AllTheReallyBigPilesOfDirt
ThatDidn'tQuiteFitVille
A number of readers wondered why bulldozer* could be seen in the initial aerial shotes of the toxic sludge disgorgement.
Being neither an unfounded conspiracy theorist nor a fully established environmental activist cult member (despite my total lack of any estabished credibility whatsoever), I let it go until more data came in.
Then, yesterday the Globe's Wendy Stueck began her latest piece with the following:
Crews were working to raise the tailings dam at the Mount Polley mine by up to four metres before the structure failed and sent a torrent of waste and debris into surrounding waterways...
I'm telling you the 'independent' investigation that the Snooklandians have announced darned well better be.
Independent, I mean.
And wide-ranging too.
OK?
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Please note: In the original version of this post I called the piece of equipment in question a 'backhoe'...That was incorrect...Instead it appeared to be a bulldozer...My thanks to reader Ron Wilton for the correction...
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These words, from the G&M article (attributed to an AMEC spokesthingy) are also pretty interesting:
“While AMEC serves as the engineer of record on the most recent raising of the dam, implementation of the AMEC design has not been completed and some construction activity was still taking place to complete our design,” she added.
Not much wonder they chose not to say more ...
BC conservation officers are doing the investigation?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/ndp-questions-personnel-use-in-bc-mine-spill-investigation/article19998597/
As one of my hobbies I build wooden Kayaks. The reason I bring this up is because in the construction of my Kayaks I include bullheads in two locations inside. The reason for the bulkheads is simply to drastically reduce the chances of sinking should I penetrate the hull say with a stray log or protruding rock. The concept is quite simple in that I end up with two air tight sections should the third be penetrated and I stay afloat.
What I am getting at is say that these ponds contain bulkheads or cells we can call them. They don't even need to encompass the entire pond only the outer parameter of the pond. In the case of a breach as we have seen only one cell would drain leaving all others holding, sort of a reverse process to the kayak. The size of the cell could be regulated to the environment the pond is in E.G. close to lakes or other environmentally sensitive environs.
Please tell me these highly sophisticated and educated people wouldn't be aware of such principles!
Minor quibble.
The machine visible in the fly over video appeared to me to be a D8 or D9 Caterpillar bulldozer, not a backhoe.
A very large and powerful piece of earth moving equipment, and the fact it was left near the breach made me think that the operator abandoned it in a hurry because the top speed of the cat is about nine miles per hour and he/she needed to move faster to escape a dangerous situation.
Contacting the operator may prove useful.
now go back to sleep, nothing is happening. you've heard the provincial government, the water is fine. it was just an accident, it won't happen again, just re-elect us quickly and let the company send us their usual "contribution"....
Finning is a major player in the Resource industry.....they have their own newsletter....
Winter 2005 www.finning.ca Track and Treads Moving Mountains Mount Polley list includes Cat 777s,D10s, an 824 wheeled dozer, a 992 wheeled loader
2011 2011 Haul Party lays out the methods by which Finning was involved in the development of Mount Polley roads ... Open Pit to Tailings pond
Thanks Ron--
I'll make a correction.
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I get nervous when this government uses the terms ïndependent" and "investigation" in the same sentence. Used so often to cover up their paw prints. Every member of the cover-up (oops, investigative) team should be vetted by the Green Party and NDP.
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