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Percy Barrett, Opposition Critic for Environment and Conservation and MHA
for the District of Bellevue, is renewing his previous call for government
to place independent observers on all production and exploration platforms
off the province’s coast, to ensure that proper monitoring takes place.
"In light of the serious oil-spills at that time, last November I called on
government to show leadership, and designate observers to monitor offshore
activities to ensure that proper procedures were being followed," said
Barrett. "With charges being laid in the November incident and recent news
that more oil has been found in the water around the Terra Nova platform,
the urgency of the matter has not diminished.
"While I appreciate the work that is done by oil companies and the Canada
- Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board to ensure that spills
do not occur, the placement of independent monitors on offshore facilities
would provide an extra measure of security for the environment. The recent
incidents prove that some problems do exist in the industry and they must be
addressed before another serious spill occurs."
It is speculated that the most recent occurrence of oil may have come
from the marine growth on the underside of the platform. Barrett says this
whole incident reinforces the need for proper monitoring to protect our
marine environment that is shared between the oil and gas industry and
resource rich fishing grounds and migratory birds.
"I feel greater transparency and monitoring would benefit both the
industry and the people of the province. There should be full disclosure of
all relevant reports to the public so anyone with an interest in this issue
can examine the information that is available. We must be vigilant in
protecting the marine environment as we extract this resource off our
shores."
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