http://www.nlnewsnow.com/News/Local/2014-01-08/article-3568088/Public-concern-for-oil-spill/1
Public concern for oil spill
Christy Boyd
Published on January 08, 2014
CHANGE ISLANDS — Residents of Change Islands have expressed concern over
the situation with the Manolis L. since the first appearance of an oil
sheen in March of 2013.
Many of them can remember back in 1985 when the vessel came aground and
sank. It’s estimated that the ship was carrying between 400 and 500
tonnes of bunker oil and over 100 tonnes of light diesel.
Change Islands native Carolyn R. Parsons created a Facebook page —
Manolis L Oil Spill Cleanup Effort — on Dec. 21 to help share
information with concerned citizens.
She said, “The page is a hub to share information and ideas on how we
can raise awareness of what is happening. This is not an attack page,
but rather a place where all information can be found in one place.”
The Facebook page is a combined effort of individuals from Twillingate,
New World Island and Fogo Island. As Ms. Parsons noted, this problem is
not limited to Change Islands. With the water currents and the wind, the
oil leaking from the Manolis L. will likely travel to other parts of the
region.
Bonavista, Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor MP Scott Simms said in an
interview with the Pilot regarding a long-term plan, “Back in the spring
when we inquired about it, I posed the question to the Minister of
Fisheries or Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), but the answer came from the
Minister of Environment and Conservation, which was a good sign. It led
me to believe that it was serious enough that the long-term planning was
taking place.”
MP Simms noted the CCG is doing what they can with the neoprene seals
and the surveillance. Recently MP Simms wrote a letter to the
Environment Minister as a follow-up to his response last spring.
He said, “The new Minister of Environment, Leona Aglukkaq basically
threw it over to the CCG. The CCG doesn’t do the long-term planning.
They do some of it, but they are a support mechanism for that. The money
needs to be there, so my understanding that there was a submission in
front of the Treasury Board to get the money but I don’t know the status
of that and if its final. Word has it that they have done some research
to see which company can take the oil out of the water, all 500 tonnes
of it.”
MP Simms continued by saying, “What government needs to answer is when
the weather breaks come spring what is to done? Does the government have
a plan to get that oil out of the water at that time? We already missed
last summer and if we miss another summer this could be even worse for
next fall and winter.”
“There’s currently a process on the west coast in British Columbia to
get the oil out of a ship that sank in the 1940’s. There was a large
public campaign about that too. So I think we should also wage a large
public campaign to bring some attention to it. Considering where it is
and the currents in the area this is going to be very devastating if 500
tonnes or even a fraction of it gets out into the water.”
Ms. Parsons and the Facebook group is starting a letter writing campaign
to Minister Aglukkaq to ask for assistance in reaching the Treasury
Board for funding to remove the oil from the sunken Manolis L. and
information regarding where to send letters can be found on the Facebook
page.
The Pilot also spoke with The Isles of Notre Dame MHA and Natural
Resources Minister Derrick Dalley has been in close contact with the
Department of Environment and Conservation and the Department of
Fisheries and Aquaculture regarding the issue of the Manolis L. Until
recently he was also involved as the Minister of Fisheries and
Aquaculture. He noted that although the Federal Government and the CCG
are lead on this issue, the province is still engaged.
“There is a science table set up where we have fairly regular conference
calls to discuss this issue and receive regular updates,” said Minister
Dalley. “The Provincial Government sits at that table with
representatives from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the
Department of Environment and Conservation.”
He has requested a meeting with the head of the CCG for an update on the
immediate short-term work being done from a district perspective. As
well, he has planned to meet with the Federal Minister Responsible for
Newfoundland and Labrador, Rob Moore early in the new year to discuss
long-term plans.
As for individuals involved in the clean-up effort Ms. Parsons said, “We
have to continue to put the pressure on government to ensure the oil is
cleaned up and a long-term solution found before it becomes an
environmental disaster.”
--
Darryl McMahon
Failure is not an option;
it comes standard.
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