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Thousands of snow geese have been killed by the toxic waters of the Berkeley Pit, a flooded former copper mine in Butte, Montana that is one of the most poisonous and acidic bodies of water in the United States.
Unusually warm weather led the flock--tens of thousands of geese--to migrate south from Canada to the American Southwest later than usual, and they ran into a snow storm in Montana. The only open water in the area on which they could land was that contained in the Berkeley Pit.
The geese landed in the pit, whose water is contaminated with arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, and zinc, in late November. The heavy metal contamination has resulted in water so acidic that the organisms able to survive within the pit are the objects of scientific study.[1] Thousands of birds did not survive after touching down on the red-tinged toxic waste.
[...] Montana Resources, the mining company [who jointly manages the pit with the Atlantic Richfield Company], will face fines if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finds that its efforts to keep the birds away from the mine were not in compliance with regulatory standards.
[1] Abstract with link to full-text PDF.
In related news, Common Dreams reports Scott Pruitt is an Unacceptable Choice to Run EPA
"Scott Pruitt is the wrong choice to run the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA plays an absolutely vital role in enforcing long-standing policies that protect the health and safety of Americans, based on the best available science. Pruitt has a clear record of hostility to the EPA's mission, and he is a completely inappropriate choice to lead it", [said Ken Kimmell, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists.]
USA Today reports Scott Pruitt, Trump's Pick to Head the EPA, has Sued the EPA
"Having Scott Pruitt in charge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is like putting an arsonist in charge of fighting fires", said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club. "He is a climate science denier who, as Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma, regularly conspired with the fossil fuel industry to attack EPA regulations."
(Score: 2) by takyon on Saturday December 10 2016, @12:05AM
Whatever Trump once was, he is now poised to become the most powerful human being on the planet. Maybe less powerful than some of his predecessors, but at least he starts off with a Republican Congress. Even if the Republican Congress turns against him, he can get a lot done and stop a lot from being done. But he seems to be playing nice with the Republican establishment on most issues.
(inb4 "the Bilderberg elites, Skull and Bones, and Reptilians hold the real power")
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 10 2016, @12:57AM
Many of the Reds in Congress loathe him.
The inauguration is January 20 (a Friday).
If he hasn't divested his holdings by Monday January 23, expect to see articles of impeachment brought to the floor of the House as soon as they are in session.
Don't be surprised when a bunch of Reds vote to accept them (along with all of the Blues).
...and the Senate has been a case of the-minority-rules for years (because of the kind of "filibuster" where you don't even have to talk and hold the floor to kill something).
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Saturday December 10 2016, @01:10AM
Trump's cabinet picks betray the direction of his administration. He has also met with and made nice with the Republicans who would have the power to oppose him (chiefly Paul Ryan).
He will "make a deal". There will be no impeachment. At least not in the first two years.
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(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 10 2016, @04:05AM
> Trump's cabinet picks betray the direction of his administration.
This. He is catering to the most extreme of the republicans, so there is a chance that some of the not so delusional will oppose him. But they are going to feel a ton of party pressure to fall in line. Trumps MO is starting to look like he will play the role of distractor-in-chief while his appointees quietly go about the nuts-and-bolts work of implementing a hard-right wish list.
(Score: 1) by dboz87 on Monday December 12 2016, @07:14PM
Good. The Republicans won.