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Baykeeper Log
18: January 2007
Feature Stories...
SUZUKI COMING TO NEW BRUNSWICK!
On February 3rd and 4th,
David Suzuki will
be making three key stops in our province during his coast-to-coast
month-long
national tour, “If you were Prime Minister…”
“With global warming expected to have
major implications for the
New Brunswick coastline, presenting problems such as coastal erosion
and flooding,
threats to marine habitats, fish species, and fisheries, Dr. Suzuki’s
national
tour is encouraging to individuals as it gets everyone thinking about
our
environment and what we can do to be a part of the solution”, says Fundy Baykeeper David Thompson.
The New Brunswick leg of
Suzuki’s tour is being sponsored by the Conservation Council of New
Brunswick,
with the Saint John event
being hosted by the local chapter at Saint John High School. Tickets will
be sold at the door.
New Brunswick’s schedule is as follows:
Saturday February 3th,
Dr. Suzuki’s tour stops in Moncton at the Capitol Theatre from 2 pm tp 3 pm.
Saturday February 3th, Dr. Suzuki’s tour stops
in Saint John at the Saint John High
School from 8 pm tp 10 pm.
Sunday February 4th, Dr. Suzuki’s tour stops in Fredericton at the
Wilmot United Church Hall at 12:30 pm.
For more information about Dr. Suzuki’s tour, and our
involvement, visit www.conservationcouncil.ca
NEW OIL REFINERY?
On January 25, 2007 Irving Oil stated it was starting the environmental
permitting process for their second oil refinery. They registered a
project description
of their proposed new refinery with the provincial and federal
regulatory
authorities. This filing is intended to initiate the provincial and
federal
environmental impact assessment processes that are required for the
project. The
refinery which will be adjacent to the existing Canaport facility at
Mispec is
expected cost approximately $7 billion and produce 300,000 barrels of
oil a
day.
“In the view of the Conservation Council and Fundy Baykeeper, this refinery, which will export to the U.S.,
has no place in New Brunswick where there is no legislation to control
green
house gas emissions”, said Dave Thompson.
“All refined product will be exported by tanker, along
with the
proposed LNG terminal. This, will double the number of ships operating
in the
Bay of Fundy, increasing the risks of oil spills, tanker accidents,
possible explosions,
and possible collisions with large marine mammals”, expressed Mr.
Thompson.
“Furthermore, fisherman operating in the area will be displaced from
traditional
fishing grounds and the existing poor air quality in Saint John will further deteriorate”, David Stated.
The Conservation Council of NB and Baykeeper are
committed to actively
opposing the new refinery. Presently, Fundy Baykeeper has two
UNB law students examining what permits and approvals would be
necessary for Irving to obtain,
before receiving authorization to proceed with the construction of the
refinery.
CARDS AQUACULTURE
PRODUCT SITE CLEANED UP -CASE CLOSED!
After receiving several public complaints about an
overpowering
odour along the #1 highway near the Latang estuary, the Fundy Baykeeper investigated Cards Aquaculture Products Ltd. site
in Pennfield, in August 2006. There, Baykeeper David Thompson found
piles of
organic material (marine growth) and considerable amounts of
uncontained debris
-fibreglass insulation, pieces of Styrofoam, plastic sheeting, old
lumber, and
broken and used plastic piping.
Mr. Thompson took prompt action, writing a letter and
submitting
photographs of the site to the Minister of the Environment at that
time, Trevor
Holder. The letter requested that immediate action be taken for clean
up of the
site. The result, site clean up with the large piles of organic
material have
been taken to an approved composting site in Clarendon, NB, for
treatment.
Any future organic material generated at the Cards site
in
Pennfield, or similar facilities, will have to be promptly removed for
composting.
SMOKE FROM SHIP
FOULS AIR
On January 18, 2007 a large oil tanker brought into the port of Saint John, and moored at Long Wharf, proceeded
to discharge large billowing clouds of dark acidic smoke into the
downtown area
of Saint John. After
receiving calls of concern, Fundy Baykeeper reported
the matter to both the NB Department of Environment and Transport Canada who are
responsible for smoke stack emissions from ships.
Campaign Updates...
SAVE PASSAMAQUODDY BAY / CANADA (SPB/C)
Quoddy Bay and Downeast both filed their applications with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in December, and
the 30-day deadline for filing for intervenor status has now passed. SPB/C's lawyer has filed motions to intervene in
both application reviews on. The Province of New Brunswick has also filed motions to intervene.
FERC reviews the motions and decides whether to accept the
petitioners
as intervenors.
The next
step will be the preparation by FERC of environmental impact statements
(EIS)
for each application. This will take
anywhere from 3-4 months approximately to be complete. These documents
will
likely be several thousand pages long. We are lining up experts and
will have
45-60 days to review them and respond. Remember,
there are two applications, so two EIS
statements, two
separate filings of comments, etc. The
only saving grace is that much of the information that we will want to
submit
will be the same for both.
Upcoming
Events...
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February 20, 2007
The CCNB's Charlotte County Chapter
is hosting a talk with nuclear activist Willie Nolan. The
talk will be held at the Algonquin Hotel at 7:30pm in the St. Andrews
meeting room.
Those
interested are welcome to attend.
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