Very nice, Scott. Kudos for getting out there in what looks to be damned cold weather. Lovely images.
As for the flares, I think your best strategy if you don't like them is to avoid them, as you've done in #2 and #3. I actually like the one in the sky in #1, but the other two could I think be removed with considerable effort.
I'd go at the corrugated tank (left side flare) flare with the clone tool. That one should be pretty easy. The other one to the right might prove more difficult, but I think that the clone tool might work there, too.
Others will probably have more sophisticated solutions, but the clone tool nearly always surprises me.