Category: Environment


TGIF- Trans Mountain detailed route hearings.

Filed under: Environment, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 24, 2020
Pipe for oil field File:Photo KDG

The Trans mountain project is involved in detailed route hearings at this writing and as of April 21st 2020 Are not relying on oral depositions:

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) is making procedural changes to the remaining detailed route hearings for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The oral portions will be replaced with alternate forms, not requiring in-person attendance.

Source TM today

There are 22 active detailed route hearing to deal with, they are in south weestern BC from Merritt to Burnaby.

On this Day: April 24th 1913

New York opens its Woolworth building.


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Spring ahead!

Filed under: Environment, Technology, time change by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 5, 2020
Eagle eyes Looking for spring File Photo KDG

The clocks go ahead an hour on Sunday at 2AM. Spring is coming.

On this Day: March 5th 1872

The air brake is patented.

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Fortis BC Clean Energy vision. UBCM

Filed under: Environment, Government Works, Industrial projects, Population, Public health by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
November 28, 2019
Get used to it …

The committee on climate action met on November 13th. This was their third meeting. The group included BC Hydro with an interest in advancing their step code.

Step code

FortisBC also presented its Clean Energy Vision, and highlighted the different low carbon pathways that could be taken to achieve provincial emission reduction targets. 

The Committee reviewed and discussed Committee member submissions on key local government pathways for reducing emissions and for achieving a maximum 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius global temperature rise. The submissions focused on buildings, transportation, energy systems, waste management, land use planning, natural assets, and carbon sequestration. Committee deliberations addressed both the barriers to successfully implementing these pathways, as well as the factors that would ensure their successful adoption. The Committee will continue to explore mitigation pathways and extend this to issues related to adaptation at its next meeting in December.

Another view from Merritt…

Not a good alternative unless for waste.

Peter Clark professor emeritus U of Calgary Chemistry in Merritt ” The Earth will be a dead planet in 80 million years.” November 13-20-27th

Peter gave the last of three talks on the energy needs of humankind and its ability to switch to alternatives in energy from fossil fuels. The pessimistic facts based talks dismissed many alternatives as political and we would use all fossil fuels with in the next few hundred years. He said carbon, phosphorous , ammonia etc is an crucial element to life on earth as fertilizer as well as energy. They are needed to support populations. ” In 80 million years the earth will be a dead planet with all its carbon locked up in limestone.” No reasonable escape to Space”

Population impact lessened by old age.

Peter estimated that if world followed Japans example of a population of 30 percent old people then crisis would be managed better. Material prosperity is also having a positive impact on smaller families in many countries.

On this Day: November 28th 1895

The first American auto race.

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Warmer Wetter Winter: NOAA US

Filed under: -Photography, Environment, Space by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 24, 2019

Large swings in temperature.

Arctic oscilation will drive swings in temperature regardless of El Nino or La Nina.

AO to you and its predictability is limited to a weeks.

Drought improvement in southeast US.

Flooding this last year lends to drought relief in some areas combined with AO.

Cold winter for Canada : Farmers Almanac.

Calculations based on the Canadian Farmers’ Almanac’s time-tested formula suggest that the winter of 2018-2019 will be a “teeth-chattering” cold one, with below-normal temperatures forecast for much of the country.

When it comes it can be something to manage File photo KDG

On this Day: October 24th 1946

The first photography from space.

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Hunt is On?

Filed under: Environment, Fauna by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 15, 2019
Deer is where you find them, but are they in season, no firearms in municipal boundaries, etc File photo KDG

The hunt is on this fall for game in BC. The season can change in season and be lawful so check for updates online. We are in Region 3 BC here in Merritt.

deer,four point
Four point mule deer outside Ponderosa sport in Merritt, BC File photo KDG

Be safe and alive.

BC hunting and trapping

On this Day: October 15th 1989

Wayne Gretzky shattered the NHL scoring record.

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Trans Mountain hiring…

Filed under: Climate, Driving, Enterprize, Environment, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 10, 2019
Pipe for oil field File:Photo KDG

4200 workers

The expansion project is following up on its notification to its contractors to gear up for the expansion that it issued in August. Fully expecting to get approvals on remaining permits and authorities they expect to be hiring about 4200 people in a phased project timeline.

Trans Mountain remains committed to prioritizing and maximizing Indigenous, local and regional hiring to the greatest extent possible. Hiring by prime contractors is underway, with approximately 4,200 workers expected to be employed in various communities along the corridor in the fourth quarter of 2019. 

Source Trans Mountain news.

Presumed offset

A broken sign was a distraction a few years ago, the station has recently installed quick chargers ( yet to be opened).

Petro Canada has installed quick chargers a the local outlet of Belshaw avenue in Merritt and is committed to a national highway of chargers,

On this Day: October 10th 1957

An atomic accident grips the UK.

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TGIF- World Climate Strike…

Filed under: Environment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
September 20, 2019
The sun west of Merritt, Red from smoke, of the 2017 fire season in the Sothern interior of BC File Photo KDG

The Swedish wonder kid come sailor and activist is one of the Icons being promoted today in a world moment for climate action. Greta Thunberg and other youth, more that a million school kids off in New York are busy pressing their point today as a world wide effort.

150 countries

A hundred and fifty countries are engaged in in todays strike for climate action. The goal is fossil fuels awareness and coal and oil the center of opinion.

Childhood stress an issue

Children are being reported as under stress over climate issues and today may be a peaceful empowerment.

Impact large

Just the New York School District has 1700 schools with a 25 billion dollar budget. Add that to 150 countries their is impact.

Teacher not participating.

The fact that adults are obligated to be responsible and kids should feel secure in a responsible world makes for the abstaining by school teachers…

On this Day: September 20th 1977

Viet Nam becomes member nation of the UN.

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Price penetration, beyond meat…

Filed under: Environment, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 20, 2019

The A&W has its beyond meat teen burger on for $3.99 until September 8th. The meat substitute is being sold in part as an environmental prerogative. ” It saves the double effort of raising grass then feeding it to cows top make meat. ” The meat patties look and taste similar to hamburger and has a number protein plant based additives.

Hay that pays, hey, twice the claim on the earth File Photo KDG

A mix of nuts, fruits, and plant protein.

The restaurant chain has an ” Ingredient guarantee.” The burger sells regular for $6.99. Available in Merritt until September 8th: Source Christine

A&W Beyond Meat

On this Day: August 20th 1975

Viking 1 is off to Mars.

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Trees planted…

Filed under: Environment, Flora, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 13, 2019
These trees didn’t grow.. Voght park, Merritt BC
File photo.

Carbon planet

All that is planted does not grow. However look at this from TD Bank.

Continuing to grow and enhance green spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Supporting the transition to a low carbon economy – with a CAD $100 billion target in low-carbon lending, financing, asset management and other programs by 2030.

Vibrant Planet

Carbon neutral bank

TD claims carbon neutral since 2010 in its operations. One of its mission statements is to ” develop colleagues and act with resect” Something that seems missing in the present social political climate.

Trying not failure

Even though the trees above failed to take effort always leaves a legacy of knowledge!

Canadian Chartered banks excellent.

The chartered bank system in Canada was in the forefront of the survival of the world banking system in the collapse of many large investment banks at the start of the great recession in the decade after the millennium turning. Lets hope they can be as productive in the carbon conflict.

Good luck.

Ethiopa Plants 350 million trees.

Ethiopians planted more than 350,000 trees in just 12 hours on Monday, the country’s minister of innovation and technology announced on Twitter. The mass-tree planting not only helps the environment, it sets a world record, the Associated Press reported.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed created the initiative to help restore Ethiopia’s landscape, which experts say is being eroded by deforestation and climate change, the AP reported.

CBS News

They had help from UN and government but its a good start.

On this Day: August 13th 1913

The first production of UK stainless steel.

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Plastics up date. Input asked for.

Filed under: Environment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 6, 2019
Garbage system seems operator friendly File Photo KDG
Nicola River. Merritt BC…. have a great summer one and all

The provincal government is asking for input on plastic use and regulations, they are interested in views on banning single use plastic for packaging, reducing plastic in the seaways and landfills, increasing deposits and putting them on more items ,and reducing plastic waste overall.

Plastics

Editors Note: Everyone can do something and if everyone does maybe less government intervention. How about New Years or other celebrations keeping the balloons from getting away, maybe using clips instead of tying so they can be reused. 7.5 billion birthdays at 2.5 balloons could by great funerals for all the people killed in a year from falling coconuts. KDG

On this Day: August 6th 1942

U-210 is sunk by the Canadian Navy.

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Conserve electricity some ones watching…

Filed under: Environment, Holidays by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 5, 2019
This hawk seems relaxed around electrical fixtures. File Photo KDG

The power company has some advice about saving power this summer:

  • Shade your windows.
  • Use and air conditioner on low settings ( 25 degrees )
  • Turn ceiling fans to drive air down to the floor.
  • Take cooking out side.
  • Air dry laundry
More

There are Beat the heat signs on many local business place at this time, ask!

On this Day: June 5th 1995

BEC is established. (Bose–Einstein condensate)

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Contaminated sites board rep wanted…

Filed under: Environment by percypaschal — Leave a comment
April 25, 2019

The provincial environment ministry is CALLING for a rep on it’s12 member board to deal with contaminated sites in BC. With a May 8th deadline the professional is to show expression of interest in the position. The CSAP Society has 4 appointed ministry reps and one lay rep the remaining are professionals. Meeting Wednesdays in the AM, the position is for 2 years with an option for 4.

Old buildings can be a source of contamination and can become a difficulty when disturbed. Hydro poles can be preserved with toxic chemicals. At this writing a pole is being replaced by Hydro in front of the Desert Inn on Voght street. A worker said he takes material to a environment lab in Kamloops for assessment. Other sources may be old gasoline stations, tanneries, industrial sites, mines etc.

Our electrical system depends on wood utility poles. We want them to be strong and stable to keep you safe and to reduce the number of outages caused by pole failures.
We regularly inspect the wood poles used in both the transmission and distribution of electricity throughout B.C. Our inspectors look for signs of damage from insects and birds, and for evidence of rot. When necessary, we use pesticides and wood preservatives to treat poles.
Untreated poles can last for about 30 years. A pole treated with wood preservatives can last up to 70 years.

BC Hydro

Private poles on private land may be a mixed bag of liability. CSAP works with stakeholders to ensure that professionals in this area are on the same page. Genics incorporated is one responsible for a number of preservatives applications and their toxicity. Genics Inc. 561 Acheson Rd. 53016 Hwy 60 Acheson, AB T7X 5A7 Phone: (780) 962-1000 Fax: (780) 926-1052 BC Hydro posts its warning on its site.

CSAP

CSAP

On this Day: April 25th 1901

The first US licence plates for cars.

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