In the larger scheme of things, methane is a real threat. I know it produces less carbon dioxide when burned compared to coal or oil, but, the dangers to the troposphere is nearly greater than carbon dioxide. 

We cannot continue to allow methane leaks. It is just that simple. The problem for the petroleum industry is that pollution is built into their profit structure.

Why is methane cheap? Because the containment of leaks is in place? No. It is cheap because emissions are allowed. Methane hasn't been followed as closely as carbon dioxide. Not nearly as close. It is only because Cheney's energy policy allowed for pollution of any kind; air and water. Horizontal drilling was going to save the petroleum industry in the face of "Peak Oil" which also occurred in 2005.

Think about the outrageous dangers affiliated with the petroleum industry, including a significant death rate compared to any other industry in modern times. The payouts for any fines that might exist and the settlements of lawsuits when there are deaths and maiming, and even the $20 billion BP Fund (as if that was enough) is more acceptable to CEOs like Secretary Tillerson than actually conducting a clean industry.

June 22, 2017

Oil will continue to flow(click here) through the Dakota Access Pipeline through the summer while authorities conduct additional review of the environmental impact, after a judge on Wednesday ordered more hearings in coming months.

Last week, U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg in Washington ruled in favor of Standing Rock Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes, who said more environmental analysis of the Dakota Access line should have been carried out. The tribes had said the 1,170-mile (1,880 km) line violates their hunting, fishing and environmental rights.

On Wednesday, Boasberg set out a schedule of hearings that will decide what will happen to the line while additional review is completed.

A lawyer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is responsible for environmental review, would not estimate when asked by Boasberg how long additional review would take. The judge could still order the line to be shut at a later date following a series of hearings scheduled through the summer....

There needs to be a $20 billion fund established to protect the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes when there are leaks. There will be leaks and the aquifer will be damaged PERMANENTLY. At that point there will have to be elaborate methods to protect the tribes water supply, not to mention what will occur to the natural world they value.

I think the judge is irresponsible in allowing the oil to flow in the first place, but, even more irresponsible to ignore the dangers affiliated with the pipeline and neglect setting up a fund to protect the lives of the Sioux when the leaks occur.

This is the petroleum industry. They don't care about human life and they fund the elections of the Republicans that don't care about human life either. When I realized the numbers of lung disease suffers in Kentucky that had not been diagnosed until the ACA's preventive check up every year, it was all I needed to know to realize the perverse priorities of a political party in the USA. They could give a damn about people and profits are their only priority.

The petroleum industry gets away with murder and the Republican Party insures it. 

Methane has to be controlled. Simple as that. There are methods to address it with the agricultural community. Those methods need research and implementation. The EPA grant funds that weren't included in the EPA Secretary's budget need to be reinstated. When the research is done it will require some degree of grants to farmers to implement those measures. The sooner the better.