Q&A on the News

Q: A few weeks ago, there was a story about a big storage tank that was found floating down the Chattahoochee River. Who did the tank belong to and who dumped it in the river?

—Tom Brayton, Sharpsburg

A: The storage tank found floating on the Chattahoochee River on April 1 is owned by BakerCorp, an "industry leader in temporary containment tanks," its website states.

The tank, which was being leased, likely was blown into the river by strong winds, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman told Q&A on the News.

The EPA tested the drum and found “no residue, no odor and no signs of contamination.”

“It was an empty tank,” she said.

The tank, which was 12 feet by 9 feet, was found floating on the Chattahoochee River near the Campbellton Road bridge on the border of Fulton and Douglas counties, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Q: Has anyone done the math to compare the recent discharge from Alaska’s Pavlof Volcano to other normal earthly emissions contributing to climate change?

—Lynn Morrison, Woodstock

A: The eruption of the Pavlof Volcano won't affect earth's climate, David Schneider, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey's Alaska Volcano Observatory told Q&A on the News in en email.

The Pavlof Volcano erupted March 27 and created an ash cloud that reached 37,000 feet that forced the cancellation of more than 60 commercial flights.

Volcanic activity slowed after the initial eruption and by March 29 had “diminished to the point where it is difficult to observe,” the Alaska Volcano Observatory reported.

Andy Johnston with Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).