| 26 June 2008 SHIP-TO-SHIP OIL TRANSFER - KEY VOTE THIS WEEK Thisweek the Scottish Parliament will take decisions which could eventuallyhalt controversial plans for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Forth.This Thursday (28 June) MSPs are expected to vote to give Scottishministers new powers to veto developments which threaten protectedenvironments. [1] Friendsof the Earth Scotland, along with many other environmental andconservation organisations, is opposed to ship-to-ship oil transfers inthe Forth. [2] Friends of the Earth Scotland's Chief Executive, Duncan McLaren, said: "Givingthe Scottish ministers the powers to properly protect Scotland'senvironment is the right decision and we welcome any moves to do so. "TheFirth of Forth contains many conservation sites of national andinternational importance. The proposal to allow the ship-to-ship oiltransfers in the Forth is an accident waiting to happen. Once they havethe powers, ministers should use them to veto this plan. "Theproposed oil transfer operation would bring corporate profit to itsstakeholders, but no direct financial or employment benefit to thelocal economy. It poses unacceptable risk to the marine environment andfishing and tourism industries from accidental or routine oil spillage." Ends NOTES TO EDITORS: [1]This Thursday the Scottish Parliament will debate and vote on theConservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Amendment (No. 2) (Scotland)Regulations 2007 [2] All the Forth local authorities, community councils, environmental agencies and conservation groups have rejected the plans. | 
