Whale problems; more on mining accidents
#1: Whale problems? The whale in Thames river died, but why was it ill in the first place? Until the autopsy is done we won't know, and maybe not even then. But in the US there's a controvery heating up over the Navy's use of high intensity sonar.
Some mass whale strandings are caused by Navy high intensity sonar. Active sonar is high intensity sound, and it can be both agonizing and damaging to the beasts under the sea. Sonar is a likely cause of a mass whale stranding in the Bahamas in 2000, and was being evaluated as a possible cause of a stranding in North Carolina in January 2005. The Natural Resources Defense Council sued to get the first draft of the report and found that sonar was mentioned. But the second draft deleted any mention of sonar. The final report from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is due before the animals' ear drums will have been examined. So the National Marine Fisheries Service and and NOAA win my 2 + 2 = 3 award for this "we'll revise the report because we're not sure sonar has anything to do with it" strategy without waiting for the key evidence before the final report. Read this one in the Washington Post, at NRDC, or at National Geographic. Smell like politics to you?
The Navy and NOAA are receiving public comments on the environmental effects of a sonar training range on the Atlantic coast. A quick cruise shows that sportsmen's groups are opposing the Navy's plans, along with environmental groups. DEADLINE to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report is Jan. 30, 2006. You can file comments through the Virginia Sierra Club via point and click (they'll send it in for you), after you register and log in. The Navy isn't taking email comments directly. Otherwise, to file a comment about the Navy's plans you have to do it via snail mail or fax. This tells us how much the Navy really wants to hear from the public on the issue.
#2: Another mining tragedy. My sincere condolences to the families of the slain miners. I haven't read anything about the safety record of the company operating this mine. But I agree with the governor of WV who questioned our national priorities on job safety. After the coal dust settles and the fires are out, the mining companies are going to say it is just too expensive to put more equipment, time, and money into safety. And don't forget tax dollars. Your taxes pay for inspections of the mines to see that the safety regs are being followed. Scroll down to see my previous blog on mine safety.
Jan 21, 2006
