[Greens-Media] Greens call for monitoring of environmental Impacts of oil spill

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Greens call for monitoring of environmental Impacts of oil spill
Sunday 30th August 2009

The Federal Government should stop trying to downplay the potential
impact of the oil spill off the Kimberley coast and start taking action,
the Australian Greens said today.

"This spill is threatening our marine environment including whales,
turtles and other threatened species - where is the Government's plan of
action?" asked Senator Rachel Siewert in Perth today.

The company's own environmental plan lists as passing through the area:

* 4 species listed as endangered under the EPBC Act - Loggerhead turtle,
Pacific Ridley turtle, Abbott's Booby and the Blue Whale. 
* 8 species listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act area - Green turtle,
Hawksbill turtle, Flatback turtle, Lesser Noddy, Christmas Island
Frigatebird, Humpback Whale, Leatherback turtle and the Whale shark.

"Their documents also list 5 species of turtle, the flatback, green,
hawksbill, loggerhead and olive ridley being in the area and well as sea
snakes, sponges, sea whips, sea fans, sea squirts, lace coral and soft
corals," said Senator Siewert.

"The Minister for Resource's, Martin Ferguson own figures confirm that
the spill is much bigger than previously claimed and in fact his figures
are similar to mine for the spread of the slick to the east, but it is
surprising that he doesn't mention the extent of the spread to the
West."

"The spill even under the Government's figures has travelled over 100kms
towards the coast in one week - what is it likely to do in the estimated
eight weeks it will take to stop the leak"

"There are so many questions that remain unanswered:
Why hasn't the Government been monitoring the environmental impacts of
the spill?
Why haven't they release the estimated volume of oil being released into
the environment?
Has the Government tried using satellite imaging to track the spill?
Why hasn't the Government been updating us on the size and location of
the spill? Why hasn't the Minister for the Environment visited the site?
Do we have full information about the environmental impacts of the
dispersant being used?"

"The Government must implement a concentrated monitoring program
immediately. Organisations such as the CSIRO and the Australian
Institute of Marine Science should be engaged to monitor the extent and
impacts of the spill, tracking its impacts on marine life, corals,
mangroves, mudflats, benthic fauna, tracking its dispersal through the
water column, the composition and concentration of different
hydrocarbons, measuring concentrations in bottom sediments," said
Senator Siewert.

"They should be monitoring the weather and modelling the likely spread
of the spill."

Senator Siewert called on the Government to immediately begin a full
judicial inquiry into the spill and not delay for an indefinite period.

"The Government should be standing up for Australia's precious marine
environment and wildlife," she concluded.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180