Oil spill worry
No resources to combat spills in the Arctic, says World Wildlife Fund
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Monday, April 10, 2017
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
A World Wildlife Fund of Canada report points to "gaping" holes in the ability to respond to oil spills in Arctic waters.
The environmental advocacy group looked at resources to respond to a spill in the Beaufort Sea.
The report, released April 6, points to a lack of equipment and response capacity, maintenance of and access to equipment, and training as issues that would pose issues during a spill.
The report states the largest equipment stockpiled in communities can recover up to 1,000 tonnes of oil yet tankers carrying fuel to the Mary River Mine in Nunavut carry up to 4,500 tonnes of diesel and community resupply vessels carry up to 18,000 tonnes of fuel oil.
Disposing of oil collected with that equipment would also be problematic, the report states. For instance, it states equipment in Tuktoyaktuk is designed to recover up to 1,000 tonnes of oil yet the containers for disposal can only store up to 275 tonnes, with capacity in Hay River for an additional 240 tonnes.
"The gaps identified in these reports are extremely concerning," Andrew Dumbrille, a WWF-Canada senior specialist on sustainable shipping, stated in a news release.
"It is not right that these communities should bear the heavy consequences of a ship-based oil spill, and not be given the tools and training necessary to limit the damage.
"We need to make serious changes to oil-spill response plans in the Arctic before our luck runs out."
Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unilaterally announced a five-year ban on oil and gas drilling in Canadian Arctic waters. Trudeau defended the move during a visit to Yellowknife in February, saying it was meant to protect the environment.
