Oh, say, can you see? Legally?
March 1, 2020 8:21 AM Subscribe
Drones discover mine malfeasance; legislators attack the drones. Which came out in discovery for a bribery trial.
The best. The best legislature that money can buy.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 9:12 AM on March 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by Kirth Gerson at 9:12 AM on March 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
Beyond the obvious abuses of such legislation, drafting effective and fair future laws regarding flying drones over infrastructure and private property is going to be challenging.
posted by fairmettle at 9:23 AM on March 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by fairmettle at 9:23 AM on March 1, 2020 [1 favorite]
Jesus, that is disheartening. But also a reminder why local politics (state, county, city) are so important. Thanks, OP!
posted by Bella Donna at 9:28 AM on March 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 9:28 AM on March 1, 2020 [3 favorites]
I wonder how well this pollution site shows up on Google Earth? The resolution of those images is amazing, certainly near what was included in the article. They aren't using drones, and I'd like to think Google would want something more substantial than a trade organization's memo to pull stuff from their site. (Of course at this point who knows what's safe to hope for from the Google.)
posted by Cris E at 9:29 AM on March 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Cris E at 9:29 AM on March 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
The best. The best legislature that money can buy.
Here in Ontario there is a bill before the legislature that will protect farmers from trespassers. Well, yes, trespassing is already a crime, you say? Well, this bill will essentially criminalize reporting on animal cruelty (gaining access to farms "under false pretenses" and documenting the conditions would be a crime punishable by a $15,000 fine). Commenters on social media assure us all that farmers love their animals and would never treat them poorly. Then talk inevitably turns to "insane animal rights activists" and the commenters deploy lots of emojis to boost their arguments.
What is that you say? The current Conservative government is strongly supported by agribusiness and farmers outside of the cities? Well, sure, I guess so, but really, our dropout ex-drug dealer* premier is actually extremely concerned about the animals and wants to keep contaminants out of the food supply.
*Allegedly.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:46 AM on March 1, 2020 [18 favorites]
Here in Ontario there is a bill before the legislature that will protect farmers from trespassers. Well, yes, trespassing is already a crime, you say? Well, this bill will essentially criminalize reporting on animal cruelty (gaining access to farms "under false pretenses" and documenting the conditions would be a crime punishable by a $15,000 fine). Commenters on social media assure us all that farmers love their animals and would never treat them poorly. Then talk inevitably turns to "insane animal rights activists" and the commenters deploy lots of emojis to boost their arguments.
What is that you say? The current Conservative government is strongly supported by agribusiness and farmers outside of the cities? Well, sure, I guess so, but really, our dropout ex-drug dealer* premier is actually extremely concerned about the animals and wants to keep contaminants out of the food supply.
*Allegedly.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:46 AM on March 1, 2020 [18 favorites]
Much like the vile Ag-Gag laws, I expect this particular bill to start popping up in various other states.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:48 AM on March 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 9:48 AM on March 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
Are they going to criminalize general aviation flights and commercial aerial photography too?
posted by hypnogogue at 9:55 AM on March 1, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by hypnogogue at 9:55 AM on March 1, 2020 [7 favorites]
Nimby droning, eh? Says the brown skinned woman from the eurasian landmass
posted by Mrs Potato at 10:57 AM on March 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Mrs Potato at 10:57 AM on March 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
The Ontario agriculture trespassing law is being sold as a food chain security/anti-terrorism thing.
posted by bonobothegreat at 11:07 AM on March 1, 2020
posted by bonobothegreat at 11:07 AM on March 1, 2020
Are they going to criminalize general aviation flights and commercial aerial photography too?
No, since most activists cannot afford that they’re good. Drones give a cheap way to get a birds-eyed view so they’re right out.
posted by jmauro at 11:25 AM on March 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
No, since most activists cannot afford that they’re good. Drones give a cheap way to get a birds-eyed view so they’re right out.
posted by jmauro at 11:25 AM on March 1, 2020 [2 favorites]
I wonder how well this pollution site shows up on Google Earth?
Without location data, it's hard to find exactly where the article's picture was taken, but I had a look around Maxine Mine and found it on both Google Maps and Planet Labs (requires a login, but they have a 14 day trial) I think. Google's aerial photo is much better than Planet's three metre satellite imaging, but obviously Planet updates way more often. Neither come close to the detail even in the pretty low-res drone shot.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 11:27 AM on March 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
Without location data, it's hard to find exactly where the article's picture was taken, but I had a look around Maxine Mine and found it on both Google Maps and Planet Labs (requires a login, but they have a 14 day trial) I think. Google's aerial photo is much better than Planet's three metre satellite imaging, but obviously Planet updates way more often. Neither come close to the detail even in the pretty low-res drone shot.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 11:27 AM on March 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
The FAA is proposing new drone regulation that is incredibly onerous, making drone operation expensive and difficult (while destroying the RC aircraft hobby as a side effect). One wonders if there is a link.
posted by eigenman at 2:51 PM on March 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by eigenman at 2:51 PM on March 1, 2020 [4 favorites]
previously we discussed Taylor Energy's attempt to sue the oil clean up company for cleaning up their 15 year old oil spill. Taylor buried news of the spill for years via philanthropic donations to college programs to 22 different US states.
Taylor is currently suing Couvillion Group for trespass on their federal lease (they don't even own the ocean where they are suing). No other oil services company wanted to take the contract from the USCG, because they knew they would face $X00,000/yr or thereabouts in legal fees fending off the trespass lawsuit.
What's more bananas than usual is that Couvillion Group consists of former Taylor workers, divers and engineers. the men and women who built the rig are cleaning it up. these are some of the only humans ever to be in these waters, and they are being sued for trespass.
Taylor wants to control the info coming out of the site, i think. They keep claiming that the oil leak is only 133 gallons per day (lower flow rate = lower fines).
Couvilion is selling about 1000 gallons of oil per day
reclaimed from the site to third parties, which makes Taylor look dumb. There are receipts! I can't believe this lawsuit is still going on, myself.
One of Trump's judges got assigned the case, but she had to recuse herself.
You can look at Taylor's oil leak here, courtesy of the US federal government.
posted by eustatic at 4:23 PM on March 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
Taylor is currently suing Couvillion Group for trespass on their federal lease (they don't even own the ocean where they are suing). No other oil services company wanted to take the contract from the USCG, because they knew they would face $X00,000/yr or thereabouts in legal fees fending off the trespass lawsuit.
What's more bananas than usual is that Couvillion Group consists of former Taylor workers, divers and engineers. the men and women who built the rig are cleaning it up. these are some of the only humans ever to be in these waters, and they are being sued for trespass.
Taylor wants to control the info coming out of the site, i think. They keep claiming that the oil leak is only 133 gallons per day (lower flow rate = lower fines).
Couvilion is selling about 1000 gallons of oil per day
reclaimed from the site to third parties, which makes Taylor look dumb. There are receipts! I can't believe this lawsuit is still going on, myself.
One of Trump's judges got assigned the case, but she had to recuse herself.
You can look at Taylor's oil leak here, courtesy of the US federal government.
posted by eustatic at 4:23 PM on March 1, 2020 [6 favorites]
The Ontario agriculture trespassing law is being sold as a food chain security/anti-terrorism thing.
Same with Alabama's anti-drone law: it purports to protect "critical infrastructure" from terrorism, with a definition so broad that flying a drone over a garden hose would violate the law.
posted by fogovonslack at 9:23 AM on March 2, 2020
Same with Alabama's anti-drone law: it purports to protect "critical infrastructure" from terrorism, with a definition so broad that flying a drone over a garden hose would violate the law.
posted by fogovonslack at 9:23 AM on March 2, 2020
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posted by jmauro at 9:01 AM on March 1, 2020 [4 favorites]