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Environment
By The Magicseaweed.com Team
4th April 2007
The Scottish Green Party and Surfers Against Sewage are pressing the Scottish Executive to reject plans by SPT Marine and Forth Ports plc (FP) to pump large amounts of heavy crude oil between tankers at sea in the Firth of Forth. The campaign is backed by local authorities, organisations and communities up and down the Firth. The area has many sites and species protected under international and European law. However, regulations covering marine issues are in a mess - some devolved to Holyrood, some under UK government control, many out-dated and inadequate. Scottish Ministers can block the proposal using European environmental laws, but only if FP chooses to apply for a license on the basis that protected species and/or habitats may be threatened. FP may decide not to apply for a license, arguing that the plans do not pose a risk to wildlife, and simply give the go-ahead to an operation from which they will profit. If wildlife is not properly protected, the government could be hauled in front of the European Court and fined. SPT Marine recently claimed it has an "excellent" safety record. However, Greens revealed that the company was involved in a 35,000 gallon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 1995 - this should be the final nail in the coffin of these risky proposals. Greens are calling for the law to be changed so that publicly-elected and accountable ministers, rather than a private company, have the final say on all proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfers. This could happen through a quick and simple change to the law and would offer the communities of the Firth of Forth, and others across Scotland, reassurance that their local environment and economies will not be sacrificed for private profit. To back this move, please sign this petition. Sign the Petition
Submitted By The Magicseaweed.com Team on the 4th April 2007.
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