Vote Gibbons Out! Jim Gibbons is America's Worst Governor!

Will You Take Arsenic With Your Mercury?

No doubt everybody's breathing a sigh of relief over the news that Nevada's reduced its emission of toxic crap by 10%!

Those of us who can still breathe, anyways.

Which probably is fewer than you'd think given that Nevada still leads the nation in mercury emissions, thanks to the foreign conglomerates here stealing our precious metals without much return for the natives. (RJ) That's not counting the nifty shimmery lining along the insides of your lungs. Or the bitter almond taste of arsenic in our food and water. Mmm. Almonds.

Surely the Nevada Commission of Tourism can work that into their public relations literature some way. After the AG bungled the case against Mr. Krolicki, I'm sure he's anxious for new projects like that. That'll bring in those California businesses.

Top Five Mercury Emitters:

• Barrick Goldstrike Mines: 1.8 Million lbs.
• Newmont Mining - Carlin North: 1.3 Million Lbs.
• Newmont Mining - Twin Creeks: 1.2 Million Lbs.
• Newmont Mining: Carlin South: 0.4 Million Lbs.
• Ruby Hill Mine: 0.3 Million Lbs.

From 2008 TRI Summary, part B.

Let's not forget all those years, and years, and years when it was Jim Gibbons attacking the EPA for daring to report on metal emissions from Nevada mines. Sniff! surely we deserve four more years of that?

Ooo. Fun sites to visit!

• EPA: Toxic Release Data for States
• Over five million pounds of mercury in Nevada!
• Over 55 million pounds of arsenic!

Methylating Elko

Thanks to a comment from NVMojo which led me to an interesting link about Idaho and Nevada Reservoirs:

Fish tissue samples taken from rainbow trout collected from four Idaho and Nevada reservoirs revealed elevated concentrations of methylmercury, according to data released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. The Tribes and USGS collaborated on and jointly funded the study. The tissue samples were analyzed at the USGS Mercury Research Laboratory in Middleton, WI

“The concentrations found were generally elevated for rainbow trout,” said Terry Maret, the USGS scientist who directed the sampling. Maret referred to a study conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which found that the average mercury concentration in rainbow trout across the United States was about 0.11 parts per million (ppm), wet weight. “About 70% of the fish filets analyzed were above this,” he said. (DesUSA)

Although results from the Nevada site at the Wildhorse reservoir, near Elko, were not analyzed, fish from the Idaho sites had enough mercury in them that the USGS recommended that pregnant women and children avoid eating large amounts. Why? Because mercury will trash kids' brains.

But, where, oh, where does it come from?

Methylmercury is the most toxic form of mercury, and methylmercury contamination is an issue of concern in the intermountain West. Mining operations, coal-fired power plants, and other sources emit inorganic mercury to the atmosphere. Inorganic mercury is converted to methylmercury, an organic form, by anaerobic organisms living in water, sediments, and soils. Several other Idaho fisheries have been found to contain unsafe levels of methylmercury. “Reservoirs and wetlands offer an environment favorable to methylation of mercury,” said Maret.

Gee, I hope Mercury Jim enjoys the fishing near his new $575,000 home in Elko. Just don't eat 'em cuz it will degrade cognitive function.... Huh. I wonder if we'd be able to tell the difference?

Reducing Mercury Emissions Like Pulling Teeth

Mercury Jim's favorite brain-cell destroying heavy metal is showing up in a rather unexpected place: the smokestacks of crematoriums.  The Boston Globe reports that the mercury-laced dental fillings of the dead are vaporized in the furnaces of crematoriums and seep out their smokestacks. The emissions account for only 1 percent of mercury emissions in the U.S., but in England, where everyone wants to go out like a Viking, it seems, burned bodies make up 16 percent of their mercury emissions. In Nevada, 2/3rds of dead people prefer cremation.

Crematoriums can reduce the emissions by putting scrubbers on their smokestacks just like the coal-fired power plants, or by pulling the teeth.

Now there's an idea. You could use the fillings to make CFL's!

Hey Kids! Aren't you glad Santa didn't leave you any CCW's: Coal Combustion Wastes?

Each year, power plants in the U.S. collectively kick out enough of this stuff to fill a train of coal cars stretching from Manhattan to Los Angeles and back three and a half times. It's stored in lagoons next to power plants, buried in old coal mines and sometimes just piled up in the open. It is the largest waste stream of most power plants, and a recently released study by the Environmental Protection Agency found that people exposed to it have a much higher than average risk of getting cancer. Yet the federal government refuses to classify the waste as hazardous, and has dragged its feet on creating any nationally enforceable standards. And with new attention focused on coal power's impacts on the air, this great big problem may get worse, and continue to be ignored. (HCN)

Wow. Just wait til Utahns start sending that stuff to Coal Miner Jim. 

Stupid Utahns: Why Don't They Just Move?

More news from Utah about more fish you'd better not eat cuz they're full of mercury. (SLTrib)

Don't like eating poisonous fish, silly Utahns? Well, just you wait until we get those Ely coal-fired plants spewing out more mercury. Why, them fish'll be oozing the stuff.

And if you don't like it, silly Utahns, why don't you just move your state someplace else, far from us short-sighted self-destructive Nevadans?

Governor, There's Fly Ash in My Soup!

Oh, coal is so clean, clean, clean! You see, even if you try to capture the nastiness coming out of those coall-fired plant smoke stacks, nastiness they call "fly ash," well, you just dump that crud in a pond and you're done! Problem is, all the nastiness in the fly ash leaches out and contaminates every thing! (The News-Herald) Yup, there's even mercury in the fly ash for the fish to eat, which can cause brain damage in our kids when they eat the fish or nurse from their fish-eating mothers!

Ooo. The Reid Gardner coal-fired plant just northeast of Vegas has a "baghouse" to capture fly ash, and a lovely landfill to dispose of the "non-hazardous" material. Don't worry! They have plans to move it farther away from residents and the Truckee! And in the future, you'll be able to buy concrete made of the stuff. Just don't lick it, okay?

Hey Kids! Nevada Power calls fly ash "non-hazardous" on their very own double-speak site! War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Coal is Clean. And you think our pal Sherm will like Ely as much when it's inside a coal-ladened cloud? Tell the grandkids to hold their breath next time you're up that way, Sherm!

Legislature Restricts Mercury: John Edwards Mildly Against Coal-Fired Plants

All parties, including the Nevada Conservation League and the Great Basin Mining Watch, are behind AB 115 which would require more monitoring of the mercury Nevada mines can spew. (NA, RGJ, AP) State Assemblyperson Sheila Leslie had to drop a provision requiring mines to cut mercury emissions by 25% before 2012 because our Mining Overlords threatened to kill the bill otherwise.

You know, I think there is a special spot in Hell for our Mining Overlords where they'll be force fed mercury-laden Nevada Fish and Utah fowl for all eternity. Thems good eatin'.

According to the AP story, some of the poisoned testified: "The proposal also was endorsed by Leonard Hawk and John Malden, who both testified that they were suffering from mercury poisoning from eating fish."

And you know why Russ Fields, weyoun for the the Nevada Mining Association, can say that Nevada's mercury emissions programs are "unique and probably the best in the nation?" Because our Governor, lest we forget, helped dilute federal attempts to restrict mercury emissions when back East playing vorta for the Miners. (Seed)

John Edwards has come out against coal-fired plants. Sorta, anyways:

John Edwards has outlined an aggressive plan to use energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy to reduce American reliance on foreign oil and cut greenhouse gas pollution. However, because coal will play a major role in meeting U.S. and worldwide energy needs for decades to come, Edwards believes that the U.S. must take the lead in finding ways to use coal without warming the planet. He will:

• Ban the Construction of Coal Plants that Cannot Capture Carbon: Edwards will require that all new coal-fired plants be built with technology needed to capture carbon dioxide emissions. Plants can use integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology or other effective approaches. As a result, the plants built today will be able to permanently and safely store their carbon emissions tomorrow. In addition, Edwards will explore ways to address the carbon dioxide emitted by current power plants.
• Make a Historic Commitment to Safe Carbon Storage: Although the underground storage of carbon dioxide holds great promise, more research and experience is needed in large-scale projects. By investing $1 billion a year from his New Energy Economy Fund, Edwards will accelerate the technology's progress and reduce its cost. He will test at least three large-scale efforts to capture, transport, and store carbon dioxide. He will also provide clarity for businesses by setting rules for capturing, transporting and storing carbon dioxide. (Campaign Site)

So at least Edwards would invest some money in making coal cleaner, assuming that's possible. However, there isn't a peep about what he's going to do about the heavy metals spewing from those stacks. And those cynics over at ABC think he's just pandering to Californians with their new early primary. (ABC)

Of course, here in Nevada you could probably open up a successful Hookah lounge using smoke from those Ely coal plants. Say, that's not such a bad idea! I oughta pitch that to Adelson or Wynn!

Nevada Gold Mines Just Keep on Giving

The RGJ and AP report on how Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine is spewing mercury like a Governor hurling after drinking too much with his campaign manager and groping a cocktail waitress. Apparently mercury dust is leaking from the ore-drying system before it gets to filters designed to catch the stuff.

The Nevada Division of Environment Protection ordered the plant to come up with a plan to fix the problem or face heavy fines. Hmm. Raise your hand if you think the mine will ever have to pay a cent in a state run by one of the foremost mercury-emissions deniers. Now, it's chump-change to Siggy, but the Queenstake Employees PAC dropped at least $1,500 on the Governor in his recent election, too. (p. 18 of CC&E #3) And, hey, Mr. Secretary of State Ross Miller, they don't seem to have complete financials online yet for that PAC.

Also, Gibbons continues his purge of Guinnites from the State government. Nevada Agricultural Director Don Henderson had his last day today. (AP)

Read the New Report About Mercury from Nevada Mines

Great Basin Mine Watch has posted the new report about mercury releases from Nevada gold mines.

Lisa Mascaro did an excellent overview in the Sun yesterday despite the obligatory commentary from the Nevada Mining Association, Death Watch Division.

Breath deep, denizens of Gibbons' Country:

At three of the 10 mines tested, airborne mercury was at or below the level that occurs naturally in the environment - about 5 nanograms per cubic meter.

At four others, the levels were at least several times higher than the 5-nanogram mark. Near active leech heaps, which are not measured under the state program, researchers found levels as high as 60 nanograms.

At three other mines, the levels were sharply higher.   

More than a mile away from Newmont Mining's Twin Creeks mine, the readings showed mercury at nearly 700 nanograms - double the federal limits for toxic exposure.

At a parking lot outside Coeur's Rochester mine, mercury was recorded at 2,326 nanograms.   

A parking lot at Glamis Gold's Marigold mine registered 3,139 nanograms.   

Mike Abbot, a mercury air emissions expert at the U.S. government's Idaho National Lab, said that mercury readings of between 2,000 and 4,000 nanograms, taken near one of the nation's remaining chlor-alkali plants in Louisiana, are among the highest recorded in the United States.

He said a high reading would be "any time you get over 1,000." In his field work, where he measures mercury pollution that is falling on rural Idaho, the most he has ever measured is 160.

Southwestern Coal Spew Mania!

Today's word is "spew." Shout it out every time you see it!!

I was shocked to see a report in the RJ about what a bad idea it is to build coal-fired power plants throughout the West, especially in the Bidness section which is usually reserved for soothing flattery of our corporate overlords so that they have a calming read with their power breakfasts.

The piece pointed to a report on the spread and consequences of coal-fired power in the Southwest written by staffers at Environmental Defense and Western Resource Advocates.

The report focused on the emissions of greenhouse gases from the existing and proposed coal-fired plants. All together the plants in the Southwest region (including Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico) will spew 21,500 tons per year of sulfur dioxide,  18,700 tons per year of nitrous oxide, and 69,900,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide. Can you say "melting icecaps", Kids? And don't forget the best part, 4,900 tons per year of "particulate matter." That's the yummy stuff with the mercury in it that gets in the fish and the wildlife and causes birth defects.

And, presidential wannabe and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson fans take note,

The governors of Arizona and New Mexico have adopted specific targets and timetables for reducing their states’ global warming pollution, calling for economy-wide reductions of 50 to 75% by mid-century, compared to recent levels. But these efforts could be sharply undercut if additional coal-fired power plants are built in the region using outdated technology. More than a dozen such plants have been proposed; the magnitude of the yearly greenhouse gas emissions expected from these plants would exceed the amount of emissions reductions targeted by either Arizona or New Mexico.

And the proposed Desert Rock plant in New Mexico, according to the report, will become one of the worst greenhouse gas emitters among power plants.

Ah, a Western Governor with Western solutions to our energy problems, yes, indeedy!

Lookee how Nevada plants will not only spew greenhouse gases, but suck up our precious water as well:

1. Ely Energy Center, Ely, NV: 12,600, 000 tons of greenhouse gases per year. Will suck up 2.6 billion gallons of water per year.
2. Proposed plant at Toquop, NV (near Mesquite). 6,300,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year. Will suck up 800 million gallons of water per year.
3. White Pine Project, White Pine, NV. 5,500,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year.

And John G. Edwards of the RJ gets the VGO Award for best use of the word "spew" in a Nevada MSM piece:

The environmental groups identified the $3.8 billion, 1,500-megawatt Ely Energy Center as a key coal-fired power plant they oppose. The Ely center and the other 12 new and proposed pulverized-coal plants would spew out 69.9 million tons of carbon dioxide yearly, increasing global warming, the report says.

Keep up the good work, JE. Hope you don't get fired.

Oops. Almost left out the best part:

It's unclear whether Gov. Jim Gibbons supports the Ely coal plant. Brent Boynton, the governor's spokesman, referred questions about the Ely Energy Center to Hatice Gecol, Gibbons' energy and science adviser. She did not return calls.

To be fair, clarity is not part of the new Gube's "vision" for Nevada.

Gibbo-tific Method

So, we learn today that the Governor didn't know anything about the "Edmonton" education initiative he's touting. So, how does he make decisions? By Ouija board?? Bird entrails?

And the War on Terror in Nevada still seems to require the utmost secrecy concerning Gibbons' shakin'. We learn today that the Governor really isn't a doctor since he was mistaken that blood tests can diagnose Parkinson's Disease, which a real doctor would know they can't. Now I suspect that even if Gibbons has Parkinson's, and I ain't sayin' he does or doesn't--because dammit, Jim, I'm a blogger, not a doctor!--but if he does, it probably won't affect his abilities, scant as they are to begin with, for the rest of his term. However, before he starts itching for that second term, Nevadans deserve to know if he is fit--medically speaking anyway--for a second term. And we deserve to hear about it from a real doctor, not from the Gube or his staff. And, make that a doctor who's actually examined the Gube, too, for starters.

Do we really need to know if the Gube lied to the Air Force or Delta Airlines about having debilitating diseases? Why? We don't already know the Gibster lies?

Hey Kids! Did you know that the State of Nevada is becoming more and more committed to using coal for power?? Gee, why in the world would we use a resource that benefits other states like Wyoming, West Virginia, and Kentucky, which have tons of the dirty stuff, when Nevada, which has none, is so desperate to become an energy exporter itself, of alternative fuels like geothermal, wind, and solar??