A B.C. First Nation is suing the provincial and federal governments, as well as the owners of the Nathan E Stewart tug that spilled 110,000 litres of diesel along the northern B.C. coast.
The Heiltsuk Nation say that the October 2016 spill in the Seaforth Channel along the central coast near Bella Bella, irreparably damaged their marine harvesting areas.
Nearly two years to the day of the Oct. 13 spill, asking for financial compensation and a change to how petroleum products are shipped along B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 coast.
Speaking at a press conference in Vancouver Wednesday, Heiltsuk hereditary chief Frank Brown said that the spill response was 香蕉视频直播渃haotic and inefficient香蕉视频直播� and equated it to further 香蕉视频直播渃ultural genocide.香蕉视频直播�
Heiltsuk Nation calls the shipment of petroleum products 香蕉视频直播渃areless.香蕉视频直播� Say the want environment and financial compensation for the Nathan E Stewart spill, + want courts to take a better look at how tankers are regulated along BC香蕉视频直播檚 coast.
香蕉视频直播� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
香蕉视频直播淲e have to do better.香蕉视频直播�
The civil claim targets Kirby Offshore Marine, the owners of the tug, for their alleged 香蕉视频直播渋nadequate practices香蕉视频直播� that led to the tug hitting the rocks, spilling diesel and lubricants into the water.
It also personally targets Sean Connor, the master of the vessel, and Henry Hendrix, before the Nathan E Stewart was grounded.
The Nathan E. Stewart ran aground on a reef in the Seaforth Channel near Bella Bella, spilling approximately 110,000 litres of diesel and another 2,000 litre of lubricants into the water and causing an estimated $12 million in damage to the tug and the barge it was towing.
A Safety Transportation Board investigation into the spill found that neither Transport Canada regulations, nor the boat operators, had done enough to handle the 香蕉视频直播渋nevitable香蕉视频直播� fatigue brought on by the crew香蕉视频直播檚 schedule.
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Speaking after the press conference, Chief Marilyn Slett said that her nation is still suffering the after-effects of the spill.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 been a clam fishery that香蕉视频直播檚 been shut down for two years. This is our winter economy, it brings our community through the winter,香蕉视频直播� said Slett.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 the ecosystem in the incident area, the wildlife香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 not the same.香蕉视频直播�
She feels like her nation was left out of the spill response and the environmental assessment that followed.
香蕉视频直播淚t was driven by the polluter, by Kirby. Canada and B.C. did not feel like they had the responsibility to consult with us,香蕉视频直播� Slett said.
香蕉视频直播淭he process is inadequate and does not include Indigenous communities.香蕉视频直播�
She said that the Heiltsuk were launching their suit not just to secure 香蕉视频直播渕illions香蕉视频直播� in financial compensation for themselves but to ensure that all First Nations across the province are better prepared.
香蕉视频直播淥ur communities need to be trained, we need to have the infrastructure in our communities, the supplies香蕉视频直播� and we also need to have some management control over what that looks like,香蕉视频直播� said Slett.
香蕉视频直播淭he incident command structure that was put into place does not include First Nations.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲e are here to get justice,香蕉视频直播� say the Heiltsuk Nation. Nathan E Stewart spilled 100,000+ litres of diesel in their waters.
香蕉视频直播� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
Currently, the promised extra $1.5 million in spill response funding for B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 coast is on hold, following the federal appeals court香蕉视频直播檚 quashing of the Trans Mountain pipeline.
But Slett said that regardless of what happens with Trans Mountain, the need for an improved and more nuanced spill response is there now.
香蕉视频直播淐ertainly, with the amount of traffic that is traversing through our territory right now香蕉视频直播� it needs to be improved, regardless of adding more traffic to it,香蕉视频直播� said Slett.
In a 196-page report released last year, to protect the central coast from a similar spill.
In a statement, the environment ministry said that they were working with the federal government and would 香蕉视频直播渆ngage with Heiltsuk as appropriate for a federally-led initiative.香蕉视频直播�
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