1. Text: | Print | Share

      Legal action stalled against oil spill culprit

      2011-12-28 13:07    Ecns.cn     Web Editor: Zang Kejia

      (Ecns.cn)--It has been half a year since the oil spill debacle began in Bohai Bay, an environmental tragedy that has since polluted 6,200 square kilometers of water – an area half the size of London.

      According to China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA), ConocoPhillips China violated the overall development plan in its production at Penglai 19-3 oilfield, and is responsible for the accident.

      However, on December 16, ConocoPhillips announced during interviews with foreign media that it had found no evidence of environmental pollution at Penglai 19-3 oilfield after conducting water quality testing and a coastal investigation, reported the China Economic Weekly on Tuesday.

      On December 19, the company said that its research and analysis had so far shown the oil spills in Bohai Bay had caused "minimal lasting impact to the environment," according to a Xinhua report.

      Hard to prove

      Attorney Jia Fangyi has brought judicial proceedings on behalf of fishermen against ConocoPhillips to courts in Hainan, Qingdao and Tianjin. However, the courts have rejected his appeals based on "insufficient evidence," which means the fishermen must now shoulder the burden of proof, according to China Economic Weekly.

      As ConocoPhillips denies any environmental pollution, the fishermen must prove on their own that the oil leaks led to the death of marine life and gravely-affected their livelihoods.

      "The tort party has an obligation to provide the amount and area of the oil leaks," Jia said. "The plaintiff only needs to provide the obvious evidence, such as polluted water and contaminated seafood."

      The related government institutes have an obligation to publicize their investigations, said Yin Fuqiang, another lawyer. If the court files this case, the fishermen can appeal to obtain evidence from related government departments, he added.

      However, at present, no government institutes have shown any intention to provide their investigations as proof, reported the China Economic Weekly.

      Inaction from all sides

      "At the beginning of December, the cases involving ConocoPhillips were overdue for filing, but the Qingdao Court had no response to this," said Jia Fangyi. Until now, not a single case from the attorney has been filed by related courts.

      "The courts have made no response towards the cases they have received. This is judicial inaction," said Jia.

      According to another attorney, 107 fishermen jointly sued ConocoPhillips China at the Tianjin Maritime Affairs Court on December 12, asking for compensation of 490 million yuan.

      But "every year the annual claim settlement rates of courts are examined on December 22," said Yin Fuqiang. "The 107 fishermen's lawsuit was proposed at an awkward time, because the court is probably unwilling to file the case before the assessment."

      In August, the Chinese maritime authority announced it would sue ConocoPhillips over two oil spills on behalf of the state, yet after several months the lawsuit has yet to be heard.

      ConocoPhillips said in September that it would establish a fund for the oil spill accident to cover the entire cost of the clean-up, repair and compensation. "We will soon announce and update information about the Bohai Bay fund," said a source from ConocoPhillips China on December 20.

      As of now, the website of the Bohai Bay Fund (www.bohaibaycompensationfund.com) says only "coming soon" in English and Chinese.

      Playback of events

      June 4 and 17, two oil leaks successively occur at Penglai 19-3 oilfield. In the following days, 840 kilometers of seawater is found to be severely affected, degrading from Grade I to Grade IV. The State Ocean Administration (SOA) orders ConocoPhillips, the company responsible for the accident, to seal the oil leaks by August 31.

      July 6, ConocoPhillips holds a press conference and announces that the oil leaks are under control.

      August 12, ConocoPhillips admits that two more oil spill sources have been found at Platform B of Penglai 19-3 oilfield, and that they had covered the wrong positions instead of the oil leaks. One week later, the company admits to nine oil spill sources at Platform C of Penglai 19-3 oilfield.

      December 13, the SOA investigates oil spills still occurring at Platform C of Penglai 19-3 oilfield. The highest frequency is four spills per minute.

      December 16, ConocoPhillips claims there is no evidence of environmental pollution.

       

      主站蜘蛛池模板: 亚洲视频在线观看| 国产亚洲av片在线观看16女人| 久久精品国产亚洲77777| 国产在线观看免费视频软件| 亚洲精品国产日韩无码AV永久免费网| 亚洲av中文无码字幕色不卡 | 国产免费无码一区二区| 狠狠亚洲狠狠欧洲2019| 在线观看人成视频免费无遮挡| 区久久AAA片69亚洲| 青青操免费在线视频| 亚洲AV本道一区二区三区四区| 四虎国产精品永久免费网址 | 亚洲国产精品高清久久久| 91福利免费网站在线观看| 亚洲AV午夜成人影院老师机影院 | 扒开双腿猛进入爽爽免费视频| 亚洲Av高清一区二区三区| 国产美女无遮挡免费视频| 特级aa**毛片免费观看| 亚洲人成无码网站| 蜜桃AV无码免费看永久| 亚洲欧美乱色情图片| 亚洲美日韩Av中文字幕无码久久久妻妇| 美女巨胸喷奶水视频www免费| 亚洲高清在线视频| 成年男女免费视频网站| 一级毛片完整版免费播放一区| 亚洲国产精品无码av| 成人免费午夜在线观看| 日本黄页网址在线看免费不卡| 亚洲精品无码Av人在线观看国产 | 国产大片线上免费看| 99麻豆久久久国产精品免费| 亚洲免费网站在线观看| 免费a级毛片18以上观看精品| 精品免费tv久久久久久久| 亚洲欧洲无码一区二区三区| 亚洲深深色噜噜狠狠爱网站 | 日本一道高清不卡免费| 日本卡1卡2卡三卡免费|