BC would welcome debris clean-up help from Japan
Posted September 4, 2012 11:22 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TOKYO, JAPAN (NEWS1130) – The Japanese government will reportedly help pay for the disposal of tsunami debris washing up on Canadian and American shores.
As much as five million tonnes of debris were swept into the ocean when a massive earthquake and resulting tsunami struck Japan in March 2011.
Nikkei.com reports Japan is expected to inform Canada and the US about its plans later this month.
Japan is not obligated to take care of such debris under international law. But Nikkei.com says Japan sees the gesture as a way of expressing appreciation for the outpouring of support following the disaster.
“It is just a report at this time, but certainly we would welcome discussions with our Japanese friends, and if they are wanting to participate in the program that we’ll have here, I guess we would certainly welcome that. Our federal colleagues will be following up with them,” says BC Environment Minister Terry Lake.
“We’ve had [an] excellent relationship with the Japanese consulate here in Vancouver. They’ve been part of our implementation plans, because it’s important that we really have a sensitive response to some of the personal items that may be involved in the tsunami cleanup.”
Japan may also extend technical assistance for debris disposal through a non-governmental organization focused on coastal ecosystems.
Lake says it’s hard to say now what kind of resources will be needed for a cleanup.
“It will depend on what exactly washes up. Some things will need more intense effort; if they are hazardous materials, for instance, that’s quite a bit different than just the benign debris that forms the bulk of this material.”
Ocean currents will likely bring large amounts of debris to the Pacific coast starting in October, according to the Japanese environment ministry.
Some 40,000 tons of debris is projected to come within 10 kilometres of the North American shore by next February.
