Disqus - Latest Comments for gotrights

Re: Oil Train Fires, Leaks Put Rail Safety Back in the Spotlight

GOT RIGHTS — Sat, 28 Mar 2015 00:29:29 -0000

I believe there is much more that can and should be done from a community level up in regards to risks associated with increased oil trains regardless of if/when oil car regulations and/or other alternative transportation solutions are made. Oil rail traffic and overall rail traffic in general is very likely to increase in the future not only due to the continued development in the Bakken region but also the potential of natural resource development (Oil, Gas, and Coal) in the western half of the Montana. Since simply changing construction of oil rail tanker cars is unlikely to significantly reduce the likelihood of derailments, collisions, and explosions on its own, there are other proactive measures that could also be taken in order to help reduce potential risks to affected communities.
1. Municipal/County Land use policies for areas adjacent to railroad routes. This could help ensure more people aren't being unnecessarily put at health or safety risk by restricting new residential units from being built in too close of proximity to railroad tracks. Seems like common sense but local City Councils and County Commissions could encounter difficulties/resistance because many towns were built right around the railroad therefore any future building restrictions could have negative impacts on existing property owners and developers.
2. Formation of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTS) in towns all along the oil rail routes - which would partner with local law enforcement and first responders and take part in training exercises, community outreach/education. CERTS are eligible for FEMS / DHS funding, equipment, plus training courses minimizing any local cost. In Towns where there is already and existing Community Emergency Response Teams a component of training and emergency planning activities specifically developed toward Oil Rail Car collision/derailment/explosion scenarios.
3. Development and Implementation of Federal program to identify risks and take appropriate steps to mitigate health and safety dangers/concerns. The Department of Transportation already has the model program in place related to Airports which has been going since the mid 80's and continues today. In the FAA program funds are made available to airports to use for mitigation measures such as land use planning, retrofitting projects, and land buy out acquisitions if necessary. This FAA program has resulted in hundreds of thousands of residences as well as schools across the country being retrofitted with improvements to reduce risks associated with noise and air quality as a result of airport operations. All of this is paid for out of the fund created by passenger facilitation charges PFCs added to every airline ticket. Similarly a Federal Railroad mitigation program could be funded completely by some fairly minimal facilitation charges determined per rail car, tail tanker, or load.

Re: Large Hotel with Convention Space Planned for Polson

GOT RIGHTS — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 00:14:51 -0000

May seem excessive for a small town in the middle of an Indian reservation 70 miles or so from the nearest airport but it really isn't if you take into consideration the potential for natural resource development through the region. This includes the potential for oil/gas exploration and production plus water development necessary to meet oil/gas production needs along with corresponding population growth demands resulting from an influx of workers. Just another case of businesses getting in ahead of the rush, much like the Super Walmart upgrade whose manager told me quite confidently Polson is expected to grow by 1/3 in the next 3-5 years which was the rationale for building the bigger store with expanded products and services. Rapid population increases such of that level that are not usually a result of things like increased tourism growth but are common in places where oil and gas are booming such as the Bakken region.

If you live in the region this may be a good time to think about opening a business as well or consider furthering education and job training to take advantage of future economic opportunities yourself. If you own property in the region you may want to get familiar with terms like: split estate, landmen, forced pooling, and compulsory unitization to help ensure you don't get taken advantage of by individuals and/or groups while negotiating future surface use agreements to compensate for property access, oil/gas pads and rig locations, pipelines, power lines, roads, fences, gates, ect. This of course is in addition to mineral rights leases and water rights leases if you are fortunate enough to have either or both of those rights to lease.

Re: ‘New’ Compact Equals Old Compact

GOT RIGHTS — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 02:19:30 -0000

Got water rights? Farmers and ranchers in Wyoming are currently leasing their irrigation water and other water rights for $3000 per acre foot for use in oil and gas development. Will western Montana land owners have the same opportunity to lease portions of their water rights including irrigation water in the future if/when oil and gas development occurs in this region?