Haida village in British Columbia defends controversial project

Friday, October 19, 2012  

A Haida village in British Columbia is at the center of a controversial "ocean fertilization" project that involved the dumping of 100 tons of iron dust into the water.

The Old Massett Village Council approved the project in hopes of improving salmon runs. The village reportedly paid $2.5 million to Russ George, an entrepreneur from California who dumped the iron dust without government approval.

"I believe when our story comes out, when we have the data and the knowledge to back this up, and the proper science, the proper methodology, I think the conversation is going to change," Ken Rea, the chief councilor for the village, told the Canadian Press.

Environmental officials in Canada are investigating the project, which has been questioned by scientists in Canada and the U.S. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is also looking into the incident after lending equipment to Ross under what may have been false pretenses.

Get the Story:
Haida village, company, legal counsel to defend controversial project (CP 10/19)
A Rogue Climate Experiment Outrages Scientists (The New York Times 10/19)