The STEM OPT _extension_ is an additional year on top of the one year that all graduates get. I believe the article is arguing for getting rid of that extension, not all OPT.
It's been exciting to see Docusaurus [1], VitePress, and Starlight [2] all under very active development, with the first two being React- and Vue-based respectively, and Starlight being built in the Astro Islands "bring your own UI framework" model. Docusaurus ended up feeling a bit too heavyweight and opinionated for my uses, and I've been happy with Starlight so far, with the developer/author experience being very similar to what I've seen during experimentation with VitePress.
tldr: the election only happens after significant organizing and demonstrated worker interest in forming a union.
Currently it’s a two step process: get a threshold % of workers to indicate interest in unionizing, then hold an election over all workers to see if a majority want a union. The ruling makes it so that if the company interferes with the election, the NLRB deems that initial interest level sufficient for allowing a union to form and recognizing its authority to collectively bargain on behalf of all covered workers.
This was in 2021; it appears the fire was extinguished by July 11 [1], investigated by Vice later that year [2], and seems to still be being cleaned up by US EPA [3].
Many batteries have LiPF6 electrolytes, so HF is the big one when they combust.
And of course the most famous and common battery chemistry is still LiCo - so you've got Lithium salts and Cobalt, which you don't love to see get in ground water.
They're not too bad when they don't burn, but once they've burned, all bets are off - there are a lot of nasty byproducts.
otherwise known as hydroflouric acid. nasty stuff indeed:
> In addition to being a highly corrosive liquid, hydrofluoric acid is also a powerful contact poison. Because of the ability of hydrofluoric acid to penetrate tissue, poisoning can occur readily through exposure of skin or eyes, or when inhaled or swallowed. Symptoms of exposure to hydrofluoric acid may not be immediately evident, and this can provide false reassurance to victims, causing them to delay medical treatment.[24] Despite having an irritating odor, HF may reach dangerous levels without an obvious odor.[5] HF interferes with nerve function, meaning that burns may not initially be painful. Accidental exposures can go unnoticed, delaying treatment and increasing the extent and seriousness of the injury.[24] Symptoms of HF exposure include irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, and throat, eye and skin burns, rhinitis, bronchitis, pulmonary edema (fluid buildup in the lungs), and bone damage.[25]
> otherwise known as hydroflouric acid. nasty stuff indeed:
Technically hydrofluoric acid is hydrogen fluoride dissolved in water.
But yes, nasty stuff, and that fine distinction doesn't matter when HF gas spreads through the air, meets biology and immediately turns into the acid on contact.
It doesn't take much for something to be toxic to soil, wildlife, &c.
> Lithium batteries contain potentially toxic materials including metals, such as copper, nickel, and lead, and organic chemicals, such as toxic and flammable electrolytes containing LiClO4, LiBF4, and LiPF6.
Also, from the article:
> an estimated 180,000 to 200,000 pounds of lithium ion batteries stored in the warehouse caught fire,
Almost anything human made burning at that scale will be toxic to some degree, lithium batteries aren't made of flower petals and lavender essential oil. Have you ever had a battery fire in your house ? It's nasty as fuck, even from a single small phone battery
> blurred vision, difficulty breathing, burning pain in the throat, burns to the eye, confusion, decreased level of consciousness, diarrhea (watery, bloody), stomach pain, vomiting, and rash
Oxidization changes the multiple chemicals into different chemicals so the question would have to be what are those resulting chemicals not in the batteries, but after oxidization. Also, you have the other stuff being stored in the warehouse burning at the same time, and firefighters dumping on who knows what else beyond what was mentioned, and how all those chemicals react with each other with heat to form even more chemicals. A lot going on in this story.
In case it was a poper storage facility, and the fire wasn't caused intentionally or by gross negligence, insurance covers it (speaking about Europe, no idea those kind of insurance works in the US). One of the reasosn why hazardous goods storage, especially for Li-batteries, is so hard to come by and expensive.
