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Activities June, 1999
[ ETC > News > Activities > 1999-Jun ]

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June 7, 1999 - Gary Sergy, ESD

Canada-Spain Meetings on Environmental Emergencies Issues

  • At the invitation of the Government of Spain and the Canadian Embassy in Madrid, Gary Sergy participated in a diagnostic visit to Spain on May 11 and 12, 1999, on issues related to environmental emergencies and technical cooperation. Presentations on Canadian knowledge and techniques were given to senior officials (Director General and Ops Director) of the Spanish government sectors responsible for dealing with environmental emergencies and marine pollution. Spain showed a very high level of interest and enthusiasm with the expertise and technology from Canada and indicated a strong desire to pursue collaboration on environmental emergency issues.
    [Gary Sergy @ (780) 951-8855]

June 7, 1999 - Dr. Sandra Blenkinsopp, ESD

Canadian Biotechnology Strategy (CBS)

  • ETAD prepared and submitted a major proposal to the Canadian Biotechnology Strategy fund for "Research and Development of Emergency Response Training Materials and Field Guides for Spill of Micro-organisms". This proposal addresses the serious deficiency in response preparedness to spills of biological material including genetically engineered micro-organisms (GEMS) and is supported by EP-Prairie & Northern Region, Commercial Chemicals Branch, Health Canada, Transport Canada, Department of National Defence, and Department of Fisheries & Oceans.
    [Dr. Sandra Blenkinsopp @ (780) 951-8705]

June 7, 1999 - Dr. David Thornton, ETC

US-EPA Award to Dr. Merv Fingas, Chief, ESD

  • As part of its 20-year anniversary, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) Environmental Response Team (ERT) awarded Dr. Merv Fingas, Chief, Emergencies Science Division (ESD), ETC, a plaque entitled "FRIEND OF THE ERT". The plaque states "Thank you for many years of support for the US-EPA ERT. Without your help, our understanding of oil spills would not be what it is today".
    [Dr. David Thornton @ 991-9550]

June 7, 1999, Dr. Merv Fingas, ESD

Personnel Decontamination Unit Loaned to Ottawa Fire Department

  • The 48-foot personnel decontamination unit built for the Emergencies Science Division has been formally loaned to the Ottawa Fire Department. The unit has special facilities that enable decontamination of people from chemical exposure. The unit is self-contained and can operate about 2 days without additional water and fuel. About 30 persons can be de-contaminated in one hour. The unit is especially useful for major chemical spills or for special contamination incidents such as caused by terrorism. The loan agreement enables the Ottawa Fire Department to use the unit and ensures that the unit is properly maintained. The agreement also includes provision for Environment Canada to reclaim the unit for an emergency within 1-hour notice on a 24-hour basis.
    [Dr. Merv Fingas @ 998-9622]

June 7, 1999 - Richard Turle, AAQD

NAPS Network Measurements of Lead Reduced Significantly

  • At the National Air Pollution Surveillance Network (NAPS) Managers' meeting of May 1998, it was decided that there was no point in continuing Canada-wide measurement of lead on particulate matter taken with Hi- Volume samplers. The prime source of lead in urban air was emissions from vehicles using fuels containing lead. Since the phase-out of lead in gasoline, lead levels in ambient air have declined dramatically. This was the reason for this decision to cease most sampling for lead. The last Hi-volume samples were collected December 31st, 1998 and these were analysed June 3rd, 1999. Thus ends a data set going back to before1974. Lead measurements will still continue for selected sites where smelters could have an impact, e.g. Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Also, lead data will still be available for 15 cities by multi-element analysis of filters collected using dichotomous samplers.
    [Richard Turle @ 990-8559]

June 7, 1999 - Dr. Merv Fingas, ESD

ETAD Sponsors Three International Technical Seminars

  • The Environmental Technology Advancement Directorate (ETAD) sponsored three international technical seminars during the first week of June 1999 in Calgary. These conferences facilitated the exchange of information between Canada and other parties that share common geographic and temperate characteristics on assessing and managing oil and chemical spills. The Sixteenth Annual Technical Seminar on Chemical Spills (TSOCS) was sponsored by Emergencies Science Division (ESD) on May 31st and June 1st. At the same time, the first Phytoremediation seminar, co-sponsored by ETAD’s Technology and Industry Branch (TIB) and ESD took place. About 80 people participated and proceedings of 350 pages were distributed to the participants. About 20 papers and 12 posters were presented during these two seminars. From June 2nd to June 4th, 130 people attended the Twenty-second Annual Arctic Marine Oil Spill Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar on Oil Spills. About 70 papers and 35 posters were presented and proceedings of about 900 pages were distributed. All published papers were peer-reviewed and further details will appear in the weekly report of July 6th, 1999. Around 35% of the participants were from Canada, 55% were from the United States, and 10% came from overseas (e.g. Norway).
    [Dr. Merv Fingas @ 998-9622]

June, 1999

99 Jun

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