Control Of Marine Pollution Studied

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32382, 22 August 1970, Page 9

Control Of Marine Pollution Studied

ffiew Zealand Preu Association) WELLINGTON, August 20. While the discovery of the Maui oilfield gave hope of tremendous economis potential, it also brought “the possibility of large-scale pollution of coastal waters which has occured overseas,” the Marine Department said in its annual report tabled in Parliament today.

The report said the department was studying this problem, both in association with the oil industry, and through a special committee established to investigate the matter.

>of water pollution, but its - work had not been widely i publicised. i ‘The fact is that the coun- - cil has performed a valuable . task over a long period in abating pollution in New Zear land’s coastal and inland i waters. “The council is doing every- ■ thing possible within its present resources to meet the ’ increasing problems,” the re- - port said.

Draft regulations under four acts—designed to deal with the aspects of this problem—were being prepared, the report said.

After the loss of the Torrey Canyon in the English Channel, and subsequent oil pollution, the Committee on Pollution of the Sea by Oil was set up. Much research had

been undertaken by sub-com-mittees dealing with prevention, the provision of vessels and machinery for disposal of spillages at sea, and with the treatment of beaches polluted by oil, the report said. The problem of fail-safe devices for offshore drilling rigs was being considered by the! Mines Department. Regulations were being prepared to cover safety of navigation of drilling rigs, and the prevention of pollution by providing instruments for control or prohibition of discharges of ships’ oily ballast from vessels of any flag within 50 miles of the New Zealand coast

Dealing with pollution of inland waterways, the report said that the Pollution Advisory Council must have increased staff, finance and resources if its work was to be accelerated.

The council had come under some criticism for its alleged lack of activity in the field