Above: A rendering of a proposed Schuylkill River oil rig just offshore from famous Boathouse Row. Under this plan, oil would be piped through the rowing houses to waiting trucks on Kelly Drive.
Philadelphia, PA--President Obama announced last week that his administration is planning to open areas along the Atlantic coastline to offshore drilling for both oil and natural gas. The administration also hinted that rivers flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, and select tributaries, would also be considered for off-riverbank drilling.
This, unfortunately, includes many rivers in the Philadelphia area. The region is filled with gently rolling waterways meandering through cities, small towns and open farmland.
One tributary, however, may be of particular interest to the Obama administration. In 1902, Frederick Von Vonder discovered oil just upstream from the Fairmount Water Works, by drilling--illegal in Fairmount Park--an undisclosed number of feet into the river's murky bottom. The oil was never brought to the surface because of strict park drilling and picnicking rules.
"Listen, we've known for years that there's oil under the Schuylkill River. I knew it. You knew it. Fredrick Von Von-something knew it. Even the thousands of joggers on the river trail knew it," said University of Phoenix head men's rowing coach, Mark Bradley. "It was just a matter of time."
A large oil drilling platform on the scenic river wouldn't happen, if it does at all, for at least two years. But, preparations and plans have quickly began to take form.
Some plans call for pipelines leaving the 200 ft-high platform to pass directly through the boathouses to waiting tanker trucks on Kelly Drive. These pipelines may force rowers to adjust accordingly when prepping shells, returning shells to storage or rowing beneath the pipes.
"I'm not sure why the pipelines have to pass through the boathouses," said Daniel Bettman, a Fairmount Park official. "It just seems like the pipes would get in the way of the rowers an awful lot."
It appears that interruptions from a new oil platform, however, would be minimal once the athletes were upstream.
"All of our regattas are held upstream," said Claire Dorrington, St Joseph's University women's assistant rowing coach. "So races will not be directly affected by the rig or pipes. I just don't think a rig fits in well with the historic boathouses."
Many others have echoed this concern about aesthetics, while some feel that a monstrosity like a semi-submersible rig could fit right in.
Rower David Baneau, with the help of a friend, hoisted a dripping shell onto the top of his black Hummer parked along Kelly Drive. "It's hot today. Shoulda brought my tan Hummer. My wife told me to bring the tan Hummer or the light tan Hummer. I should have listened or, at the very least, brought the white Hummer," he said squinting from the bright sun. "Hell, I've been rowing here for 22 years. An oil rig here could bring a hip new happening vibe to the row, and, if it means lower gas prices, than I don't see how you could be against it."
No comments:
Post a Comment