Americas News
Canada Studying Oil Spill Response
The Canadian government is commissioning a study on response readiness to oil spills from ships in the nation's waters, Transport Canada announced.
"Our government is working to protect the safety of Canadians and the environment," said Denis Lebel, minister of transport, infrastructure and communities.
"Canada depends on marine shipping for jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity.
"While the current system has served Canada well, it is essential that we have a system in place that can meet future needs."
The study will have two phases, an evaluation of the likelihood of oil or chemical spills in scenarios including collisions, fires, explosions, structural failure, and loading/offloading operations, and the second looking at the risks chemical spills would pose.
The government has issued a request for proposals to find a marine and risk expert to help conduct the study, and the contract award is scheduled to be announced in early spring.
The study will include consideration of spills in Arctic waters, where many energy companies are expanding operations as melting ice allows for better access.
An organisation made up of eight Arctic nations, including Canada, has been developing a plan for unified responses to spills in the region, but some environmentalists have criticised it as "too vague."
