Trash inquiry to quiz US Navy
30.01.2006
{br} QUEENSLAND authorities will ask US Navy officials for an explanation over the bags of rubbish from the visiting aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan which were found in Moreton Bay. US military authorities launched an investigation after the dumped bags from the massive nuclear-powered warship were found in the sea near Moreton Island by a Sunshine Coast trawler fisherman last Thursday. The Sunshine Coast Daily first broke the news on Saturday that one hessian bag filled with fast-food wrappers, soft-drink bottles and plastic cutlery was reeled in by Mooloolaba's Aaron Pringle as he trawled for prawns. He said five similar bags were floating nearby. Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said police would help Queensland environmental authorities investigate the find. "We would be happy to talk to our colleagues in that department in terms of liaising with the American authorities to try and ensure there was no repetition of anything like this," he said. Ship spokesman Lt-Commander Gary Ross, who told the Daily it "appeared" the bag found by Mr Pringle had come from his ship, has since been quoted in other media as saying there had been a "mix-up" because bags of glass and scrap metal were legally dumped overboard with forms similar to one in the bag found by Mr Pringle. "Whoever fills the bag has to sign off. We'd like to find out who's responsible," he was reported as saying. He asked for the garbage to be returned so the investigation could begin but Mr Pringle has since disposed of it. While a local woman reported seeing a similar bag on Coolum Beach late Saturday night, it could not be located yesterday morning.
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