On this date in history, President Nixon, yes that one, approved construction of the Alaskan Oil Pipeline.
Through a bit of serendipity and coincidence, I actually got to see some of the pipeline project while under construction when I had the unique experience -- unique, for me -- of flying into Prudhoe Bay in a different life. The wildlife loved the warmth of the pipeline. Smile.
I don't have any problem with some folks wanting the Keystone XL pipeline to avoid the Sandhills. I just found it incredible that "they" couldn't come up with a solution, allowing the permit to be issued.
Polar.
Prudhoe Bay. Polar.
Sandhills. Polarizing.
Oh, the first act in the Senate after the election: allowing 42 (or whatever it was) polar bear carcasses to be shipped from Canada back to the continental states. The polar bears were shot in 2008 when it was still legal to shoot this species endangered by the global warmth, something Mr Gore had been warning us about since 1992. From the AP, via Hot Air:
In its first roll call since September, the Senate voted 92-5 on Tuesday to debate a bill to ease restrictions on hunters and fishermen and allow 41 U.S. hunters to bring home polar bear carcasses trapped in Canada due to a ban on trophy imports. …
The idea was that the bill would pass easily post-election. Reid said it was “one of the most popular bills” the Senate had considered in the last session. …
Tester’s bill combines 19 measures favorable to outdoorsmen. In addition to dealing with the polar bear hides, it would allow more hunting and fishing on federal lands, let bow hunters cross federal land where hunting isn’t allowed, encourage federal land agencies to cooperate with state and local authorities to maintain shooting ranges, exclude ammunition and tackle from federal environmental laws that regulate lead, boost fish populations and protect animal habitat. A similar bill passed in the House earlier this year.I can't make this stuff up.
Oh, but there's more. Scientists say the polar bear is doing just fine (well, the polar bears that are still alive, not the 42 polar bears that are now carcasses): they are increasing in number.
What a great country.
I have to give Nixon credit for his support of the Alyeska Pipeline. The whole Prudhoe Bay oil field development was vehemently opposed by the radical environmentalist since it's discovery in the 1960s. It took till 1973 for it to be approved, after the 1972 election by the way.
ReplyDeleteMaybe just maybe this could happen to the Keystone XL pipeline "after the election"? I'm not holding out a lot of hope.
Meanwhile the age of instant construction in Alexander, ND
The Shut Eye Hotel in Alexander will be done in 90 days rather than the typical hotel construction period.
http://bismarcktribune.com/business/local/companies-developing-quick-construction-concept-for-oil-field-hotel/article_ccffe7ee-301b-11e2-8148-0019bb2963f4.html
And that's the reason I love to blog and put up way too much non-Bakken stuff; one never knows where it will lead. Thank you for the note about the Alyeska pipeline. I had long forgotten the "official" name, I guess.
DeleteI will post the the above line in a few minutes. Thank you.