PRINCE RUPERT VOL. 9 NO. 1
Community Lax Kw’alaams grandmas inspire Page A2
2014
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
FREE
Happy New Year
From all of us at The Prince Rupert Northern View Arts Music students hit the stage Page A3
Zalinski Recovery Operation concluded Crews extract nearly 400,000 litres of oil, contaminated water BY SHAUN THOMAS PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View
Sports Rainmakers alumni take the trophy Page A7
Haida Gwaii Masset Lions make major donation Page B1
Recovery crews have declared success after safely extracting nearly 400,000 litres of oil and contaminated water from a sunken Second World War ship in Grenville Channel roughly 100 kilometres from Prince Rupert. “This successful operation was an important experience building exercise for the Canadian Coast Guard. We thank the B.C. Ministry of Environment, the Gitga’at First Nation and the Gitxaala First Nation for their important support and cooperation,” Gail Shea, minister of Fisheries and Oceans, said. The USAT Brigadier General M.G. Zalinski sank in 1946 while en route to Alaska, carrying a variety of cargo. The wreck sits upside down on a rocky shelf in 130 feet of water. Since the wreck was discovered in 2003, the Canadian Coast Guard launched several operations to patch and seal the wreck as new upwellings
“The Gitxaala First Nation are satisfied with how things were conducted.” - Henry Clifton became evident. In March 2013, reports of an upwelling of heavy oil triggered the Zalinski Pollution Recovery Operation. The two-month operation extracted approximately 44,000 litres of heavy Bunker C oil and 319,000 litres of oily water from the wreck. The project was managed using the Incident Command System (ICS) model, which saw representatives from the Canadian Coast Guard, the B.C. Ministry of Environment, the Gitga’at First Nation, and the Gitxaala First Nation collaborate within a Unified Command at Prince Rupert to make key decisions as the operation proceeded. “The successful collaboration between representatives from the Canadian Coast Guard, the Gitga’at First
Nation, the Gitxaala First Nation and the Province of B.C. helped build valuable relationships which will be important in supporting future spill preparedness in the local area,” said British Columbia Minister of Environment Mary Polak. Members from both the Gitga’at First Nation and the Gitxaala First Nation were important contributors to the operation. Each Nation provided valuable local and cultural knowledge and assisted in the identification of historically important and high value ecological sites within the surrounding area. “The Zalinski Operation was a great educational opportunity for several members of the Gitga’at First Nation which helped to build relationships with people from across
the project,” said Henry Clifton, Unified Command representative for Gitga’at. “The project provided a unique opportunity to teach others about our culture, our traditional ways, and the importance of our heritage.” “The Gitxaala First Nation are satisfied with how things were conducted and were pleased to have been an integral part of the planning and execution of the operation,” said Tim Innes, Unified Command representative for Gixaala. “I think that all parties have learned a lot from each other and are hopeful that these relationships will continue into the future.” Work will continue in nearby Lowe Inlet Provincial Marine Park, where several accommodations barges and communications network sites were located. As the project components are demobilized, the sites will be returned to their pre-project condition. An environmental sampling program will also continue to monitor the site into the new year.
From our family to yours, warmest wishes for a Happy New Year
Gord Kobza www.gordonkobza.com
250.624.9298 Suite 6 - 342 3rd Ave W. info@gordonkobza.com