Oxbow

<p><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation</a>

 </p>

<p><b>Oxbow Corporation</b> is a privately-owned company which was founded by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/William_I._Koch" title="William I. Koch">William I. Koch</a> (Bill), who is the brother of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/David_Koch" title="David Koch" class="mw-redirect">David Koch</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Charles_Koch" title="Charles Koch" class="mw-redirect">Charles Koch</a>, billionaire fraternal twin brothers who operate <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Koch_Industries" title="Koch Industries">Koch Industries</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup> On its website the company states that "the Oxbow Group is made up of more than two dozen companies with yearly aggregate sales of over $3.7 billion, combined assets of over $1.7 billion and over 1200 employees worldwide. Oxbow’s primary businesses are the mining and marketing of energy and commodities such as coal, natural gas, petroleum, metallurgical and calcined coke."<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_note-1">[2]</a></sup></p>

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<h2>Contents</h2>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#Political_donations"><span class="tocnumber">1</span> <span class="toctext">Political donations</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#Mining_safety_violations"><span class="tocnumber">2</span> <span class="toctext">Mining safety violations</span></a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#Mining_expansion_into_protected_forest"><span class="tocnumber">2.1</span> <span class="toctext">Mining expansion into protected forest</span></a></li>

</ul>

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<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#Fracking"><span class="tocnumber">3</span> <span class="toctext">Fracking</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#Tar_sands"><span class="tocnumber">4</span> <span class="toctext">Tar sands</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#Contact_details"><span class="tocnumber">5</span> <span class="toctext">Contact details</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#Articles_and_resources"><span class="tocnumber">6</span> <span class="toctext">Articles and resources</span></a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#Related_SourceWatch_articles"><span class="tocnumber">6.1</span> <span class="toctext">Related SourceWatch articles</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#References"><span class="tocnumber">6.2</span> <span class="toctext">References</span></a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#External_links"><span class="tocnumber">6.3</span> <span class="toctext">External links</span></a></li>

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<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Political_donations">Political donations</span></h2>

<p>An article released in September 2011 reported that William Koch had donated money to Rep. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Boehner" title="John Boehner">John Boehner</a>. Bill Koch has donated at least $80,200 to Boehner’s campaign funds since the beginning of 2010. He’s given another $65,400 to the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/National_Republican_Congressional_Committee" title="National Republican Congressional Committee">National Republican Congressional Committee</a>, and the approximately the same amount to <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/National_Republican_Senatorial_Committee" title="National Republican Senatorial Committee">National Republican Senatorial Committee</a>. “We are a big supporter of John Boehner. We think he's good for business,” said Oxbow spokesman Brad Goldstein to the <i>Wall Street Journal</i>. “ ... this [Obama] administration has been rather harsh on the industry.” <sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_note-2">[3]</a></sup>

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Oxbow and its executives contributed over $3 million in the 2012 election season, the second most of any energy company (behind <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Alliance_Resource_Partners" title="Alliance Resource Partners">Alliance Resource Partners</a>), and $1.6 million lobbying Congress from 2011 through Oct. 2012.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_note-3">[4]</a></sup></p>

<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Mining_safety_violations">Mining safety violations</span></h2>

<p>The Oxbow Corporation operates the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Elk_Creek_Mine" title="Elk Creek Mine">Elk Creek Mine</a> in Western Colorado. According to Greenpeace,</p>

<p>Oxbow’s Elk Creek Mine has been cited with over 2000 violations by the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Mine_Safety_and_Health_Administration" title="Mine Safety and Health Administration">Mine Safety and Health Administration</a>. Oxbow has paid over $960,000 in fines since beginning the operation of the mine ten years ago. Of the 2000 violations, over 400 were deemed “significant and substantial,” meaning they could result in injury or death. One single violation of mine ventilation regulations in March 2010 cost Oxbow a penalty of $45,000.18 Explosive coal-dust buildup, excessive methane, in adequate ventilation, and poor maintenance including fire extinguishers, were among the violations, according to MSHA’s database. Such “significant and substantial” violations can lead to injuries and tragic fatalities. Though the MSHA investigation has not been completed, excessive methane and improper ventilation were recurring problems at Massey Coal’s Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, where 29 miners were killed in an explosion in April 2010.19 In the last decade, the only two fatalities in Colorado coal mines occurred at Oxbow operations.20 The Associated Press reported the death of a 37-year old miner in December 2000 at Oxbow Mining’s Sanborn Creek Mine, likely due to a faulty fitting on a high-pressure hose.21 At the Elk Creek Mine, a 26-year-old miner died in January 2007 when a bundle of materials fell on him.<sup id="cite_ref-gp_4-0" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_note-gp-4">[5]</a></sup></p>

</blockquote>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Mining_expansion_into_protected_forest">Mining expansion into protected forest</span></h3>

<p>In 2009, a subsidiary of the Oxbow Group requested to expand the Elk Creek Mine into a federally protected roadless area of the Gunnison National Forest. Oxbow requested permission to build into the area in order to drill <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Methane" title="Methane">methane</a> vents for their underground coal mine expansion. Secretary of Agriculture, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Tom_Vilsack" title="Tom Vilsack">Tom Vilsack</a>, eventually approved the roadless rule exemption for Oxbow’s Elk Creek mine in May 2010."<sup id="cite_ref-gp_4-1" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_note-gp-4">[5]</a></sup>

With the support of Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, the Obama administration in 2011 proposed a Colorado-specific rule that would provide protection for only about half a million acres of Colorado forest land and would permit more logging and road-building on 13% of current roadless areas in Colorado, as well as exempt 20,000 acres of roadless land in the state so that the coal industry can build in the Sunset Trail roadless area as well as other areas.

In May 2011 it was reported that Oxbow was exploring for coal on Colorado’s Oak Mesa, just a few miles from the Currant Creek roadless area. Environmentalists oppose the mine exploration on the basis that it will require road to be built in areas that are currently off limits to road development.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_note-5">[6]</a></sup></p>

<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Fracking">Fracking</span></h2>

<p>Oxbow Group partners with gas driller <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Gunnison_Energy_Corporation&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Gunnison Energy Corporation (page does not exist)">Gunnison Energy Corporation</a> to frack and sell natural gas.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_note-6">[7]</a></sup></p>

<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Tar_sands">Tar sands</span></h2>

<p>On its website Oxbow states that it is “the largest distributor of petroleum coke in the world with annual shipments of nearly 11 million tons.” Petcoke is a byproduct of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Tar_sands" title="Tar sands">tar sands</a> produced through the oil refining process that is coal-like in composition. When it is burned in power plants or factories, petcoke emits 38% more carbon by weight than conventional coal and significantly more toxic pollutants.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_note-7">[8]</a></sup></p>

<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Contact_details">Contact details</span></h2>

<p>Oxbow Group

1601 Forum Place, Suite 1400

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Phone: (561) 697-4300

Email: info AT oxbow.com

Website: <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="http://www.oxbow.com/ContentPage.asp?FN=Home">http://www.oxbow.com/ContentPage.asp?FN=Home</a></p>

<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Articles_and_resources">Articles and resources</span></h2>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Related_SourceWatch_articles">Related SourceWatch articles</span></h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Colorado_and_coal" title="Colorado and coal">Colorado and coal</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/U.S._coal_politics" title="U.S. coal politics">U.S. coal politics</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/David_H._Koch" title="David H. Koch">David H. Koch</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Charles_G._Koch" title="Charles G. Koch">Charles G. Koch</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Koch_Industries" title="Koch Industries">Koch Industries</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Koch_Family_Foundations" title="Koch Family Foundations">Koch Family Foundations</a></li>

</ul>

<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span></h3>

<li id="cite_note-0"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_ref-0">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">Greenpeace.org <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/34735133/Bill-Koch-The-Dirty-Money-Behind-Cape-Wind-Opposition">Bill Koch: the Dirty Money Behind the Cape Win Opposition</a>, Report, Accessed February 28, 2010.</span></li>

<li id="cite_note-1"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_ref-1">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">Oxbow Corporation, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.oxbow.com/ContentPage.asp?FN=AboutPhilosophy&TS=1&MS=1&oLang=">"Philosophy"</a>, Oxbow Corporation website, accessed June 2009.</span></li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_ref-2">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">Jonathan Thompson, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.hcn.org/hcn/blogs/goat/bill-koch-coal-and-political-cash">"Bill Koch, coal, and political cash"</a>, <i>High Country News</i>, September 19, 2011.</span></li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_ref-3">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">David Turnbull, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/10/18/1036481/koched-up-exposing-petcokes-political-pollution/">"Koch’ed Up: Exposing Petcoke’s Political Pollution,"</a> Think Progress, Oct. 18, 2012.</span></li>

<li id="cite_note-gp-4">↑ <sup><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_ref-gp_4-0">5.0</a></sup> <sup><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_ref-gp_4-1">5.1</a></sup> <span class="reference-text">Greenpeace.org <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/34735133/Bill-Koch-The-Dirty-Money-Behind-Cape-Wind-Opposition">Bill Koch: the Dirty Money Behind the Cape Win Opposition</a>, Report. 2010. Accessed February 28, 2010</span></li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_ref-5">↑</a> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://earthjustice.org/blog/2011-may/colorado-roadless-areas-on-the-chopping-block-again">"Colorado Roadless Areas on the Chopping Block (Again)"</a> Ted Zukoski, EarthJustice, May 23, 2011.</span></li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_ref-6">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">Mike Ludwig, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://truth-out.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=5205:kasich-koch-and-bigindustry-bucks-why-ohio-is-the-next-fracking-frontier">"Kasich, Koch and Big-Industry Bucks: Why Ohio Is the Next Fracking Frontier,"</a> truthout, Nov. 29, 2011.</span></li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Oxbow_Corporation#cite_ref-7">↑</a> <span class="reference-text">David Turnbull, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/10/18/1036481/koched-up-exposing-petcokes-political-pollution/">"Koch’ed Up: Exposing Petcoke’s Political Pollution,"</a> Think Progress, Oct. 18, 2012.</span></li>

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<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="External_links">External links</span></h3>

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Oxbow

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