Latest news with #environmentalConcerns
CTV News
14-06-2025
- CTV News
Finland accuses senior crew of Russia-linked vessel in damage of undersea power cable in Baltic Sea
The Cook Islands-registered oil tanker Eagle S is anchored near the Kilpilahti port in Porvoo on the Gulf of Finland, Dec. 30, 2024. (Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva via AP, File) HELSINKI — Finnish authorities have accused senior officers of a Russia-linked vessel that damaged undersea cables last year between Finland and Estonia of criminal offenses related to the wreckage. They say the oil tanker, the Eagle S, dragged its anchor to damage the Estlink-2 power cable and communication links between Finland and Estonia on Dec. 25. The Kremlin previously denied involvement in damaging the infrastructure, which provides power and communication for thousands of Europeans. The Eagle S is flagged in the Cook Islands, but has been described by Finnish customs officials and the European Union's executive commission as part of Russia's shadow fleet of fuel tankers. Those are aging vessels with obscure ownership, acquired to evade Western sanctions amid the war in Ukraine and operating without Western-regulated insurance. Russia's use of the vessels has raised environmental concerns about accidents given their age and uncertain insurance coverage. For the West, the incidents are a test of resolve in the face of what are believed to be widespread sabotage attacks in Europe allegedly linked to Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Eagle S was carrying 35,000 tons of oil and investigators allege it left a drag trail with its anchor for almost 100 kilometres (62 miles) on the sea bed before it was stopped and escorted to the vicinity of a Finnish port. The senior officers, whose names were not made public, were the master, the chief mate and the second mate, Finnish police said in a statement Friday. The trio was responsible for the safe passage, navigation and operation of the tanker and are suspected of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with telecommunications. 'The criminal investigation has examined and assessed, among other things, the extent of their responsibility for the condition of the vessel and the degree to which they should have observed the anchor falling into the sea,' said Detective Chief Inspector Sami Liimatainen, who is leading the case for the National Bureau of Investigation. The investigators' findings have been referred to Finnish prosecutors for possible charges. The damage to the Estlink 2, which can provide about half of the electricity needs for Estonia in winter, did not disrupt service, although it did drive up energy prices in the Baltic nations. The cable is about 90 miles (145 kilometres) long and is located at a depth of 90 metres (295 feet) at its deepest point, across one of the busiest shipping lanes in Europe. The undersea cables and pipelines that crisscross the sea link Nordic, Baltic and central European countries, promote trade, energy security and, in some cases, reduce dependence on Russian energy resources. The Associated Press
BBC News
12-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Artigarvan: Residents say milk factory smell like 'rotten eggs'
People living near a milk powder factory have said more needs to be done to tackle a "pungent odour like rotten eggs" which is coming from the of Artigarvan, County Tyrone, said they had been concerned about the smells coming from the Lakeland Dairies plant in the village for around five people are now planning to move away because of the stench, which has been described as "worse than slurry".The factory owners said they were "reviewing a small number of complaints" connected to a smell "noticed on occasion around our site". The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), which investigates environmental safety breaches, said it had received 58 complaints about the smell, noise and dust coming from the factory in the last 12 agency has issued three enforcement notices to the company over the same time period. Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, Ruth Campbell from the Artigarvan Environment Group said concerns had been raised directly with the company a number of times."For the past five years we have had a thick pungent odour like rotten eggs sweeping through the air in Artigarvan," she said."We feel like we are hitting a brick wall every time we raise the smell officially."No one is helping us."Ms Campbell said some people were even taping their windows shut to keep the smell out and that some parents were not letting their children play said some children even get "teased about living in smelly Artigarvan".Residents believe the smell is coming from the factory's effluent plant. Charlene Austin said the smell was "worse than slurry"."It's like rotten boiled eggs," she said. "It hits the pit of your stomach. We can't even open our windows or dry our clothes properly."We have been shouting about this a lot and are fed up to the back teeth. "Something needs fixed now." Artigarvan resident Emma Kelly said trying to get the problem addressed had been "very frustrating"."We feel ignored in so many ways. We've kept a close eye during high milking season and low milking season and the same pungent odour is present."People are already selling their houses and they are going to struggle selling up. I know if I came into the area I'd turn the car," she said. In a statement, Lakeland Dairies said the facility was "among the most modern in the UK, Ireland and worldwide".The company said it had invested "significantly" in the Artigarvan plant, including the waste water treatment facility."The company works tirelessly to ensure the plant continues to meet all its legislative requirements and endeavours to meet the expectations of residents," a spokesperson said."We are monitoring and reviewing a small number of complaints regarding a natural and safe odour that was noticed on occasion around our site in Artigarvan." 'Will continue to work closely with residents' Lakeland Dairies said it engaged regularly with local people and would continue to do so."This excellent relationship is not something we take for granted and we will continue to work closely with the residents and their representatives on issues of mutual interest," the company said. The NIEA said of the three enforcement notices one related directly to the odour, one was in connection to a breach of emission limits at the site's effluent treatment plant and the third was related to a surface water breach."These notices have led to the company carrying out significant improvement works at the site, with more work currently ongoing".The agency said the work had included improvements to their effluent treatment plant, drainage on the site and containment of potential odour said additional work required at the factory would be completed by the end of next month.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Illegal fishing and dead animals reported at nature preserve ponds near Tingley Beach
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Illegal fishing, dead turtles and geese, those are just some of the problems at nature preserve ponds near Tingley Beach. 'I noticed in 2022, it was in the Spring and Summer that there was a lot of people fishing,' said one Albuquerque resident. Story continues below New Mexico Crime Files: Grocery store worker hands out semen-tainted yogurt Film: These productions were filmed at White Sands. Have you seen them? New Mexico News Insiders: Who Will Fix New Mexico's Mental Health Problems? News: Governor's Office: Operation Zia Shield is different than situation in California Just a few feet off Paseo del Bosque trail near Tingley Beach sit two wildlife ponds filled with fish, turtles, and the few passing geese, but one woman said the area is anything but serene. 'I feel a little scared there's people taking the city-owned animals instead of paying for a license to fish at Tingley Beach; they are just taking advantage cause there is no one here,' said the woman. The woman is choosing to remain anonymous due to the fact that she commonly walks the trail. She said for the past three years she's seen people fishing in the ponds, and when she approaches them, 'Well, whatever, if they're not here to get me, I'm going to keep doing it. That was the response or aggression,' said the woman. At the entrance of each pond, multiple signs display rules for the area. The very end clearly states no fishing. 'I've seen a butchered turtle, the insides were gone, there was feet left, but it was pretty gory. I've seen the carcasses of ducks that were cut up or geese, no body left, just the wing,' she said. She said it's not just a homeless problem. 'I've seen all types, I've seen people that park at Tingley Beach with vehicles they come over with not just one fishing rod, they have a whole tackle box. There's all sorts of people,' said the woman. She's reported what she's seen to the city and the Albuquerque Police Department's Open Space Unit, with little luck. The City's Open Space Division said they are looking for volunteers to help patrol the area, but with the lack of oversight, she's concerned not only for the animals in the ponds but people too. 'If you are out here by yourself, there is no one cause there's no real patrol, there's no security here,' she said. Emily Moore, a spokesperson for the city's Parks and Recreation Department, said: Protecting open space is a priority and a collaboration between multiple departments to monitor, steward, and enforce the rules. These are the places our families enjoy, where our community connects, and where the beauty of Albuquerque shines. If you see any damage or wrongdoing, please report it right away so we can keep these spaces safe, clean, and welcoming for everyone. Emily Moore, City of Albuquerque's Parks and Recreation Department Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Hants County, N.S., residents rally to oppose uranium mining in the region
A Hants County, N.S., resident who planned a weekend meeting to discuss uranium mining in the area says residents in attendance voiced concerns about potential environmental and health harms and a lack of government consultation. Sarah Trask, who lives in the community of Vaughan, N.S., said in an interview Monday the community meeting to discuss proposed uranium mining in nearby Millet Brook filled a local fire station Saturday. 'The response was overwhelming,' she said, adding that the goal of the meeting was to bring information about uranium mining to the community 'because the province hasn't consulted with us.' The provincial government added uranium to its list of priority critical minerals May 14, and it issued a request for exploration proposals for three sites with known deposits of the heavy metal. Companies interested have until June 11 to submit their proposals. The locations are: an 80-hectare site in Louisville in Pictou County; a 64-hectare site in East Dalhousie in Annapolis County; and a 2,300-hectare site in Millet Brook in Hants County. Much of these areas fall on private land. The government has previously said companies selected by the province would have to seek permission from landowners to explore. However, Section 26 of the province's Mineral Resources Act allows the natural resources minister to intervene if there is a stalemate. The province did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Trask said speakers at Saturday's event included a municipal councillor, a Mi'kmaq elder, two members of Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and local residents. Some of these speakers voiced concerns that uranium exploration could result in potential water contamination or exposure to radon gas and radioactive dust. Trask said a project with such a high potential for risk should require extensive consultation. 'The province hasn't consulted with anyone, including First Nations and our municipalities. Usually we would hear these things through our municipal government, but these conversations just weren't had, which I feel is quite shocking,' she said. The Nova Scotia Assembly of Mi'kmaw Chiefs has repeatedly voiced concerns about government's lack of consultation with its communities as Nova Scotia pushes to develop natural resources. Legislation passed in March lifted a full ban on uranium exploration and mining that had been put in place in 2009, although there had been a moratorium on such activities since 1981. Premier Tim Houston has said the legislative changes were needed to help the province withstand economic challenges from American tariffs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025. Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Disposable vapes are officially BANNED in the UK as government cracks down on cheap nicotine dispensers commonly littered and sold to children
A ban on single-use vapes has today come into force across Britain as the government looks to crack down on waste and the growing number of children hooked on nicotine. Around five million disposable vapes were thrown away each week last year rather than being recycled - sparking major environmental concerns as the batteries can leak waste and cause fires. And a survey commissioned by NHS England last October revealed that around one in ten secondary school pupils were regular users of the devices. The new legislation means vapes must be considered 'reusable' - through being refillable or having a charging port - or they will be classed as illegal. Shops have already begun stocking 'rechargeable' versions of vapes which are retailing for the same price as the disposable offerings. Further moves to raise the age of sale of tobacco products and to regulate the displays, flavours and packaging of reusable vapes are also being taken forward through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Nature minister Mary Creagh was asked on Friday whether the new legislation would be enough and said: 'Well let's bring in the ban first. That's what I would say.' 'I'm confident that my colleagues in the Department of Health will not hesitate to use those powers should what we're doing this weekend not achieve the goals. 'But I'm confident that it is already sparking a conversation among young people, getting them to ask the questions, getting them to understand that there's no such place as "away" and that these are really difficult to recycle.' She added that most large vapes on the market do not have replaceable coils meaning they will fall within the scope of the ban. The government is also considering further ways to drive up levels of separately collected electrical waste including vapes as part of reforms to waste electrical and electronic equipment regulations. Under current rules, vape producers already have a legal responsibility to finance their collection for recycling. Vapes contain valuable and critical materials such as lithium and copper that are regularly binned in household waste, and if littered, they can cause fires and other damaging or toxic impacts on the environment and wildlife. Major eco organisations last week called on retailers to make more collection points available for the products. Director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) John Dunne also called on shop owners to do more. Mr Dunne said: 'This needs joined-up action from across the waste chain and more effort needs to be done to provide consumers with disposal points at the point of use and not just point of sale.' He added that while the UKVIA works to educate consumers on sustainable vape use and recycling initiatives 'more needs to be done'. 'We would encourage the Government to launch a national consumer education which includes responsible disposal of vapes, why vaping is much less harmful than smoking, and warning of the dangers of buying non-compliant products from the black market or other irregular sellers.' According to research by online nicotine retailer, Haypp, 82 per cent of disposable vape users stockpiled ahead of the ban. Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, urged shops to comply with the new laws, dubbing vapes a 'blight [on] our streets.' He added: 'We would also urge caution to anyone stockpiling disposable vapes. Failing to store disposable vapes correctly could cost lives, given the significant fire risk they pose.'
