Cumberland Resources

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</div><div>Conservative mega-donors David and Charles Koch have created one of the most powerful political forces in the United States. The two brothers made their combined $86 billion at the helm of the country's second-largest privately-held corporation, Kansas-based Koch Industries, and have poured money into a web of political advocacy organizations, limited-liability corporations, a trade association and a super PAC that have helped elect conservative politicians and opposed environmental protections and the Affordable Care Act. The network, which includes political nonprofits Americans for Prosperity, the 60 Plus Association and Generation Opportunity, <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ga8Ha0skI3GYkpNtGVUbJPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">raised over $400 million</a> for the 2012 elections. Earlier this year, the Kochs announced at a donor gathering that they <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2D1FMrnZvJaU0AJE5f6%2By%2Fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">plan to spend nearly $900 million</a> on the 2016 elections, significantly more than the entire Republican Party spent in 2012. To help raise that enormous sum, the Kochs will rely on about 300 donors from their conservative network. The identities of the Kochs' allied donors, shielded by weak disclosure laws for political nonprofits and the use of private LLCs, have been mostly a mystery -- until recently. The Freedom Partners Action Fund (FPAF) <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1ov6ughyqaQOQCmRs2FBafn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">was launched in June 2014</a> as an extension of the original Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, a trade organization in the Koch network that raises and disperses money. It made over $23 million in independent expenditures in the 2014 election benefiting conservative U.S. House and Senate candidates, according to federal campaign finance reports. FPAF is a super PAC that's legally required to disclose its donors. Records show that 15 businesspeople from Southern states made donations of $100,000 or more to FPAF in 2014. Of those, seven have contributed $400,000 or more: * Ronnie Cameron is chair of the Arkansas-based agribusiness giant<a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=PJZmA7Lk53U9pxZOFw%2BHdPiaKob6o6wT" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Mountaire Corp.</a>, which gave a whopping $3 million to FPAF between June and October last year. A document from <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=S8nmqbK5wi4Uu%2Fs%2FYnF1l%2Fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">a confidential Koch donor gathering</a> near Palm Springs, California in early 2014 found in a hotel showed Cameron had a personal meeting with Charles Koch, the elder brother and chair and CEO of Koch Industries, along with Kevin Gentry, vice president for development at Koch Companies Public Sector, a limited liability corporation that both lobbies and spends politically. At another donor gathering in 2011, Charles Koch<a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=HaZwriIPeBmK1gFks8aqvPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">praised Cameron</a> for having given over $1 million to Koch-related causes over the previous 12 months. * Paul L. Foster, chair of oil refining company <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=SBiaqUUGUkguQEqTT2vTK%2Fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Western Refining</a> in El Paso, Texas, gave $1 million to FPAF in October. With a personal fortune <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=wa9isNLvyD3BM9pdK3%2FBRfn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">worth $1.5 billion</a>, Foster (center in photo) <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=B8ADUJT7aXTQLQCtKvYHjPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">met with Charles Koch</a> personally at last year's donor gathering. * John W. Childs, founder and CEO of the private equity firm <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Ktkdj4YT6O0l6hUMM5SrEvn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">J.W. Childs Associates</a>, gave $700,000 to FPAF in 2014. While his firm is based on Boston, Childs has a home in Vero Beach, Florida, the address listed in campaign finance documents. He <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=afcctD7Sl2kKmqHkBMNNmfn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">scored a private meeting</a> at the "Koch Residence" with Charles Koch at the 2014 donor gathering and was also <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1ov6ughyqaTR%2FuVuAkNi5fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">recognized in 2011</a> for donating over $1 million to the Koch network. Childs was the country's <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=NDe9hGZLDFgieAbBr6usevn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">12th-biggest individual donor</a> to outside spending groups in 2012 ($4.2 million) and No. 22 in 2014 ($2.4 million). * Wayne Laufer, <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=7gMVwxUP23o4Qn5P26ah0fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">co-founder and retired CEO</a> of Houston, Texas-based oil and natural gas corporation Bois d'Arc Energy, now lives in Sanibel, Florida. Laufer (at right in photo) donated $600,000 to FPAF last October. * Richard B. Gilliam, founder of Virginia-based coal mining company Cumberland Resources, contributed $500,000 to FPAF in July. Gilliam (at left in photo), who sold Cumberland to Massey Energy for close to $1 billion in 2010, <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=pA%2BswamPO5vAaWwVf68qVPiaKob6o6wT" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">gave nearly $1.1 million</a> to independent spending groups in 2012. Now a director at rare-metals mining corporation Endurance Gold, he <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=QDQRbDGfwYLMh0LljJkYlfn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">met privately</a>last year with Charles Koch and Richard Fink, CEO of Koch Companies Public Sector and Koch Industries board member. Charles Koch <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Cy6MQPLZgX51F7gnEJegsPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px;">praised Gilliam</a> in 2011 for giving over $1 million to the Koch network in a one-year period. * Mrs. P. Mitchell, a self-employed investor from Dallas, gave $500,000 to FPAF on Oct. 27, 2014. Her identity is unclear. * Art Pope's Henderson, North Carolina-based discount store chain <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=HxGxRTQngnliLDq3GyOPG%2FiaKob6o6wT" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Variety Wholesalers</a> gave $400,000 to FPAF through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Variety Stores, on Sept. 16, 2014. Just 11 days earlier, Pope -- a major donor to conservative candidates and causes in North Carolina -- <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Nl6FFxKfOm10JVSdLJl1nvn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">had resigned</a> after serving almost two years as state budget director under Gov. Pat McCrory (R), a period in which Pope and Variety Wholesalers halted their political spending. Pope has longstanding ties to the Kochs, having served as a <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Oc2l757C2oeobfUwj0pvaPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">founding board member </a>of Americans for Prosperity, and his family foundation <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=h1iOhMz7ilOOqJdBs6joofn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">has given millions</a> to AFP's 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm. Pope also <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2BR5ekXwcUp09HqDRr9la4fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">attended Koch donor gatherings</a> in 2010 and 2011, when Charles Koch <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=dXIeLLbfZXpHmh1Nz%2BEFyPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">praised him</a> for having given over $1 million to Koch-related causes in the previous year. In turn, the Kochs have <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Kk2cj22zIDQBmHsU5L8EY%2Fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: none; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">contributed to conservative advocacy groups</a> founded by Pope, including the Civitas Institute and the John Locke Foundation. The other major Southern donors to FPAF are Dian Graves Stai of Abilene, Texas, former director of First Financial Bankshares ($250,000); Robert B. Rowling of Dallas, chairman of TRT Holdings, which owns Omni Hotels, Gold's Gym International and an oil and gas exploration firm, among other companies ($200,000); James A. Patterson of Louisville, Kentucky, a self-employed investor ($200,000); George W. Gibbs III of Jacksonville, Florida, former CEO of Atlantic Marine Holding Co., a shipbuilding and construction company acquired by BAE Systems in 2010 ($200,000); Edward L. Diefenthal of Metairie, Louisiana, president and CEO of the Woodvine Group, which operates companies that buy and sell chemical processing and bulk handling equipment ($150,000); Stephen I. Chazen of Bellaire, Texas, president of Occidental Petroleum Corp. ($125,000); Thomas O. Hicks of Dallas, chairman of Hicks Holdings, which operates the company that formerly owned the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Stars ($100,000); and Robert L. Luddy of Wake Forest, North Carolina, president of CaptiveAire Systems, which sells commercial kitchen ventilation equipment, and founder of private school chain Thales Academy ($100,000). If past is prelude, we can expect these figures to continue bankrolling the Kochs' political efforts in 2016, which in addition to the presidential election will include U.S. Senate races in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina. (To comment on or to share this story, click <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=VkmOxoii%2FHTn0ou4yqwYMvn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">here</a>.) INSTITUTE INDEX - The growing oil train threat Train carloads of oil and ethanol expected to be hauled by rail in the U.S. this year:<a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ynlIpjI6%2Ft4nGdmmx7Y%2FlPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">nearly 900,000</a> Since 2008, percent increase in train carloads of oil being hauled in the U.S. due to the oil shale drilling boom, which produces a particularly explosive product:<a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=N4S3a%2BBA7%2FIZizsCNoRZTvn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">4,000</a> Number of Americans living within about 500 yards of an oil train line, which deliver product to refineries on both coasts and the Gulf of Mexico: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=kFaFyZELdkCT4PiTI93N3fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">16 million</a> Oil train derailments the U.S. government predicts will happen this year:<a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=E%2F3Eri9ZLJZEyJpelgQPb%2Fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">about 15</a> Over the next two decades: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=oyYFQJoMGCMmKgufLjEgNfn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">207</a> Average number of "higher consequence" oil train derailments the government expects per year: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=tTIAQkHV3m6hiVMk0UbZVPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">10</a> Number of people who could be killed in just one of these "higher consequence" accidents: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=0oRxUqZSS4O8y1BiTyX1E%2Fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">200</a> Estimated amount in damages such an incident could cause: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2pK8iZpM62ynHqL1gHlgjvn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">$6 billion</a> Number of tank cars of crude oil hauled by the CSX train that derailed in rural Mount Carbon, West Virginia on Feb. 16 while headed to an oil-shipping depot in Yorktown, Virginia: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=tUsKi0KtHWLHeH%2FyxlUS1%2Fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">107</a> Number of the railcars that caught fire in that disaster, which occurred along the the Kanawha River: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=4cZ0oeR4K189uVfzeGX26Pn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">19</a> Number of days the fire burned: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=anAv%2BMtgjHkSfLci7x9Cw%2Fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">4</a> Number of people evacuated from the area: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2egHMSOuy2fGSCBZBwTpPPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">about 1,000</a> Number of homes destroyed: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=yy7ac9nh33GWg1As6l6fVfn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">1</a> Gallons of crude oil spilled into the James River last year after an oil train derailed near downtown Lynchburg, Virginia: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2FBJu8zYWUIJehHNLifBJF%2Fn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">30,000</a> Gallons of crude spilled into wetlands near the rural, majority African-American community of Aliceville, Alabama in a November 2013 oil train derailment:<a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=L4%2FPpOBNLL7defsMK%2F7dwfn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">nearly 750,000</a> Number of months later that crude oil was still oozing into the wetland, which a reporter described as smelling "like a garage": <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=HdHsvXBMWOFimAHnN2XTNPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">4</a> Number of people killed in a July 2013 oil train explosion in Lac-Megantic, Quebec after flaming oil engulfed a crowded bar and restaurant on a Saturday night: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=W8J%2FAvmGq6XsqzOzNIJUHviaKob6o6wT" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">47</a> Number of victims whose remains were never found because the intense heat vaporized them: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=LdHqG1LRnWFrPxSYrfN9MPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">5</a> Date by which new federal oil train regulations were supposed to be finalized and implemented by regulators: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=pA%2BswamPO5tG8S%2FvWGSdbPiaKob6o6wT" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">1/15/2015</a> Number of days before the deadline that the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration posted documents to its website related to recent meetings with oil and rail industry lobbyists, who have objected to the additional costs: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1X6EC6ij8WKoswqf2KvDuvn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">2</a> Month to which the rollout of the regulations has been pushed back: <a rel="nofollow" target="blank" href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=S47%2FPlTq35sQQFpFe9zUZPn2u%2BV%2FK%2F%2BW" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">5/2015</a></div><div></div>