It’s only been a quarter of a century since the United States passed it’s Oil Pollution Act. A year after the 1989 Exxon Valdez environmental disaster off the coast of Alaska, American politicians wrote a law requiring all new tankers need to have double hulls to prevent similar catastrophes. But single hull tankers were still […]
Single hull oil tankers banned from U.S. waters
It’s only been a quarter of a century since the United States passed it’s Oil Pollution Act. A year after the 1989 Exxon Valdez environmental disaster off the coast of Alaska, American politicians wrote a law requiring all new tankers need to have double hulls to prevent similar catastrophes. But single hull tankers were still […]
Understanding the immediate consequences of an oil spill
The fate of oil during the first day after an accidental oil spill is still poorly understood, with researchers often arriving on the scene only after several days. New findings from a field experiment carried out in the North Sea could help shape the emergency response in the immediate wake of disasters. It is well […]
Chilling report on the Arctic
The Arctic appear to be the next target for the oil and gas industry. With up to a fifth of the world’s remaining reserves, it’s the single largest untapped region. There is a concern though, can the oil be extracted safely? The industry likes to remind us there are hundreds of deepwater wells that have […]
Comment: Tugboats should protect B.C. coast from another Exxon Valdez disaster
The federal government’s recent approval of the Northern Gateway pipeline requires the company to meet 209 tough conditions. Some of those conditions specify marine and tanker safety requirements, including provisions for both oil spill recovery and, more critically, oil spill prevention. As someone who frequently kayaks along our beautiful mid-coast, I’m well aware of the […]
Comment: Northern Gateway pipeline-risk versus reward
(excerpt from Gwyn Morgan commentary) The proposed Northern Gateway project has become a flashpoint for the growing debate about the safety of oil pipelines. Yet despite the arguments put forward by its proponents and opponents, many Canadians lack a broader perspective from which to measure the risks and rewards of what would be a vital […]