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28 July 2007
Lebanese beaches 'still very toxic' after oil spill
Environmental groups challenge previous claims of progress
By Nafez Zouk
BEIRUT: The Lebanese coastline remains heavily polluted
from last year's Jiyyeh oil spill and cleaning efforts have not
achieved the desired result, said two environmental non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) on Friday. Their conclusions contrast sharply
with reports by other NGOs and the United Nations Environment Program
(UNEP) claiming beaches were safe and the bulk of the spill had been
contained.
The ominous new information was issued by the NGOs Green Line and
Byblos Ecologia on the first anniversary of Israel's bombing of the
Jiyyeh power plant, which dumped about 15,000 tons of crude oil into
the Mediterranean.
"The beaches are still very toxic," said Richard Steiner, a
conservation specialist from the University of Alaska. "The oil spill
is more toxic than other known spills."
He concluded that Lebanon's rocky beaches were still heavily polluted,
with much oil still embedded in the rocks. While sandy beaches fared
better, Steiner said some oil remained under the sand and on the sea
bed. Steiner collected samples from 120 kilometers of shoreline.
"Lebanon needs a large-scale clean-up to remove all toxins out of the
sea," he said. "There has been extensive damage to the seabed,
shoreline and sea organisms. Contrary to the UNEP [report], there was
significant injury to the Lebanese marine ecosystem."
UNEP said in its January report that "oil pollution of the marine
environment has been largely contained, and contamination levels
appear generally typical of coastal areas of that part of the
Mediterranean."
UN Undersecretary General and UNEP executive director Achim Steiner
said then that there was "good news with the marine environment
appearing to have largely escaped serious long-term damage."
Richard Steiner said the ministry had allowed "a suspension of
cleaning efforts since February of this year," but a ministry official
defended delays in the cleaning.
"In February and March, the weather was very rough - in some sites it
actually posed a danger to the workers and equipment," Ghada Mitri, a
communications officer and development specialist at the ministry,
told The Daily Star. "Some partners tried to access the sites to carry
out the work, but the risk of accidents forced them to wait out the
storms."
After February, "the liquid and bulk quantities of fuel were removed,"
and the next phase, which involves cleaning rocks, "could not start
since the rocks were constantly covered with seawater and high waves,"
Mitri added.
Fifi Kallab, president of Byblos Ecologia, bemoaned the fact that
sites that had been cleaned were still polluted and solid waste from
the clean-up had been placed alongside freshwater sources and public
beaches.
Kallab laid the blame squarely on the government and the ministry.
"What has the ministry done? Where is the transparency and clarity in
their operations? The government has totally relinquished its
responsibilities. How much of the oil has been removed, and where has
it been placed?" she asked.
The ministry's Web site includes a chart that tracks the progress of
every polluted site on the Lebanese coast, the organization
responsible for the clean-up and the amount of oil and pollutants
removed. By February, about 6,255 cubic meters of solid waste had been
removed.
She also accused the government of having deals with contractors at
the expense of cleaning efforts and people's safety.
Kallab said citizens were still being exposed to hazardous toxins and
there was a "lack of any educational and awareness role on behalf of
the ministry. Why isn't it warning people of the dangers of the oil
spill?"
In June, the ministry issued two statements providing details of the
cleaning operations and warnings to citizens.
Ali Darwish, president of Green Line, also bashed the government and
the ministry.
"[Prime Minister Fouad] Siniora has never addressed this issue. It
doesn't mean anything to him. We hold this government and its leader
responsible for this crisis," said Darwish. "Israel is to blame for
this disaster, along with the US, which funded and supported the war.
The fact that the government did not take any measures and remained
silent makes it an accomplice in this crime, and it should be held
accountable."
Steiner, however, held Israel accountable for the oil spill, stressing
that international procedures hold the party that causes an oil spill
responsible.
"Israel continues to refuse to accept responsibility," said Steiner.
"A reimbursement fund must be established, and the only way to do that
is through a Security Council resolution," he added, mentioning that a
recent resolution drawn up by France and the US does not oblige Israel
to pay compensation for the spill.
The ministry will hold a news conference on Monday to discuss the
spill and the clean-up.
.