The Stream, February 7, 2020: Canada Dismisses First Nations Objections to Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline Expansion

The Global Rundown

Canada‘s federal court rejects First Nations challenges to an expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline. Wolverine World Wide and Michigan authorities are set to finalize a $69.5 million settlement over PFAS contamination in Western Michigan. The heaviest rainfall in two years hits parts of New South Wales, Australia. Missouri sues the U.S. Department of the Interior over a water diversion project in North Dakota. United Kingdom residents urge the government to clean up waterways. 

“There are hundreds of swimming spots in rivers that have been used for generations in this country, and it is unacceptable that water quality isn’t monitored there. That is now putting people’s health at risk.” –Theo Thomas, chief executive of campaign group London Waterkeeper, in reference to pollution in UK waterways. Thomas and other activists are pushing for certain sections of the Thames and other waterways to be designated as bathing water. The designation would force the country’s Environment Agency to crack down on the legal discharge of sewage into waterways. The Guardian

Latest WaterNews from Circle of Blue

HotSpots H2O: Violence Flares in Africa’s Sahel, Intensifying Water and Sanitation Woes — Violence is on the rise in Africa’s Sahel region, aggravating existing water and sanitation struggles in countries where previous rounds of fighting cut access to water sources.

Speaking of Water – Featuring Australian Author And Science Communicator, Julian Cribb — Circle of Blue’s Eileen Wray-McCann and guest Julian Cribb discuss Australia’s bushfire crisis and its broader climate implications. 

By The Numbers

$69.5 million Size of a settlement over PFAS contamination agreed to by Wolverine World Wide in December. On Monday, the shoe manufacturer and Michigan authorities entered a consent decree to finalize the agreement. The money will go toward connecting residents whose wells have been contaminated to safe water supplies. Reuters

In context: From Michigan to the Nation — A Groundwater Emergency.

Science, Studies, and Reports

The Canadian federal court dismissed four challenges put forth by British Columbian First Nations that were an attempt to stop expansion of the controversial Trans Mountain oil pipeline. First Nations leaders have 60 days to appeal the decision, but in the meantime, expansion of the pipeline, which the federal government purchased in 2018, can move forward. The Guardian

On the Radar

On Tuesday, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation over a water diversion project in North Dakota. The lawsuit asserts that the project could have detrimental effects on water levels in the Missouri River. Reuters

Some of the heaviest rains in two years are deluging parts of New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. The storms are extinguishing bushfires, but experts say several months of sustained precipitation are needed to alleviate the country’s long-standing drought. BBC

In context: Rain Alleviates Bushfires in Australia, but Threatens Waterways

0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply