30 September.
The campaign is aimed at sensitising South Africans about the need to conserve, protect and plant trees for environmental and human related ideals.
National Arbor Month is being celebrated under the theme: "Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption."
Source: South Africa Government News Agency
shadmin News Reporter
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Science of Shame
By Ruth Ostrow on 13 November 2016 in Latest Life Articles
'Shame … is implicated in suicide and violence,' psychiatrist Ravi Chandra writes.
Twitter abuse and bullying – turn shame into humiliation
The Australian November 6, 2015
RUTH OSTROW
A few months ago, I was standing in a queue waiting to buy a sandwich. I was suddenly overcome with starvation and decided to sneak in at the side.
The woman beside me was very gentle. "I think you pushed in front of me," she said.
All eyes were on me. I did the thing we all do, I stammered out a stupid excuse: "I didn't realise, so sorry … Ummm, mild hypoglycaemia." (True; when my blood sugar drops I'll bite anything or anybody who stands between me and a cheese biscuit.)
But not the point — in that moment I felt a horrible shame. Shame feels like a hot burning sensation, heart rate increases, a drop in the stomach, a need to say "but". Shame is the emotion typified by my friend who got up in front of a prestigious group of corporate colleagues to speak for the first time and vomited on stage.
So what is this feeling? We all have it. The word derives from European words that mean: to cover, to veil, to hide from feeling exposed. It's linked to reputation and a desperate need to be publicly loved — hence safe and accepted in the community.
An audience is a prerequisite for shame, a real audience or make-believe. In other words, had I scored the sandwich unnoticed I would have felt guilt (as in sorry for the others waiting), but being caught gave me shame (self-worthlessness coming from a feeling of social disapproval; panic; I am bad and people know it).
But why do we feel it? Neuroscientists concur that shame has a biological function to alert us into avoiding social approbation. It's an instinct from tribal days where we learned to belong or else die in the wilderness.
US author and psychiatrist Stuart Brown says we learned the rules through watching faces and physical actions. Later, the development of language allowed for more complex shaming in the form of chastisement — overt, or covert by way of gossip, jokes, mockery, and theatre. It instilled fear of rejection.
Shame has its upside in that it helps us learn, according to John Bradshaw author of Healing the Shame that Binds You, but only in its non-toxic form. It can help children understand ego boundaries and limits so they don't get hurt or rejected, and they learn humility, adaptation, morality and how to relate to parents.
At its worse it's toxic and disempowering; it demeans, diminishes and can make someone want to commit suicide. Shame is our internal tape saying, "I'm never good enough", often from childhood and highly correlated with addiction, depression, violence, aggression, bullying, suicide and eating disorders, says Brene Brown, research professor at the University of Houston.
Brown, who studies vulnerability and shame, says it's the inner parent always at us even when there is no longer a need. "Shame is an epidemic in our culture," she says.
Enter the new world order of social media where we get publicly shamed for not fitting in. This has changed society as we know it.
In her new book Is Shame Necessary? New Uses for an Old Tool Jennifer Jacquet, professor of environmental studies at New York University, defends social media for this new phenomenon of public shaming, which many people feel has got out of control.
While many say cyberspace is the new walk of shame, the stocks and chains of ye olde days, Jacquet presents public shaming as a nonviolent form of resistance.
She argues that public shaming is crucial to social good. On her website, she names and shames Japan (for harpooning whales); governments that destroy the environment; banks; corporations that pollute; animal cruelty; overfishing; and Cecil the Lion's killer.
Jacquet maintains human rights groups have long "named and shamed" torturers and dictators, rallying public opinion to punish perpetrators who formerly have escaped.
She quotes a line from Andrei Tarkovsky's film Solaris: "Shame. The feeling that will save mankind."
But there's a flip side. People are deemed guilty and don't even get the chance to prove their innocence before being punished.
As a result there is revenge porn, slander, body shaming and young people killing themselves. Careers have been ruined, people stalked and tormented. This is not true democracy. In many instances the maliciousness is silencing democracy through the fascism of political correctness, being as intolerant as the intolerance it is supposed to be quelling.
You can't just call someone a paedophile. But a few weeks ago a man who calls himself a "daggy dad" was photographed by a misguided mum who thought he'd been taking photos of her young kids. She put his photo on Facebook calling the man a "creep" and encouraged her friends to share her post to alert parents of this potential deviant. The post went viral. The man — a father himself — was trying to take his first selfie in front of a Darth Vader cut-out to send to his kids. Where was his right to a fair trial?
Social media makes us all bullies, according to Monica Lewinsky, the best-known face of public shaming for her dalliance with US president Bill Clinton during the 1990s when she was a White House intern.
"We lose context for a story, but mainly we lose context for a person," she writes in the Huffington Post. "This is someone's daughter. This is someone's sister." A person copping online abuse just may have a different sense of humour or life view or way of articulating themselves, she says.
Some commentators on the Psychology Today website are calling cyber-shaming abuse without legal regulation as to whether the punishment fits the crime. It's often just another form of mob mentality and barbarism. But why? Perhaps to help us avoid shame by being part of "the tribe" who is doing the shaming.
I see cyberspace as the new religion, the perceived wrongdoers as Christians in the Colosseum and Twitter, Facebook and others as the lions.
Have we ever changed from our historical tribal mentality of being right and the other religion, race or philosophy wrong? Some say it's schadenfreude; wanting to see people brought down, a stoning of the "other". The use of shaming has always been a double-edged sword from the word go.
While acknowledging Jacquet's point of view, Welsh journalist and filmmaker Jon Ronson, in his new book, So You've Been Publicly Shamed, explores how the internet exacerbates this facet of human nature, saying it has become terrifying especially since it's playing into the old bigot-style stereotyping, of needing to dehumanise the people we hurt to feel better.
Ronson questioned the social tirade against Justine Sacco, who was publicly shamed, then sacked for a tweet she wrote in 2013: "Going to Africa. Hope I don't get AIDS. Just kidding. I'm white!" Ronson suggested we at least ponder that she was parodying the situation, and that Sacco's treatment was unfair. He was thereafter called a "white supremacist" on Twitter.
Ronson alludes to tweeters as "a pitchfork mob", "the hanging judge". Twitter users have "taken a lot of scalps", he writes. "We were soldiers making war on other people's flaws."
Psychiatrist Ravi Chandra on the Psychology Today website calls it shaming the world into shape — but whose idea of shape?
"Shame itself is a horrible, pernicious, shapeshifting emotion implicated in suicide and violence," Chandra writes. "Pronouncing someone (or oneself) as unworthy or unacceptable, separating from the experience of belonging — these are probably the worst punishments possible for social animals." He asks whether such behaviour is a call to conscience or mob madness. In my opinion this is the most pertinent question of our century.
Reader comments on this site are moderated before publication to promote lively and civil debate. We encourage your comments but submitting one does not guarantee publication. We publish hundreds of comments daily, and if a comment is rejected it is likely because it does not meet with our comment guidelines, which you can read here. No correspondence will be entered into if a comment is declined.
19 COMMENTS REPUBLISHED FROM THE AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER
17 people listening
NEWEST | OLDEST | TOP COMMENTS
Lo NOV 8, 2015
So Ms Sacco preferred to shame people who were not white. And really, if you've done nothing to be ashamed of you can't be shamed.
FLAGSHARE
LIKEREPLY
Felicity NOV 6, 2015
A pity you didn't realise before your selfish behaviour that it was shameful.
1 LIKEREPLY
Michael NOV 6, 2015
A good overview shame. However, Ruth does not mention the cross-cultural implications of shame, for example, the Chinese wish to "save face", which may lead to poor decision-making. Many collectivist societies (for example, in the Middle East) are also strongly bound by the related concept of honour / dishonour, which is often the source of violence when a person feels shame when their honour is called into question.
John NOV 6, 2015
I have yet to make use of Twitter, I frequently hear it is something of a cesspit of ill-tempered popinjays. Facebook is the only form of branded social media I have made use of to date. While I have not observed an immense amount of shaming behaviour in this forum, I have to say there appears to be a lot of assumed virtue and self-righteousness on parade. Any attempt by myself to push back against someone's strutting and preening usually results in some pretty acrid abuse.
PAUL NOV 6, 2015
To feel shame you actually have to care about others opinion of you. I am in my sixties, don't have to go to work, and apart from my wife and children I don't really know anyone in Australia. There could be an internet social media campaign against me and I probably would not even be aware of it. There really is not much of a sense of shared community in Australia as everybody seems to be from somewhere else and have their own world view and values and as such shame is probably not what it used to be in more cohesive times. However, I was bought up a good Catholic boy and as such am kept in check by my overdeveloped conscience! All the best .Paul
Ian NOV 6, 2015
Jokes should be illegal. Any political views other than those of the far green-left should be banned. I am more virtuous than you because I say morally superior things, while doing nothing, and don't give a damn about unintended consequences.
From average Twitter user.
Kristina NOV 6, 2015
Thank you for a more balanced view of shame than I've read in a while. Shame itself is a normal human emotion, and as such is neither good nor bad. It gives us information. It's how we interpret it and receive it that makes the difference. At its best, shame can help us meet our need for belonging and co-create societies we can be proud of. At its worst, interpreted maladaptively, it can lead to violence towards oneself or others. In my work, primarily with abuse survivors, I find it helpful to use this complete definition of shame, from cognitive scientist Charles M. Jones:
Shame arises
when I am committed
to personifying an ideal
for a role that I play
in a group I belong to
and I'm failing to do so.
With care,
Kristina (aka The Shame Lady)
Watching NOV 6, 2015
Don't worry, when you get to 60 nothing much can shame you.
Let's hope we don't shame ourselves into another dark age.
maree NOV 6, 2015
You are overthinking the shame idea, Ruth.
People who beat up on themselves about what they imagine other people think about them are not in a healthy mental place.
It's better to back oneself and have confidence in one's own choices, instead of second-guessing.
Matt NOV 6, 2015
@maree
Maree, You have no idea of the debilitating effects of panic attacks. I have experienced them myself for a decade. Rather than a glib 'you're overthinking', try a dose of empathy. Mental illness is real.
Mark NOV 8, 2015
Re-read Maree's comment Matt it's 100% correct and your acknowledgement of a mental health condition further endorses it.
Read it again and take something positive from it
Peter NOV 6, 2015
It must be well and truly wired into us because all reality TV involves public humiliation and look how popular it is.
Andrew NOV 6, 2015
I have noticed that female counter staff are more cluey than males as to whom should be served first.
The males tend to assume that a female customer should have priority.
The Other Andrew.
@Andrew That used to be called chivalry.
I'm talking about good manners. E.g.,holding a door open, letting someone exit before you enter.
To be practiced by both sexes all ages, allowing for age and disability.
Ok – a bit of chivalry.
The Other Andrew
Yes, why is it that so many women think that it is ok to push in front of a man in a queue?
I suppose they do it to other women as well.
Darryl NOV 6, 2015
My vote is that it is skewed towards mob madness.
Break lifelong bad habits
Tread carefully