| Time To Cap Blowout Irresponsible | 15 August 15 |
Shell Canada's spill containment plan, accepted by the agency, says it can have a primary capping stack in place within 12 to 21 days after a blowout off southern Nova Scotia. Leona Aglukkaq's decision to approve an offshore drilling plan from Shell that allows up to 21 days to contain a subsea blowout, despite the U.S. requiring the same company to cap blowouts within 24 hours is both unthinkable and irresponsible. The most recent U.S. ruling in Alaska — where Shell wants to conduct an exploratory drilling project - requires a capping stack to be on hand for a blowout within 24 hours. WWF-Canada works to ensure offshore oil and gas activities in Canadian waters are carried out in a safe and responsible manner, and supports the U.S. decision to require a capping stack be onsite within 24 hours of a blowout. "The Shelburne Basin is next to some of Canada's richest fishing grounds and supports endangered marine wildlife including right whales, blue whales and leatherback turtles. Allowing up to 21 days to cap a blowout off the coast of Nova Scotia could have a devastating impact on the province's marine environment, its fisheries and the people who depend on them.' Said WWF-Canada President and CEO David Miller: "Canada needs to put regulations in place that ensure development does not come at the expense of the environment."
View August 7, 2015 World Wildlife Fund Canada article |
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