Fish deformities spiked after Lac-Mégantic oil spill, report says
via Hamilton Spectator
By Allan Woods
MONTREAL Scientists have recorded an "unprecedented" spike in the fish deformities in the wake of the deadly 2013 train derailment and oil spill in Lac-Mégantic, Que., according to a provincial government report.
The report into the effects of the disaster on the 185-km-long Chaudière River, which begins in Lac Mégantic, found that in some parts of the river as many as 47 per cent of the fish they collected had an external deformation.
The rate of deformations greatly surpassed that recorded in a similar fish population study in 1994. The study also found a "marked drop" in the river's fish biomass, or total weight.
"There is no hypothesis other than the oil spill of July 6, 2013 that can explain these results," says the report, which got little attention when it was released last November. It was brought to wider attention Wednesday when resurrected by Montreal's Le Devoir newspaper.
The Train Derailment That Gushed Oil Into A Quebec River
Has Spawned Freaky Fish
via Vice NewsBy Jake Bleiberg February 11, 2016 | 9:00 am
Has Spawned Freaky Fish
via Vice NewsBy Jake Bleiberg February 11, 2016 | 9:00 am
Two-and-a-half years after a train carrying millions of gallons of crude oil derailed and exploded in the small Quebec town of Lac-Mégantic, scientists are finding deformities in the fish living in nearby rivers.
That's led the government to a revelation: crude oil is bad for fish.
No shit.
What is shocking, however, is the extent of the problem: the rate of the deformations in one sample was found to be ten times higher than normal.---------------Normally such abnormalities are found in fewer than five percent of fish and back in 1994 their occurrence was even lower in the Chaudière, the report states. But in the year following the oil spill the river's fish showed much higher rates of deformity — with two samples reaching 35 and 47 percent. The study also noted a significant drop in river's fish biomass, or collective weight.
"In addition to being much higher than in 1994, the rate of anomalies in the Chaudière River in 2014 significantly exceeded what is generally observed in all other waterways of Quebec," the report states. "These high rates are attributable, in all likelihood, to the July 2013 oil spill."Although the spilled oil still seems to be affecting the fish, the waters of the Chaudière are largely free of it and the scope and concentration of oil in the riverbed has fallen significantly since 2013. The persistent impact on the fish didn't surprise Isabelle Picard, an aquatic biologist, who said toxins in the sediments where fish spawn are a major driver of deformities.
How would you like to have all the info and action items about Crude, Coal and other plans around the Northwest sent to you in a friendly email once a week or so? Sign Lynne Oulmans petition and find out what you can do in a timely manner.
Good Evening Petitioners (Feb. 13, 2016, 5.30 PM),
How are you all holding up? I have not been getting a lot of feedback and thought it might be good to put this on top of the list today. Comments besides submissions are always welcome.
The actions keep coming and the work seems never ending. I wish we could get our State to ask for a Programmatic, Cumulative Studyof all the fossil fuel projects focusing on Washington and Oregon. It seems like the obvious thing to do – a regional investigation of all the problems associated with fossil fuel and related industrial development. Instead, we must continue this game of wack-a mole.
Once again, I hope you will dig in your toes and hold the line. Our children and theirs deserve at least this much. Thank you as always for your never-ending efforts. I hope you have a happy and safe Valentine’s Day.
Once again, I hope you will dig in your toes and hold the line. Our children and theirs deserve at least this much. Thank you as always for your never-ending efforts. I hope you have a happy and safe Valentine’s Day.
Lynne Oulman (Petition URL directly below. Please help push the number to 10,000!)
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A) ACTIONS & EVENTS:
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1a) From Dres - Environmental Action
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2a) From John via Tom – WORC
“Living With Oil & Gas”
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3a) From PSR
“Join us in telling the nation's governors: It's time to proceed with the Clean Power Plan. …”
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4a) From Brandy – Climate Truth (OMG – hard to believe..-L)
“…To see how we’re keeping climate in the election conversation,watch Miami resident and Cuban refugee Maribel Balbin confront Senator Rubio about the threat that climate change poses to their shared community. (Spoiler: he’s not interested.) …”
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5a) From MEIC
“Contact the Montana Public Service Commission TODAY and ask them not to approve MDU’s proposed rate increase to fund 1958 vintage coal units like the Lewis and Clark Station. Instead, the PSC should encourage the utility to invest that money in new, affordable renewable energy resources. …”
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6a) From Alex – Forest Ethics
“…-- several of dirty energy’s best friends in the State Senate want to make it harder for you to weigh in by proposing two measures that would stifle your voice: SB 6224 & SB 6527. 

You have the right to be heard. Contact your State Senator and ask them to stand up for the people of Washington State and vote against these measures (this page is from our friends at Stand Up to Oil). …”
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7a) From Cecile – Environment WA Solar Organizer
“…State legislators are considering a bill to expand and extend the WA State Renewable Cost Recovery Incentive Program. This programas has effectively encouraged thousands of Washington State residents and businesses to invest in and install solar in their neighborhoods. 

If legislators don’t act, this program expires in 2020, and is already hitting caps that are undermining the continued growth of solar in WA.

Tell your legislators to support clean renewable energy, and to pass the renewable energy incentive bill (HB 2346). …” https://environmentwashington.
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8a) From Lynne - Please Join Wild Earth Guardians
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9a) From David - Oil Change
“…Right now, communities across Iowa are in a pitched battle against the fossil fuel industry. At stake is ANOTHER massive oil pipeline cutting across the heartland of the United States. It’s called the ‘Dakota Access’ pipeline and, if built, would further incentivize decades of Bakken shale oil development. …”
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10a) From Matt Petryni – RE Sources – (interesting twist…-L)
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B) IMPORTANT ARTICLES:
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1b) From Tom:
& SNL –
“UPDATE: 'End of an Era': Arch joins list of nearly 50 coal bankruptcies since 2012”
& Commondreams
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2b) From Truthout
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3b) From Emily – EDF
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4b) From Sightline Daily
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5b) From Waterkeeper Alliance
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6b) From DeSmog Canada
&
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7b) From Matt P – RE Sources
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8b) Lynne’s Disclaimer
I am a citizen with no obligation to any particular group. I started the petition July 11, 2011, when Gregoire was Washington’s governor (hence her name is listed). All the listed recipients have received their copies. Every now and then, I print a hardcopy to share with various politicians and influential individuals. Recently I gave a hardcopy to now WA Governor Inslee.
My emails happen when information hits a critical mass, or when an action/event is imminent. Sometimes information comes to me with little time to spare. I do my best to be accurate and try to send out responsible information. At times, events get changed, or the internet connection gets hung up, but I try to stay on top of problems. I welcome your input and hope you find this list a way to stay connected and informed. If the emails get to be burdensome, you may unsubscribe following the link at the bottom of the petition email.If your name gets dropped by accident, simply re-sign the petition. The SignOn system eliminates duplicate signatures. SignOn manages the list, so I have no power to add or subtract a name. I may not fund raise, and the system is unable to accommodate attachments, pdf-s, or pictures.
