"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...

Here's an item that is specific to WA state, but may also represent
similar situations elsewhere around the country:


Not soap, but related in a way:

The spilling of gasoline, diesel fuel in the water or on land has been
identified as a high level pollutant to groundwater, lakes and the oceans.
The public has been told that an incredibly small amount of gasoline spilled
on the ground can contaminate the ground water for miles.

Yet, as recently as 1999, the USA was using over 70 billion (with a "b")
lbs. of asphalt a year, building and maintaining millions of miles of
roadways. Asphalt is the last product made from crude oil after gasoline,
diesel fuel, refined oil and other petroleum products have been produced.
The asphalt is then spread all over the land, for roads and parking lots.
Storm drains are used to carry rain and melting snow from the roads into the
ground, lakes and ocean waters.
As the asphalt ages, it dries up, the remaining petroleum having been washed
away with the rain into the lakes and ocean waters.

70 billion lbs a year of fresh, oily asphalt spread out all over the land,
leaching into the water. And the bureaucrats and ecologists are worried
about soap bubbles?

Eisboch