Author Archives: davidjkatz

About davidjkatz

The Moses family has lived on the Stillwater River since 1974, when George and Lucile Moses retired and moved to the Beehive from the Twin Cities. They’re gone now, but their four daughters (pictured at left, on the Beehive) and their families continue to spend time there, and have grown to love the area. This blog started as an email chain to keep the family informed about the threat of increased fracking activity in the area, but the desire to inform and get involved led to the creation of this blog.

Comparing the 2016 US presidential candidates on climate change

Posted on July 16, 2015 by davidjkatz

It won’t surprise you to know that there are stark differences between the 2016 Democratic and Republican presidential candidates with regard to their positions on climate change. Democrats accept the science on climate change and, for the most part, hold … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization | Tagged Ben Carson, Bernie Sanders, Bobby Jindal, Carly Fiorina, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, global warming, Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush, Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, Martin O'Malley, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, Ted Cruz | 6 Comments

BREAKING. Decision in Silvertip Zone case (video)

Posted on July 14, 2015 by davidjkatz

In a narrow ruling that demonstrates how government at all levels conspires to deprive small landowners of their rights, Judge Blair Jones ruled last week that: The Silvertip Zone petition did not meet Carbon County standards that had been established … Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization, Politics and History | Tagged Carbon County Commissioners, Carbon County Resolution 2009-16, citizen initiated zoning, Judge Blair Jones, Silvertip zone | 7 Comments

Learning opportunity: Webinar on challenges of life in the Bakken, July 23

Posted on July 13, 2015 by davidjkatz

Most of us will never visit the Bakken. We read the news stories, hear the reports of spills and train explosions and lives changed forever, and scratch our heads as oil executives tell us that fracking is essential to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bakken | Tagged Bakken, Dakota Resource Council, Earthworks, Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, Sierra Club, webinar | Leave a comment

Don’t miss! Award winning film director Andrew Renzi in Absarokee, July 26

Posted on July 6, 2015 by davidjkatz

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear award-winning director Andrew Renzi discuss his film about Montana ranch life. Continue reading →

Posted in Community Organization | Tagged Andrew Renzi, Fishtail Basin Ranch, Stillwater Protective Association, Wild Flower Kitchen | 1 Comment

There have been 66 oil-related spills and 8 oil fires in Montana so far this year

Posted on July 3, 2015 by davidjkatz

Click to read BOGC report. Photo: Montana Board of Oil and Gas According to data published by the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation (BOGC), in 2015 there have been a total of 74 “undesirable” oil-related incidents in Montana … Continue reading →

Posted in Fracking Information | Tagged citizen initiated zoning, incident reporting, Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation, Montana legislature, oil fire, oil spill | 5 Comments

Follow up on last week’s setback hearings at the Montana Board of Oil and Gas

Posted on July 1, 2015 by davidjkatz

A follow up on the June 23 public session at the Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation (BOGC) on setbacks of oil and gas wells from occupied buildings and water sources. After a two-hour special hearing with significant testimony, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fracking Information | Tagged Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation, setback rules | 2 Comments

A debate between Pope Francis and Montana Senator Steve Daines on climate change

Posted on June 25, 2015 by davidjkatz

Pope Francis urges us to start a dialogue to help shape the future of our planet. To help this process along, we put him together with Steve Daines, who has very different ideas on the subject. Continue reading →

Posted in Fracking Information | Tagged climate change, fossil fuels, Pope Francis, Steve Daines | 6 Comments

Action Alert: Your voice is needed to put strong Montana setback rules into place

Posted on June 22, 2015 by davidjkatz

Montana currently has no setback requirements that require many distances between wellheads and occupied dwellings or water sources. Your voice is needed to tell the Montana Board of Oil and Gas that it is time to protect Montana citizens. Continue reading →

Posted in Fracking Information | Tagged Concerned Health Professionals of New York, Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation, Northern Plains Resource Council, Powder River Resource Council, PSE Energy, setbackss, Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission | 5 Comments

Off topic: Are Wyoming’s Park County Commissioners about to sell their souls to a New Yorker?

Posted on June 19, 2015 by davidjkatz

Today we go a little off topic, but a constant theme here is that water is precious. Fracking uses a lot of water, and water contamination is a serious threat when drilling is not carefully regulated. But water is water, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American Summit, off topic, Park County Wyoming, Philippe Lajaunie, water conservation | 5 Comments

New study finds toxic air pollution in Ohio’s most heavily fracked county

Posted on June 17, 2015 by davidjkatz

(Editor’s note 7/16/2016: This study has been withdrawn.) A peer-reviewed study published by scientists from Oregon State University and the University of Cincinnati in the journal Environmental Science & Technology reveals that emissions generated by fracking operations may be exposing … Continue reading →

Posted in Health impacts | Tagged Carroll County Ohio, Ohio, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, precautionary principle, toxic air pollution, volunteer data collection | 3 Comments