I chose to write about oil spills because I know that it harms marine life and, I love marine life. So I feel like this topic kinda spoke to me. Also, I love the ocean. When I was younger, I saw a movie about oil spills, since then i have just been really fond of marine life and just animals themselves.
By: Ellie Gagnon
Subject of water pollution : oil spills
BOOM!!SPLASH!!!CRASH!!!! You wake up and check the starry night sky.There is nothing.You then check the ocean. Something grayish and blackish is down there. But it's not a creature,It's a substance.You go to your bedroom door and flip on the light switch. You go back to your window and you see a ship,but it is crashed.You then notice that it is a cargo ship with open oil can rolling down the sandy wet beach.This could happen to you if an oil spill happens around your house. Oil spills are very scary if it is extremely close to your house. Especially if oil gets in your water. If you drink oil it could kill you.
What is an oil spill?
Oil spills create many problems throughout the world ,including the United States. The impact on the ecosystem(eco-system) of an area can be severe. Many plants and animals suffer or are killed within a short time after the oil spill occurs.
Why is the problem happening?
Careless people are dumping oil into the ocean and not telling anybody.It also can happen purely by accident. Either way, it is a big problem. The oil spreads around the ocean harming many marine animals.Then the oil spreads even more until somebody by the beach or somebody on a boat spots it.Then they have to wait to go home to call the E.P.A (Environmental Protection Agency). It usually takes a few weeks or months or even a year to clean up oil spills, especially in the wide open ocean. By the time they finish many marine life is already dead.
What can be done (or has been done) to fix the problem?
The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990 is a law that addresses oil spills. This law created a tax on the oil industry. The tax money is used to clean up oil spills. There should be another law that says. “You cannot dump anything in the water that would contaminate the water or you will be sent straight to court”. or, “If you are caught dumping liquids or anything that will contaminate the ocean you shall be sent straight to a holding cell until somebody pays the bill of 1,000 dollars just to get you out of the holding cell. Then you go to court and have a trial. They then see if you go to jail for the max of ten years or you get released but, if you spill oil one more time then you go straight to jail without going to court. You can also be cautious of oil and notify the EPA if you see an oil spill.
Glossary
Substance (Sub-stance) Any type of liquid
Cargo ship A ship that carries supplies and oil.
Ecosystem (Eco-system) A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Marine animals Animals that live in oceans, rivers and/or lakes
Petition (pe-ti -shon) A formal written request typically one signed by many people, Appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause.
Law The system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the position of penalties.
Contaminate (con-tam-i-nate) Make (something) impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance.
The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990 A law that addresses oil spills
Resources
Epic Readers the books:clear choices the water you drink,water,,save the planet:keeping water clean,the stem encyclopedia of water,
Environmental pollution center
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