Marine Pollution Control8631 West Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, MI 48209 USA
313.849.2333 - 24/hour
11320 E Lakewood Blvd., #11
Holland, MI 49424
800-521-8232 – 24/Hour
GSA Contract #: GS-10F-0268R
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Bill to Bring Oil Spill Response into 21st Century, Oil Spill Research and Technology Act of 2012
June 19, 2012
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) has introduced legislation to jumpstart research and development into new oil spill response technology, bringing oil spill response into the 21st century. Her bill - the Oil Spill Research and Technology Act of 2012 (S. 3298) - would create grants to support the research and development of new technologies to better contain and clean up all types of oil spills. In addition, the bill requires the United States Coast Guard to establish a program to evaluate and implement 'best available technology' to effectively respond to and clean up oil spills.
Budget cuts threaten federal green plan for oilsands and coal: scientist
June 13, 2012
OTTAWA — Budget cuts to a team of smokestack pollution specialists at Environment Canada could jeopardize the Harper government's efforts to crack down on pollution from industries such as the oilsands and coal-fired electricity generation, warns a University of Guelph professor, who worked with the special unit of federal scientists.
Environment Minister Peter Kent has suggested, through a spokesman, the government could replace his department's expertise by relying on outside sources such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Army Ship Taking on Water & Spilling Fuel, Coast Guard Responds
June 11, 2012
Coast Guard personnel are coordinating with the Army Reserve, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Alaska Chadux Corporation and other stakeholders in response to the diesel fuel spill that occurred Friday night as a result of damage to the Army vessel Monterrey in Chiniak Bay near Kodiak.
Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Kodiak personnel estimate the amount of fuel in the water from two reportedly breached fuel compartments at 15,291 gallons.
Two booms have been put in place around the beached 174-foot landing craft, and a third boom is being placed at the mouth of the Buskin River, an environmentally sensitive area. Response teams are exploring the possibility of skimming vessels to clear surface fuel.
Bank of America makes $50 billion environmental pledge
June 12, 2012
Bank of America Corp. announced Monday a commitment to invest $50 billion in green energy and other environmental projects over the next 10 years, after achieving a similar goal announced in 2007 years ahead of schedule.
The Charlotte bank joins a number of other large banks in making similar commitments amid complaints that the bank finances coal extraction and mountaintop removal.
“Environmental business delivers value to our clients, return for our shareholders, and helps strengthen the economy,” said CEO Brian Moynihan said in a statement. “We met our prior goal in about half the time we set for ourselves, so more than doubling our target is ambitious but achievable.”
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As trains start to carry crude oil across Maine, environmentalists start to worry
June 11, 2012
The modern-day oil boom in the western U.S. and Canada is fueling interest in shipping crude oil by rail across Maine to a refinery in the Maritimes.
But the prospect of long trains of oil-filled tanker cars rumbling through Maine also has state environmental officials concerned, particularly in the wake of a recent derailment that sent several tanker cars of nonhazardous materials tumbling into the Penobscot River. As a result, state officials are reviewing their spill response strategies and making other preparations.