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January 5, 1999 - Richard Turle, AAQD:
Scientist to be a Guest Editor for the AOAC Journal
- Dr. Ewa Dabek, Analysis and Air Quality Division at the ETC, has been invited to serve
as the Guest Editor of a Special Section of the Journal of the Association of Official
Analytical Chemists (AOAC) International on the topic of environmental analysis using
capillary electrophoresis and related techniques including capillary
electrochromatography.
[Richard Turle @ 990-8559]
January 5, 1999 - Merv Fingas, ESD:
Assistance with Newfoundland Oiled Birds
- Once more, thousands of oiled birds came ashore off Newfoundland and the Emergencies
Science Division of the ETC again rendered assistance. Chemical analysis of the oil on the
birds indicated that a particular vessel was responsible for one incident, and regional
prosecution officers were proceeding on the evidence. The analysis utilized a relatively
new technique of flagging biomarkers and examining isomers of biomarkers. Dr. Zhendi Wang
traveled to the US Coast Guard Depot at Groton, Connecticut, between December 13 and 18,
1998 to explain and demonstrate the technique to chemists in the US National Oil
Identification Laboratory. This action was necessary for the Newfoundland case, since the
US laboratory did not have the knowledge and expertise in the new techniques but were
involved in supplying corroborating evidence on the incident.
[Dr. Merv Fingas @ 990-7297]
January 12, 1999 - Merv Fingas, ESD:
Swissair Investigator visits ETC
- An investigator from the Transportation Safety Board visited ETC on January 6 to view
and discuss data obtained during the overflights of the Swissair 111 crash investigation.
The two ETC aircraft participated in the investigation. The fluorosensor in the DC-3 was
able to detect fuel traces from the aircraft on the ground. This evidence not only
established that the aircraft was dumping fuel before the crash but also established a
completely different route that was previously thought. This route has been confirmed by
ground witnesses. Transportation Safety Board officials say that this is very important in
establishing the final actions of the Swissair pilots as well as helping to identify the
causes of the accident.
January 19, 1999 - Merv Fingas, ESD:
Assistance Provided on Several Regional Projects
- Assistance was provided by ESD on the modeling of a fugitive slick off Newfoundland.
This effort showed that a suspect vessel, one of several in the area, was a very likely
source. This modeling combined with other evidence may lead to prosecution. For the
Pacific region, an assessment for a proposed LNG project was reviewed. ESD found that the
model used to estimate hazard distances was applied inappropriately. This changes much of
the subsequent assessment. The company has agreed to reassess this. For the Manitoba
District Office, a draft final report for the sampling and analysis of automobile shredder
residue for PCBs was prepared, reviewed and discussed with the District Office. This
report will lead to cleanup orders being placed.
[Dr. Merv Fingas @ 998-9622]
January 19, 1999 - Fred Hendren, ERMD:
Biodiesel Emissions Research Program
- The ERMD is currently conducting an extensive evaluation of biodiesel fuels in a
full-size Dodge truck equipped with a Cummins 5.9 Liter engine. The program is examining
the emissions which are produced when the vehicle is operated with 10, 20, and 30% blends
of methyl ester with conventional diesel fuel. The tests are being conducted at 24 and 0
degrees celcius. Emissions, which are being characterized, include regulated emissions,
PM2.5, carbonyls, detailed nonmethane hydrocarbons, PAH/NPAH, organic and elemental
carbon, sulfate, and other compounds. This testing program has received support from
Environment CanadaTransportation System Division, Health Canada, and the Ontario Soybean
Growers Marketing Association.
[Fred Hendren @ 990-5859]
January 19, 1999 - Greg Rideout, ERMD:
Nova Bus Diesel Electric Hybrid Test Program
- The ERMD is conducting emissions testing on a diesel-electric-powered urban transit bus
which has been developed by a Canada-US consortium including NovaBus, Lockheed Martin, and
Detroit Diesel Corporation. This bus technology is being demonstrated in several US cities
while the emissions and engine performance optimization has been conducted in
collaboration with the Emissions Research and Measurement Division.
[Greg Rideout @
990-1364]
January 26, 1999 Dr. David Thornton, DO:
ETC participates in Environmental Emergencies Core-Capacity Workshop
- The nation-wide core-capacity workshop for environmental emergencies was held in Ottawa.
Participating for ETC were Dr. Dave Thornton, Brian Mansfield, Dr. Merv Fingas, Dr. Carl
Brown, Pat Lambert and Nanci Laroche. The purpose of the workshop was to develop a
consensus on what constitutes the core or "must-do's" of the pollution
emergencies program across Canada. The program now focuses on three areas - Preparedness,
Prevention and Response. The workshop developed consensus items in each of these three
areas. Dr. Thornton was one of the program committee members involved in the workshop
planning.
[Dr. David Thornton @ 991-9550]
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