BC working on tsunami debris collection and disposal plan
Posted September 25, 2012 2:02 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The provincial government is now working on a plan to collect and dispose of tsunami debris that is expected to wash up as early as this fall.
Phase I of the plan included conducting a risk assessment and coordinating efforts with other government agencies, first nations, and private groups.
Phase II of the government’s effort involves working with local governments and first nations along the coast to work out the logistics of the massive cleanup.
It is believed about 1.5 million tonnes of debris were swept into the Pacific Ocean after an earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March of 2011.
Only a fraction of that total will wash up in BC, and computer modelling has indicated that could start as early as fall and into the winter.
“Areas that are less likely to be at risk include the mainland inlets, Straight of Georgia, Queen Charlotte Sound because of the way the water circulates,” says Robin Brown with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. “In BC we have a lot of fresh water coming off (the coast). That causes a net circulation of stuff at the surface to go away from shore.”
“We think the accumulations are more likely on the outer coast,” he adds.
A few items already have reached the BC coast, including a motorcycle and a ship, but wind currents helped to speed the travel of those items.
The provincial environment minister says more than $100,000 has been spent on developing the cleanup plan.
“If things need to be scaled up we will look for additional resources as they are needed,” says Terry Lake, adding that it’s impossible to say exactly what level of response will be needed to deal with the problem of tsunami debris along the BC coast.
“So, to say we’re going to put a million dollars into this effort would be pure speculation,” he says. “We would rather have a response that can be appropriate for the problem, and I think (this) plan allows for that.”
The minister says the federal government continues to speak with the government of Japan about funding, to help with the cleanup. The Japanese have said they will provide some help, though they are under no legal obligation to do so.
Debris is expected to continue to wash up on BC’s shore over at least the next two years.
