Activists: Alaska shelling would harm belugas

[unhappycamper]

Activists: Alaska shelling would harm belugas
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Feb 14, 2008 5:53:22 EST

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Army will explode munitions on the Eagle River Flats this week as it continues efforts to open the area to year-round training that includes firing artillery shells.

Summer training has been banned by the Army since 1992 after white phosphorus in munitions was linked to mass waterfowl deaths in the 2,200-acre flats.

Environmentalist groups say reopening the flats to year-round shelling will put wildlife at risk, especially Cook Inlet beluga whales.

Cook Inlet keeper Bob Shavelson says there’s no other whale habitat that’s part of an active bombing range in the U.S.

He says keeping toxic chemicals out of wildlife habitat is his group’s preference.


Article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_alaskashelling_080213/

[Submariner]

1. "white phosphorus in munitions linked to mass waterfowl deaths"

I was working with a U.S. Fish & Wildlife biologist when this happened. He took me out on the Flats to collect and count dead ducks. He cut a couple open to check the stomach contents, and smoke would billow out when fresh air came into contact with the now wet phosphorous pellets that did not ignite when the practice artillery shell exploded.

A totally weird site to see.