'Mystery spill' off Newfoundland killing sea birds
CBC News
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Coast guard and environment officials are investigating one of the worst "mystery spills" of oil they've encountered, in the waters off Newfoundland's southern tip. Terry Harvey, senior response officer with the Canadian Coast Guard, said no slick has been detected floating on the water.
However, oil-soaked sea birds are washing ashore in several communities along the southern Avalon Peninsula, including Trepassey, Portugal Cove South and St. Shotts. "It's probably in the top 10 of the worst [incidences in terms of] visible damage being done, with the number of birds – both alive and dead – starting to come up, plus the amount of oil debris we're collecting," Harvey said.
It's been classified as a "mystery spill" for now, because the source hasn't been identified. Along one 250-metre stretch of a beach on the southern Avalon Peninsula, more than a dozen oily birds were found dead. More than 50 oiled birds were spotted still alive in the surf.
Apr 11, 2006
CBC News
_______
Coast guard and environment officials are investigating one of the worst "mystery spills" of oil they've encountered, in the waters off Newfoundland's southern tip. Terry Harvey, senior response officer with the Canadian Coast Guard, said no slick has been detected floating on the water.
However, oil-soaked sea birds are washing ashore in several communities along the southern Avalon Peninsula, including Trepassey, Portugal Cove South and St. Shotts. "It's probably in the top 10 of the worst [incidences in terms of] visible damage being done, with the number of birds – both alive and dead – starting to come up, plus the amount of oil debris we're collecting," Harvey said.
It's been classified as a "mystery spill" for now, because the source hasn't been identified. Along one 250-metre stretch of a beach on the southern Avalon Peninsula, more than a dozen oily birds were found dead. More than 50 oiled birds were spotted still alive in the surf.
Apr 11, 2006
