Shell's Bonga Spill: U.S. Environmental Agency (USEPA) Offers Assistance
SAN FRANCISCO, December 31, (THEWILL) - The United State of America Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has indicated it's readiness to work with the Federal Government on it's response to the recent Bonga oil spill.
USEPA is already providing technical assistance to the Senate Committee on Environment on oil spill response issues relative to the Bonga Spill.
The response assistance is as a follow up of a meeting held in November in Washington Dc when the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki visited the agency to discuss how the agency could assist the senate committee to introduced best practices into the regulation of our environment issues and laws strengthened to meet international standards and develop an effective national response command to major oil spills.
This commitment was further communicated to the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology when the USEPA organized a conference call on Thursday 29th December involving the Chairman of the committee, Senator Saraki, the vice Chairman, Senator Ben Ayade, and also the Clerk of the committee amongst others representing the Nigerian side and Jane Metcalfe, Cristina Mercurio, Micheal Solecki, and Sam Colemam of the USEPA amongst others representing the US team to discuss the issues as related to the Bonga oil and the different areas of assistance and intervention that will see to a comprehensive response to the spill.
During the conversation the USEPA also indicated that they will be ready to provide technical assistance on other oil spill response matters on a long term basis as circumstances dictate.
The Senate committee on Environment and ecology reassured Nigerians in a statement that every avenue will be explored to ensure the environment is protected and acceptable international standards are followed by oil producing companies in Nigeria.
Senator Saraki also assured that the senate will put in place a framework that will put an end to many years of pollution in the country.