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| Question: Effects of PCB's...
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- Looking for any information on the
Irving Whale or the effects that PCBs have on marine life? Or do you know who I could
contact to get any info? Marla |
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| Answer 3: Posted by Aaron Koleszar |
Some Facts about the Irving Whale Monday, September 7, 1970, the Irving Whale, and its 4,270 ton cargo of bunker "C" oil, as well as 7520 kg of PCBs, sank. PD McTaggart-Cowan had said that the barge, "was in terrible shape - dirty, with the safety rails half off over the bow," and that the barge had been a good vessel when built in 1966, but, "it didn't look as if it had had any maintenance since." At the time, a Transport Department official commented that the barge was, "very, very heavily loaded", just prior to it's sinking. The whale had spilled 3,000 gallons of bunker oil near Newfoundlands' Burin Peninsula only months before. The bunker oil contained PCBs, yet Irving kept this secret, until it was about to be discovered. The salvage operation cost $ 42.2 million. Irving recieved an insurance settlement after the barge sank, yet did not contribute a penny to the lift operation. After the Whale had been raised, Irving retained posession of it, as well as the oil inside. Some people wonder whether the Whale was sank on purpose. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Also, try contacting - Ansel Fergeson 1-902-658- 2997. |
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| Answer 2: Posted by Inka Milewski |
Of the top of my head I don't know who would have
information on the Irving Whale except Environment Canada. I am sure they have background
documents available for public distribution. If not, ask under the freedom of information
Act. There have been enough articles in the press about the Irving Whale as well - I
suggest doing a a search of newspapers and finding out from those articles who have been
the key NGO spokespersons on the issue. I think the PEI environmental network has info on
this issue. It seems to me that groups in PEI were vocal on the Irving Whale issue. As for information on PCB's, how much detail do people want. I can't think of a single reference that will provide all the recent information on PCB. But, I do suggest doing a search on the internet. Just type in "polychlorinated biphenyls" or PCB and see what pops up. A trip to the local library is also a good place to start. The 1991 State of Canada's Environment report has numerous reference to PCBs, as does the follow-up 1996 State of Canada's Environment Report - Conserving Canada's Natural Legacy. Hope this is useful. I do much better answering specific questions (e.g., what is the effect of PCB's on reproductive function in fish?) |
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| Answer 1: Posted by Elements |
-Elements would like to suggest that you
contact Aaron Kolesar as well as Inka Milewski, the Coordinator of Marine Protected Areas, World Wildlife Fund, for more information.
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Readers, |
