So where is the federal government on the costs for *this* cleanup ?   
      
      
   The Province May 27, 2018   
      
      
   Vancouver files claim over 2015 fuel spill in English Bay   
      
   Vancouver is still fighting to recover $550,000 in costs incurred by the city   
   to clean up after the MV Marathassa spilled 2,700 litres of bunker fuel in   
   English Bay three years, Mayor Gregor Robertson said on Sunday.   
      
   Vancouver’s concerns about oil tanker traffic in our harbours have been   
   ignored, said Robertson, and he said the inadequate response highlights the   
   dangers raised by the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.   
      
   “This is a clear example of where the federal government and the   
   international oil tanker program is not safe, not dealing with the damages   
   appropriately and where we have great concerns,” said Robertson.   
      
   Robertson slammed the federal Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund, which has   
   disputed some of the costs associated with the city’s claim.   
      
   The SSOP fund was established in 1989 to act on behalf of impacted   
   municipalities, companies and individuals in pursuit of compensation from   
   shipowners in the event of a spill and provide additional compensation.   
      
   Robertson said the city has received an “absolutely unacceptable” offer   
   from the Ship-source Oil Pollution fund of 27 per cent of the $550,000.   
      
   On April 6, 2018, the city filed a direct claim against owners of the   
   Cypriot-registered vessel in Federal Court in the hopes of further cost   
   recovery.   
      
   “Typically these ship owners are very difficult to go after when there is a   
   spill, and the costs are never quite recovered by taxpayers, citizens and   
   government who are paying for the impact,” said Robertson.   
      
   The lack of compensation leaves taxpayers and municipalities on the hook for   
   costs incurred by the spill, and raises concern over what might happen in the   
   case of a diluted bitumen spill along B.C.’s coastal waterways.   
      
   “Vancouver’s primary concern with the Kinder Morgan pipeline is the oil   
   tankers — seven times the number will go through our harbour — and the oil   
   spill we expect will happen over time and dramatically impact our environment   
   and our economy,”    
   said Robertson.   
      
   Stuart Mackinnon, chair of the Vancouver Park Board said English Bay is an   
   “iconic spot” not just to Vancouver, but for the whole world.   
      
   “The federal government needs to step up and take responsibility for their   
   jurisdictions,” said Mackinnon.   
      
   “We are terribly concerned about the amount of oil that will pass through   
   here should the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion go through.”   
      
   Mackinnon said a diluted bitumen spill is not easily cleaned off rocks and   
   sand, and would be much more difficult to remediate than the bunker oil.   
      
   “I can’t imagine what would happen in Burrard Inlet if a spill were to   
   happen there.”   
      
   Transport Canada and representatives from SSOP were not able to respond to   
   Postmedia inquiries on Sunday.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)