Sarnia Mayor: Ships treating Great Lakes like a ‘toilet’
August 05, 08 by TheFleetIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
See Also: MPCA: Lake Superior is not a washcloth for contaminated ship holds - MinnPost.com
By SHAWN JEFFORDS | Source: Sarnia Observer
The practice of freighters dumping waste cargo on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes is causing lasting harm and has to stop, environmentalists and local politicians say.
Mark Mattson, president of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, said cargo sweeping is so widespread that a “highway” of debris now litters the bottom of Lake Ontario.
Some deposits are coal and iron ore, which in turn contain mercury. Shipping companies must take responsibility for the waste they create, he said.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said the coalition should be encouraged.
“Why we allow the Great Lakes to be treated like a toilet bowl I don’t know,” he said.
“I can’t imagine that we would not be in support of banning this. It’s illegal to do in Canada and I think it should be illegal in the States as well.”
