Dep't of Fisheries and Oceans and the Oil Spill at Wabamun

My mind keeps seeing a vision of Fisheries and Oceans Officers running around waving their pistols shouting "Clean it up! Clean it up". With this vision in mind I wonder just where they are and what good they are doing when it comes to environmental disasters of this magnitude. I really sympathize with the residents of Lake Wabamun as they wait for something or someone to do anything positive. Last Sunday I was called at 8am by one of the consultants to bring out some silt fence. They were trying to convert the weed cutter barge used by the Transalta Power Plant to an oil collector. I sure hope it worked.
Silt fence could have been used by the residents to hold the oil slick away from the shoreline. I think that a line of silt fence a few feet out from shore would have worked. We have enough silt fence material in our yard to go all around Lake Wabamun. The problem is that by the time the public was aware of the magnitude of the spill, it was too late to do much.

Frustration

For the last 10 weeks I have deliberately stayed away from this blog. I have been feeling guilty about not writing, and I have read many other blogs faithfully, but my frustration at the socialist mainstream attitudes in Canada gave me a writing block. I am going to try to keep my comments more to the Erosion and sediment side of things.

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Small Dead Animals look at Monte Solberg.MP

A nice comment from Kate at Small Dead Animals on Monte Solberg.MP. Monte is one of the best MP's we have had in a long time. I enjoy his intelligent look at the house and the moral morass within the Librano's. Monte and Rona Ambrose, MP for my area, make a good pair in the house.
Check out Kate's comments.

Crossing the Line is never Easy

It's been 2 weeks since I uploaded anything to this blog.

The events of the last 2 weeks have left me drained. Drained of optimism, drained of any sense of continuity between the Country I loved as a youth, and the wreck I see today. Drained of any hope that the great morally compromised mass that is Ontario will ever let us Western Canadians in. Drained of committment to the future of Canada.

Perhaps this is too harsh.

Maybe I should wait until the next election to see if Ontario will recognise that we need a new face for Canada. One that is morally strong, and is willing to make the changes needed to keep this land together.

I don't think that will happen.

At this point I see Quebec in a new light. They have a just cause, and I wish them well as a separate Country. I am sure that this will happen now. The Liberals have created a situation where leaving is the right thing to do.

You know, I think that I have just crossed that line - the one in the sand that says "I dare you".

Realization that the proper thing to do is to leave is a tough line for anyone to cross. Perhaps the Alberta Firewall should be the next step. Taking our toys back and keeping them in our yard is in order here. The bullys from the east keep stealing them, and lying about it. Sometimes when dealing with bullys you have to take a stand, rather than constantly getting beat up.

I think that here in Canada we have the battered country syndrome. We expect it and must think we deserve what we get. Ontario has the worst case. They now justify the treatment because they have been told by the bully that the alternative is worse. I despair that Ontario will never get well, as she refuses to recognise that she needs treatment.

Western Canadian Separation is alive and well, and just maybe has been given the opportunity to become a real factor is what will happen in Canada and Quebec.

I think that the "Tipping" essay from The Monarchist sums up my feelings. This is a great read

I am ashamed to be Canadian tonight.

I don't know where to begin. I have never been as ashamed of my country as I am now. We have to do something about our system of democracy electing government leadership corrupt politicians who are the LIBERAL PARTY!!!!
The LIBERALS are no better than the most corrupt third world dictatorship. I get the feeling that we have become one of the turd world.
What has happened to the democratic tradition?
GET THOSE BAS TURDS OUT OF THERE!

Western Separatism has never looked so good.

If I hear one more person say “it's better to keep the devil you know” I think I will puke.

Hostile vision

Here's some more on Kyoto and the Liberal,(Ontario)Mindset towards Alberta:
From: The Western Standard
Monday, 2 May 2005 by: John Robson

"A year after the election, Martin's Liberals have repeatedly slighted Albertans, most recently by ignoring the province's senators-elect and appointing instead two Liberals and one conspicuously Progressive Conservative. This insensitivity to the opinions and interests of Albertans is not merely annoying, but ominous, as the federal government fumbles toward Kyoto global-warming treaty policies. The latest is Martin's wily attempt to attach to the federal budget a last-minute provision that would classify greenhouse gases--that is, carbon dioxide--as pollutants under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, enabling the environment ministry to tax their output, which would burden Alberta's thriving oilsands sector, perhaps more than any other. (Any damage this might cause to industrial Ontario is headed off by special protections given to the auto sector there.) The kicker being that by attaching it to the budget, opposing it would require the Opposition to bring down the government, something Martin is probably correct in betting that they won't do. With memories of the National Energy Policy still raw, a second harsh federal assault on Alberta's energy-based economy in a quarter of a century could precipitate a crisis."
Same old crap we've seen for the past 10 years.

Monte Solberg and his blog - a great Canadian MP

I started to watch Monte's blog the first day he started it. What a great Member of Parliament. I think all MP's need to get on this track. I really like my own MP, Rona Ambrose, but her website is not kept up to date. Rona needs a blog!

Global Warming - Consensus Fraud

From: the Western Standard, thanks to Kate McMillan:

via:Neale News today:

Scientific journal accused of being 'pro-global warning'...

This item from the News Telegraph:

It seems that the "consensus" proof that the quasi scientists always refer to may be questionable.

Leading scientific journals 'are censoring debate on global warming'
By Robert Matthews
(Filed: 01/05/2005)

The controversy follows the publication by Science in December of a paper which claimed to have demonstrated complete agreement among climate experts, not only that global warming is a genuine phenomenon, but also that mankind is to blame.

The author of the research, Dr Naomi Oreskes, of the University of California, analysed almost 1,000 papers on the subject published since the early 1990s, and concluded that 75 per cent of them either explicitly or implicitly backed the consensus view, while none directly dissented from it.

Dr Oreskes's study is now routinely cited by those demanding action on climate change, including the Royal Society and Prof Sir David King, the Government's chief scientific adviser.

However, her unequivocal conclusions immediately raised suspicions among other academics, who knew of many papers that dissented from the pro-global warming line.

They included Dr Benny Peiser, a senior lecturer in the science faculty at Liverpool John Moores University, who decided to conduct his own analysis of the same set of 1,000 documents - and concluded that only one third backed the consensus view, while only one per cent did so explicitly.

Dr Peiser submitted his findings to Science in January, and was asked to edit his paper for publication - but has now been told that his results have been rejected on the grounds that the points he make had been "widely dispersed on the internet".

[...]

Prof Roy Spencer, at the University of Alabama, a leading authority on satellite measurements of global temperatures, told The Telegraph: "It's pretty clear that the editorial board of Science is more interested in promoting papers that are pro-global warming. It's the news value that is most important."

He said that after his own team produced research casting doubt on man-made global warming, they were no longer sent papers by Nature and Science for review - despite being acknowledged as world leaders in the field.

As a result, says Prof Spencer, flawed research is finding its way into the leading journals, while attempts to get rebuttals published fail. "Other scientists have had the same experience", he said. "The journals have a small set of reviewers who are pro-global warming."

It seems that the two publications: "Science", and the journal "Nature", don't want their readers to hear anything other than the truth as they see it.
It sure makes you wonder about the veracity of scientific data from the "Social Scientists" who promote Global Warming and the Kyoto Accord.- what other scientific scams are there out there?

It's not a brush: it's a shredder!!!

The Lead Story On Netscape Online:

Martin asks Canadians for time to clean up Sponsorship Scandal

Thanks to Kate M this gem from the Shotgun: (http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2005/04/buying_time.html:

"Canadians cannot afford the luxury of leaving this government in control of the paper shredders".

I think there is a link here.

Environmental Geoconference - May 4, 2005

GeoConference, FG2005: Environmental Works and Roadways Design with Geosynthetics May 4, Edmonton, Alberta The sixth edition of the Forum on Geosynthetics, FG2005, will be held in Edmonton on May 4 2005. It is specifically designed to explore the possibilities to move toward a better contribution of geosynthetic materials in the improvement of Alberta infrastructure performance. During this event, new design methods, innovations and practices in Canada, the United-States and Europe, concerning geosynthetics used in cold climate roadways construction and in Environmental works, with regard to specification, design, installation and performance, will be presented by several world-renowned speakers such as Dr. Barry Christopher, Dr. Jonathan Fannin and Mr. Bernard Myles. Local speakers will then discuss various aspects and present field case studies highlighting roadway and environmental application issues related to geosynthetic materials. A debate will follow to discuss how to improve Alberta infrastructure performance with geosynthetics. Don't miss this special event.
To register: Download the registration form in EVENTS section at www.groupecttgroup.com,
Fax to: (450)778-3901 - take advantage of the pre-registration discount.
For more information contact: Lotfi Benchekroun at (877)724-3677 #263.
Where: Kensington Room, Holiday Inn The Palace, 4235 Gateway Boulevard,
Edmonton, Alberta, T6J 5H2, Phone: (780)438-1222.

Earth Day - Looking Good

Earth Day, April 22, 2005:
Each year, on Earth Day, April 22, Dr. Steven Hayward publishes the, "Annual Index of Leading Environmental Indicators". The problem is that it has shown consistent improvements to the environment over the last number of years, and this years Index will also show more improvements.
The traditional environmentalists don't like it and ignore it!
Go to: www.pacificresearch.org

Erosion and Sediment Control: Trade Publications you should be aware of:

1. GFR Magazine:
(Geotechnical fabrics report) IFAI (Industrial Fabrics Association International)
This is the official publication of:
GMA (Geosynthetic materials Association), NAGS (North American Geosynthetics Society)
It produces a great Specifiers Guide each year with all Manufacturers Specifications for woven and nonwoven geotextiles, geogrids, geomembranes etc.
Go to: www.gfrmagazine.info

2. Erosion Control:
The official Journal of The IECA (International Erosion Control Association).
Go to: www.ieca.org, www.erosioncontrol.com

3. Land and Water:
The Magazine of Natural Resource Management and Restoration
Associations:
American Association of Mining and Reclamation (ASMR) www.co.uky.edu/asmr
Association of Conservation Engineers(ACE) www.conservation.state.mo.us/engineering/ace
International Erosion Control Association (IECA) www.ieca.org
Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA) www.licanational.com
National Watershed Coalition (NWC) www.watershedcoalition.org
Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) www.swcs.org
Society of Wetland Scientists www.sws.org
National Roadside Vegetation Management Association (NRVMA) www.nrvma.org
Go to: www.landandwater.com

4. Canadian Reclamation:
The official Publication of the Canadian Land Reclamation Association
Go to: www.clra.com

5. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation:
The Soil and Water Conservation Society
Go to: www.swcs.org

Global Warming and Erosion Control:

Global Warming has elements of almost every scientific profession, and these elements have to be correlated. To properly understand what is happening you have to be able to understand and assimilate a huge number of interrelated factors, all with their own areas of scientific expertise.The same applies to Watershed management, and erosion and sediment control,

There is a definite correlation between the current criteria used in the Stormwater/Erosion Control industry and the Global Warming scenario.
In the same way you look at Global Warming, there is no one scientific profession that has an edge in determining the correct procedure/design for a good ESC plan.
The factors in determining the problem include:
1. Topography and drainage patterns.
2. Soil Types and consistencys
3. Storm event intensities and weather patterns.
4. Vegetation and ground cover
5. Seasonal variations
6. Historical ecological patterns and cycles

The bottom line in the Watershed management and ESC is that you learn from doing. You implement a project using what you know and using the best of your abilitys. You then modify your approach the next time based on the results of what you did in the previous project. The best ESC Plans are done by absorbing a wide variety of diverse but importantly related items and co-ordinating them into a cohesive but flexible structure. This is not the domain for any one professional designation, but for many.
Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation is starting to recognise this required diversity, and will probably require ESC plans to be done by a Alberta recognised professional ie. P.Eng. etc. who is also a CPESC. We'll see.

Kyoto

If you can't use science to prove a scientific viewpoint, then what do you use:

The big debate about global warming is over true science vs social science.
True science relies on the scientific method of provability. To be true it must be repeatable,it must have measurable results, and it must be scientifically defensible.
The Kyoto proponents, almost totally from the social scientist side of the equation, can do none of this, and thus rely on "international scientific consensus", and "many scientists believe that", and other loaded statements that mean nothing, but get attention.Kyoto is about a carbon tax. Think about this: The forest fires every summer in Canada generate far more carbon dioxide emissions (over 100 megatons)than over 50,000,000 cars.
It seems that almost all of the true scientists think that the Kyoto Accord is a Political Treaty, promoted by social activists, not a scientific one.
If that is true, WHY ARE WE FALLING IN LINE?
Thanks to: www.rightthinkingpeople.blogspot.com for their insight.

Swarming?

What the heck is all this crap about "swarming" in the MSM?
Another case of liberally watering down wording to appease the social scientists.
Dictionary:(www.dictionary.reference.com)
1. A large number of insects or other small organisms, especially when in motion.
2. A group of bees with a queen bee in migration to establish a new colony. See Synonyms at flock1.
3. An aggregation of persons or animals, especially when in turmoil or moving in mass: A swarm of friends congratulated him.
4. A number of similar geologic phenomena or features occurring closely within a given period or place: a swarm of earthquakes.


Lets call it what it is:
A gang of thugs beating on some poor soul.

Canada: The Caring Society

Let us return to the “RED ENSIGN” days

Trudeau said it best:

“The Just Society”

The Liberal view of the PERFECT SOCIETY in Canada:
Its buzz words are: caring, loving, tolerant, diverse, multiculturalism, understanding, forgiving, accepting, Etcetera! Etcetera!

Look what this legacy has given us:

Junior-High and High School populations that are the recipients of this Liberal attitude:

UNDISCIPLINED MEDIOCRITY:
- kids that graduate from High School with minimal academic skills.

TOLERANCE OF MEDIOCRITY
- parents that do not discipline their kids, (they've been taught that they need to understand and analyze behavior, not punish it.)

LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY:
- parents that take no responsibility for their kids, (they were the first generation to be affected with this Liberal Disease)

CONFORMITY
- teachers who cannot and are afraid to maintain discipline in the schools: (they are told they need to understand and analize bad behavior - not punish it.)

LACK OF RESPECT:
- children who do not respect property and themselves - hucked up gobs litter the floors and stairwells of the average high school.

SELFISHNESS:
- kids who are self-centered, lazy, slothful and totally indifferent to their future because they have never been forced to make decisions.

The big problem is that by the time these tragic kids realize they have been led up the wrong path, they have lost the best, most productive learning years in their lives.

I realize that there are still responsible parents and students out there, but it shocks me how many students fit into the Liberal Mould.

I wonder if the Liberals can be sued for promoting “HADS”:

Harmful Alteration and Destruction of Students

It's sad that we are going to leave much of the responsibility of the Canada's future to a generation of LIBERALIZED LOSERS.

The Budget vote: Conservatives Abstain

My initial reaction was a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. This was a bad but "Liberal Feel-Good" budget, and the CP should have voted against it.
There were Income Tax Cuts - miniscule and over many years
There was more money for the military. Until you realized that most of that was already announced, and being clawed back as well.
The RCMP and Coast Guard/Fisheries budgets were being cut back. Until you realized that what was being cut was operational capability, ie. The RCMP laboratory being eliminated in Edmonton, and field staff eliminated in other departments.
But, none of the Political Parties want an election - they are all broke.
Then, in a discussion with a co-worker this thought came up,(thanks Gord):
If you have ever played RISK you know that strategies require patience. The best strategy is to wait until your opposition totally screws up, and we all know that Mr. Dithers will do it again. He is much like that other screw upper Joe Clark.
Then you pounce.

Perhaps Steven Harper is a RISK player!

A new Erosion Pin Install Tool

I just relieved a shipment of Erosion Control Blankets from www.erosioncontrolblanket.com a company run by my good friend Mark Myrowich. Mark also sent one of his new erosion matting pin install tools. It is a good looking machine that uses clips of 6"x 12 gauge pins. You can drive 200 plus pins before adding new pins. Mark says that it will drive into frozen frosty really hard hard ground. I will try it and let you know. Most of the large jobs here call for 8", 8 gauge pins. You can see the tool at Marks website above.

Erosion/Sediment Manual Roll Out

Just spent an interestimg day looking at the new ESC manuals for the City of Edmonton.They are not reinventing the wheel, but are stressing the need for proper control, maintenance, and records. ie: Due Diligence. They then refer to Alberta Transportation Manual or the Erosion Draw CD or others for actual BMP methods. I like the concept.
It is neat that this is the first Western Canadian City to recognise the CPESC as a player in the industry:

"The ESC Plan must be stamped by a qualified Professional Engineer, a Landscape Architect, or a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC)."

As one of the few CPESC's in Northern Alberta, I am encouraged by this. The next step is to get Alberta Transportation to recognise the CPESC as well.

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Winter Installations

You would think that up here in the frozen north we would not worry about erosion installations in the winter. Wrong! The problem here is that in many areas the working window is in the winter after the ground has frozen. Winter is the only time that gas and oil work can be tackled. In the summer the frozen ground converts to bottomless muskeg and these areas are inaccessible.Because of this Erosion Control is done after construction ends and before the ground has thawed. We use a lot of 8 inch 8 guage install pins. I has a call yesterday from a consultant looking for 12 inch hardwood stakes. The pine and spruce stakes would not drive into the frozen ground. How about doing an installation in 30 below weather: We do it here.

America has balls

A great comment from RightGirl:

www.girlontheright.blogspot.com

America has balls. America is fine and strong, virile, unafraid. They drive a Harley and carry a gun. It's a huge turn-on to this Girl on the Right. Because at the end of the day, as nice as they might be, a country with no balls is limp and useless. Thanks, Liberal Party, for neutering my country.

posted by RightGirl # 6:19 PM

Alberta Transportation takes the Initiative

Late last fall I got a call from John McCullah. He was travelling from Edmonton to Hinton, near Jasper. He told me at that time he was with Roger Skirrow, Alberta Transportation's Director of Technical Services, and that they were going to look at sites to do a hands on Streambank BioEngineering Seminar in 2005.

I saw John in Dallas, and the seminar will be in the fall, at a site on the Athabaska River, which originates at the Columbia Icefields in Jasper National Park.

The Cold Shoulder

The fallout begins!

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has cancelled her visit to Canada because of "scheduling problems".

Yah Right!

Great ESC or BioEngineering CD's

For any of you ESC or BioEngineering Professionals out there take a good look at the
CD's put out by John McCullah of Salix Applied Earthcare, Redding CA. The website is:

http://www.salixaec.com/ or www.erosiondraw.com

Johns material has been the standard for drop-in specifications for many DOT's and Engineering firms throughout the world.
You can also contact me and I would be happy to refer you to John.

Is that a Shooting Star? Oh No! Quick- call President Bush for help.

Mr. Dithers did it again.

He has no feet left to shoot.

I just hope that this Missile Defence fiasco Dithers has created does not affect our relations with the US, but I am afraid that it will.

From the Seattle Post Intelligencer: Canada opts out of US defense shield, insists on missile consultation.

Stockwell Day, the Conservative Party’s foreign affairs critic, laughed off Martin’s demand that Washington would have to alert Ottawa before taking out an incoming missile.
"These missiles are coming in at 4 kilometers ( 2.5 miles) a second, and if the president calls the 1-800 line and gets: 'Press 1 if you want English, press 2 if you want French, press 0 if nobody’s there ...' I mean, it's crazy."
Thanks to: http://www.coxandforkum.com/ check out their great cartoon on this!

Doesn't Dithers realize that our trade corridors go north-south, NOT east-west. I don't know about you, but this separation talk in Western Canada seems less ludicrous every day.

I just hope that our US friends and allies realise that the liberal government does not speak for me and most of my Canadian friends

Erosion/Sediment Presentation - Edmonton

The City of Edmonton is rolling out their new Erosion and Sediment Control Manual next Tuesday, March 8. It will be at the Ramada Inn on Kingsway. If anyone is interested, the phone number for information is: (780) 421-1852

ESCN.tv (Erosion and Sediment Control Network)

For any of you reading this (probably none as yet), who are interested in Erosion and Sediment Control, the www.escn.tv is a must. It has an 8-10 minute news segment from around the world, and shows great stuff. Including a segment on erosion problems as a result of the Tsunami.
Check it out!

Liberal Budget Cuts and Sediment Control

The new budget includes a reduction in the budgets for the RCMP and Fisheries and Oceans.
I wonder how this is going to affect the F & O emphasis on overwatching the environmental and sedimentation problems in industry, over the next few years?
Thanks to Kate at www.smalldeadanimals.com

First Post

I am a sales guy (Sales Manager) with a geotechnical company supplying geotextile and erosion control materials to the construction, oilfield, and Erosion/Sediment control industry in Western Canada.

I am a CPESC, (Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control), and involved with the International Erosion Control Association.

I am a right leaning conservative. A card carrying member of the Conservative Party, and support Rona Ambrose, the conservative member of the House of Commons in my riding, (Edmonton-Spruce Grove).

I am going to try to comment on current uses and methods of Best Management Practices in ESC (ErosionSedimentControl) in Western Canada today. I will refer to experts and other sites in this area of expertise, and hopefully will have items worthy of reading.

From time to time, when I am really pissed off with what our current Liberal Government is doing here in Canada (almost daily these days), I will get on the political band wagon.

This is enough of the "I am's".
This blog will be about information, not Me!