Latest news with #Dona
National Observer
01-08-2025
- Science
- National Observer
Alberta's coal mine reclamation standards fail to protect water, fish: study
Alberta regulations meant to keep old coal mines from polluting streams and lakes are failing, suggests a study by government scientists. The study says high levels of numerous contaminants are having grave outcomes for aquatic life and their ecosystems. One of the authors, a former Alberta government scientist in charge of environmental monitoring, says the paper speaks to "regulatory inaction." "These results suggest current reclamation practices and regulatory requirements for water quality and aquatic ecosystems are not meeting the desired objectives," the authors write at the end of the report. The peer-reviewed study is by three Alberta government scientists and the former government scientist, who is now an environmental consultant. They took samples from rivers near three old coal mines south of Hinton, Alta., which are four kilometres from Jasper National Park at their closest point. The mines closed in the early 2000s. The authors discovered some improvements to water quality since mining activities ended. But in rivers downstream from those mines, they found high concentrations of several pollutants in the water. In the Luscar Creek and Gregg River, for example, nickel ratios were 200 times higher downstream from the mines than in water upstream. In the nearby McLeod River Basin, they determined selenium levels and other ions provide a "persisting threat to water quality," even though one mine has been nearly fully reclaimed and another is 60 per cent reclaimed. The authors looked at the number of samples in which selenium concentrations exceeded Alberta's protection of aquatic life guideline, a limit the province uses to determine when contamination levels would likely cause harm to an ecosystem. At six locations, 98 to 100 per cent of testing samples found selenium concentrations exceeded that limit. They write that elevated selenium levels have "insidious" effects on certain fish and birds, because the substance is passed down from parents to offspring and presents in deformities and impairs their ability to reproduce. It is otherwise a naturally occurring element that's vital in small amounts. The authors also note the McLeod River Basin is home to Athabasca Rainbow Trout, listed as endangered Canada's Species At Risk Act — a law created to protect and recover at-risk species. They write that the trout is likely to go extinct. More broadly, they write that a growing body of research shows "reclamation and mitigation practices may not restore aquatic habitat or reverse ecological damage." Bill Donahue, one of the study's authors and a former chief of environmental monitoring for the Alberta government, said in an interview that the study demonstrates "regulatory inaction." "The big lie is that Albertans seem to think that the regulator is going to look at what's submitted and, if those promises and requirements aren't met, then the company is going to have to fix it," he said. "Well, here's the paper that says that's not true." Donahue said he's unsure proper regulations can be created to reverse the impacts of coal mining, because there is little historical evidence companies have been able to do so after they've ended operations, no matter how much money they spend. He also called the study a "warning flag" for future coal projects in Alberta. Earlier this year, the Alberta Energy Regulator granted an Australia-based coal company permission to start a controversial coal exploration on the eastern slopes of the Rockies, concluding the small-scale project likely won't have any effect on water quality downstream. The regulator said at the time that it couldn't consider the possibility that the exploration permit might lead to a full-blown coal mine in the future. Ryan Fournier, press secretary for Alberta's Environment Ministry, said the province has shared the study with the regulator and it's one of the reasons the province isn't allowing any more open-pit mines. It's up to the regulator to decide if more monitoring or actions are needed in the bodies of water referenced in the study, Fournier said, adding selenium levels sometimes exceeded fish protection alert levels but there's currently no evidence of population decline. "These results are also why any new mines will be required to either be underground mines or use advanced selenium management techniques and deploy state-of-the-art technology and monitoring to protect the surrounding environment," he wrote in a statement. The regulator said in a statement it's reviewing the findings. Asked if it was aware of selenium concentrations in Luscar Creek or Gregg River, the regulator said it has a long-standing requirement for approval holders to reduce selenium concentrations to levels that don't affect the aquatic environment and it has tools to enforce regulatory compliance. 'Achievement of selenium reduction objectives is expected to progress over multiple years as mines advance towards reclamation,' it said.
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
MRF witnesses the rise of two young Kayaking stars
Ryan Varghese may not have won a prize in the Intermediate Extreme Slalom event in the Malabar River Festival (MRF) on Friday (July 25). But he certainly won hearts. This 10-year-old from Ernakulam is the youngest contestant in the festival this season, and his finishing the event in itself is considered a victory at his age due to which he is projected as a promising talent. Ryan, along with his 12-year-old sister Dona Marcella had the spotlight on them on the first day of the festival as several people, including villagers, stopped them to chat and click pictures with them. Dona had displayed her talent finishing fourth in the Intermediate Extreme Slalom event in the women's category. This is not the first outing for Ryan and Dona at MRF. Both had participated in the previous edition. Students of St. Mary's Public School, Thamarachal, in Ernakulam, the siblings are well supported by their parents George Felix and Panimaya Priyadarshini, who themselves are flat water kayakers. 'I was tense at first. But once I entered the water, there was no time to think,' Ryan said, adding that he was happy to have finished without any problems, though he had a minor bruise on his shoulder after brushing on a rock during the event. 'This water is very turbulent and hence it is tough for a beginner to traverse. We saw several experienced kayakers failing and being rescued. This makes Ryan's performance noteworthy,' said his mother Panimaya. He had trained under several professional Kayakers from Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, especially national champion Amit Thapa, in April-May this year. George Felix and Panimaya had taken to kayaking during the pandemic as a pastime influenced by a few friends. But it soon became their passion that inspired them to ensure professional training for their children in the sport. 'We do not have many kayakers to represent India in the smaller age groups. We definitely hope Ryan and Dona will make us proud by representing the nation,' Panimaya said.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Furtado, Wallace F. 1941-2025 St. Joseph, Mo.
Wallace F. Furtado, 83, St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, June 29, 2025. He was born July 27, 1941, in Carver, Massachusetts, to Noy and Carolyn (Gomes) Furtado. He grew up in Massachusetts, and after graduating from high school he proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant. On May 10, 1975, Wallace married Dona Denise Young. They recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. Wallace loved sports. He played baseball in his younger years, then coached men's basketball while in the military, and later coached high school girls basketball in Massachusetts. Wallace and Dona moved to St. Joseph in 2005 to be closer to family. They attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. He was an outgoing man with very high standards, but more importantly, a loving husband, father and grandfather. He loved spending time with his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Brenda Jones. Survivors include his wife, Dona; son, Michael (Kelly); grandchildren, Jalen, Maya, and Case Furtado; nieces; nephews; other extended family and friends. Farewell Services 10 a.m. Friday, July 11, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Inurnment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends one hour prior to the service. Online guest book and obituary at As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
India.com
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Happy Birthday Sourav Ganguly: Shuttlecock Started Love Story, Families Were Against, Did Secret Wedding And Then...
photoDetails english Updated:Jul 06, 2025, 07:30 PM IST Childhood Sweethearts, Neighborly Glances 1 / 10 Sourav Ganguly and Dona Ganguly grew up as neighbors in Kolkata's Behala locality. They often saw each other, developing a quiet admiration from a distance. Their paths were destined to intertwine in the most charming way. The Shuttlecock That Changed Everything 2 / 10 Their story took a romantic turn during a game of badminton. Sourav's shuttlecock landed in Dona's home, creating the perfect excuse. It was her chance to speak to him while returning the stray shuttlecock. Breaking the Ice: A Budding Friendship 3 / 10 That simple act of returning the shuttlecock broke the initial hesitation between them. Soon, Sourav and Dona began interacting more frequently. Several small incidents helped them connect and build a genuine friendship. Love Blossoms 4 / 10 Their First Date As their friendship deepened, Sourav and Dona realized their feelings for each other. They fell deeply in love, leading to their memorable first date. They chose a Chinese restaurant in Kolkata named Mandarin for this special occasion. Family Opposition 5 / 10 When Sourav and Dona decided to marry, their families strongly opposed the union. An old family dispute between the two households created a significant hurdle. Their parents refused to give their blessing to the match. A Secret Pact 6 / 10 Despite the family resistance, Sourav and Dona were determined to be together. Their love was too strong to be deterred by external pressures. They made a brave decision to marry secretly, against their families' wishes. The Hush-Hush Wedding 7 / 10 A Private Affair To keep their marriage under wraps from the public and media, Sourav and Dona opted for a low-key ceremony. They tied the knot at a friend's house, with a registrar officiating the private vows. It was a testament to their unwavering commitment. Shock, Fury, and Eventual Acceptance 8 / 10 Upon learning of the secret marriage, both families were initially shocked and furious. However, the undeniable purity and strength of Sourav and Dona's love eventually softened their hearts. They decided to put their old grudges behind them. A Grand Celebration 9 / 10 The Official WeddingOnce their families fully accepted their union, they organized a proper, grand wedding for the couple. This joyous celebration took place on February 1, 1997, marking the official beginning of their life as husband and wife with everyone's blessings. Parenthood and a Legacy of Love 10 / 10 In 2001, Sourav and Dona welcomed their daughter, Sana Ganguly, completing their beautiful family. Today, the family of three lives happily in Kolkata. Their enduring love story remains an inspiring example of commitment and devotion.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nasdaq, S&P 500 Notch New Record Highs Following US-Vietnam Deal; Tesla Rebounds
The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 jumped to fresh record levels on Wednesday after President Dona
