Marine Pollution Control8631 West Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, MI 48209 USA
313.849.2333 - 24/hour
11324 E Lakewood Blvd., #12 & #13
Holland, MI 49424
800-521-8232 – 24/Hour
GSA Contract #: GS-10F-0268R
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Scientists discover oil sands pollution significantly under-reported
In Canada, when it comes to figuring out how much pollution the oil sands emit, the government relies on industry to report their own numbers. That's how policies get made and regulations are formed, but it turns out the oil sands companies have been significantly underestimating the level of a certain type of pollution they emit.
Back in 2013, researchers gathered their own data by flying above and around four different oil sands facilities at different altitudes. Dr. Shao-Meng Li, a senior research scientist for Environment and Climate Change Canada and lead author of the study, says he found the oil sands producers were emitting two to four-and-a-half times more volatile organic compounds than they had reported. Those are gaseous organic compounds that can be toxic for human and environmental health.
Coast Guard continues response for grounded vessel near Ludington
Coast Guard crews continue to monitor salvage operations Friday of a 76-foot recreational vessel that grounded on April 15 in the vicinity of Big Sable Point near Ludington, Michigan.
The vessel’s superstructure has broken off with debris scattered along the shoreline in the vicinity of the grounding. The deteriorating condition of the vessel was confirmed by an overflight conducted by Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, Michigan.
Lightering operations were completed Thursday evening with a total of 70 gallons of oily water recovered from the starboard tank. It was determined that no fuel remained in the tank following the recovery.
Grennan Appointed President of SCAA
Devon Grennan, CEO and President of Global Diving & Salvage, Inc., has been appointed President of the Spill Control Association of America (SCAA). SCAA is a professional association representing spill control contractors, manufacturers, distributors, government agencies, and various qualified individuals within the industry.
Grennan has served on the board of SCAA since 2012. “SCAA is a unique association that has represented our diverse membership for 44 years,” said Grennan. “It is the singular voice of the Spill Response Industry and has become the preeminent response organization working with our clients and local, state, and federal agencies.”
BP moves to close Alaska well leaking gas
BP Plc is working to secure an ongoing natural gas leak in a well on Alaska’s North Slope that also sprayed crude oil for three days before that release was capped. The plan is to close the well, state officials said.
The crude spray onto the well pad was discovered Friday morning, and capped on Sunday. A second leak at the well was emitting gas at a reduced rate, according to a statement Sunday by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation. Well pressure is being monitored and excess pressure is being bled off to keep it within a safe range.
The company is putting together a plan to plug the gas leak, the statement said. Once that occurs, “well-killing operations can take place,” according to the DEC. The well is part of the Prudhoe Bay field, which in March produced an average 315,395 barrels a day, according to data from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
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Emergency response crews get hands-on training with Lamor Arctic Skimmer tool in Straits of Mackinac
It’s purpose-built, it’s designed for extreme cold and ice, and it’s now part of Enbridge’s emergency response arsenal in the Straits of Mackinac.
Last week, crews from Enbridge and our network of oil spill response organizations (OSROs) were out on the water in Cheboygan, Michigan, for a two-day training session with a Lamor Arctic Skimmer—the most advanced cold-weather oil recovery system on the market.
While Enbridge focuses primarily on prevention methods to keep our pipeline network healthy—including 24/7 monitoring, regular inspections and maintenance, and remotely controlled isolation valves—we also invest heavily in the tools, technologies and systems that ensure a safe, quick and effective response in the event of a spill.