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Washington (AFP) March 31, 2011 Taiwan-based Koo's Shipping Company was ordered Thursday to pay $1 million for illegally dumping oily waste into US waters in Pago Pago Harbor, American Samoa, officials said. The Justice Department said the penalty was ordered after the firm pleaded guilty to charges in federal court in Washington. The company was sentenced to pay a $750,000 criminal fine and pay $250,000 towards community service projects in American Samoa that include environmental protection and restoration. The firm also was placed on probation for three years. "We will aggressively prosecute vessel companies who willfully violate the laws enacted to protect our oceans," said Assistant Attorney General Ignacia Moreno, head of the Environment and Natural Resources Division for the Department of Justice. "Koo's is paying a just price for knowingly discharging oily waste into the ecologically sensitive harbor of Pago Pago. This penalty will help restore and protect the environment of American Samoa." Officials said the pollution came from a commercial ocean going ship named the M/V Syota Maru that carried frozen fish and fish products primarily in the Pacific Ocean and into American Samoa. On August 17, 2010, the US Coast Guard Marine discovered oily bilge waste being discharged directly into the ocean without required pollution prevention equipment.
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Smithsonian Scientists Help Block Ship-Borne Bioinvaders Before They DockWashington DC (SPX) Mar 30, 2011 The global economy depends on marine transportation. But in addition to cargo, the world's 50,000-plus commercial ships carry tiny stowaways that can cause huge problems for the environment and economy. A new model created by Smithsonian scientists will facilitate accurate screening of vessels for dangerous species before they unload. The team's findings are published in the journal Environmenta ... read more |
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