CNN Student News Transcript: November 13, 2007

(CNN Student News) -- November 13, 2007

Quick Guide

Bay Area Oil Spill - Learn about recent oil spills in the San Francisco Bay and the Black Sea.

Going Dry - Visit a drought-stricken town that only turns on the faucets once a day.

Deflating Supply - Find out why helium supplies aren't keeping up with demand for the element

Transcript

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MONICA LLOYD, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, everyone. I'm Monica Lloyd. We're glad you're spending part of your Tuesday with CNN Student News, where today's show is all about science and nature. So, let's see what's up first.

First Up: Bay Area Oil Spill

LLOYD: Cleanup efforts have recovered about 20 percent of a container ship's recent oil spill in the San Francisco Bay. The ship struck part of the Bay Bridge last week and ripped a hole in its side that was more than 200 feet long! The collision dumped nearly 60,000 gallons of oil into the water. Christy Henry has more on the effects of the spill and the investigation into what caused it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTY HENRY, CNN REPORTER: The San Francisco Bay, tainted by a 58,000-gallon oil spill. Hundreds of dead and sick birds; polluted beaches shut down.

ADM. THAD ALLEN, U.S. COAST GUARD COMMANDANT: It's understandable that people are upset.

HENRY: Federal investigators are now on the case, as lawmakers criticize the handling of the spill. One point of contention: The initial low estimate of oil in the water. The highest ranking Coast Guard official is on the defensive.

ALLEN: There was an eyeball estimate made there was 140 gallons, and that probably shouldn't even have been released, because it's very, very difficult to assess how much oil has been spilled once it's on the water. But that did not slow the response. We had skimming equipment and booms out there right away.

HENRY: It was last week when the container ship rammed into the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, gashed its side and spilled the oil. Local politicians, along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, went to the bay Monday and got a firsthand look at the damage.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), HOUSE SPEAKER: There are many questions that have been raised. I think we can only get to the bottom of them all, get the answers, by having independent hearings of this situation. It's not just about this, but it's about preventing what will happen in the future.

HENRY: Admiral Allen says human error likely played a part. Authorities have been questioning the ship's captain and crew as cleanup continues. For CNN Student News, I'm Christy Henry.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Black Sea Storm

LLOYD: That's not the only oil spill creating problems right now. The one in San Francisco Bay may have been caused by human error, but severe weather is being blamed for a spill in an area between Russia and Ukraine. And as Damon Green explains, the deadly storms in the region are taking a toll on a lot more than just one ship.

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DAMON GREEN, ITV NEWS REPORTER: It's the worst storm in years, and forecasters say it's only just begun. This, just one of around a dozen ships run aground or sunk on the Black Sea coast by huge waves whose power no vessel could escape. The crew of this freighter carrying agricultural equipment, lucky to escape with their lives. But many others haven't been so fortunate. The word from Moscow is that as many as 17 ships are fighting for their lives in the waters between Russia and Ukraine, with more storms still due to break. This sailor, one of just two survivors picked up from the wreck of a freighter bound for Syria. He showed his rescuers how many crew had been on board. The others have been lost. One of the sunken vessels was a fuel tanker which broke up in the heavy seas, spilling at least 2,000 tons of oil into the narrow straits of Kerch. In places where the storm has died down, the cost of that wreck is just starting to become clear: over-wintering sea birds condemned to die from the pollution thrown up on the shore. And with some forecasts predicting that the storm will continue in the Black Sea for another three days, many fear that the danger to human and to animal life is far from over. Damon Green, ITV News.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Shoutout

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Time for the Shoutout! How do you spell ...? If you think you know it, shout it out! Is it: A) Drout, B) Drougt, C) Draut or D) Drought? D-r-o-u-g-h-t is the correct spelling for a long run of dry weather that's harmful to crops. That's your answer that's your Shoutout!

Going Dry

LLOYD: Parts of the southeastern U.S. are struggling through a horrible drought right now. Think about all the different ways you use water every day. Not just drinking; we're talking about doing the laundry, cooking, showering. Now imagine you could only use a limited amount for all of your daily water needs. Rusty Dornin takes us to a town where that scenario's really happening.

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RUSTY DORNIN, CNN REPORTER: Dinner's on the stove, but Debbie Cash has much more urgent matters on her mind.

DORNIN: How many buckets do you fill?

DEBBIE CASH, ORME, TENNESSEE, RESIDENT: About six today.

DORNIN: It's evening rush in Orme, Tennessee. The taps are on for just 3 hours; after that they are dry until the same time tomorrow. The town ran out of water on August 1st. The 145 residents who live here don't conserve water, they hoard it.

LOCAL RESIDENT: That's what's left out of a 55-gallon drum.

DORNIN: And that's it since last night. The town's only water source: a sad reminder of days gone by.

BILL RICHARDSON, RESIDENT: Years ago, it run off these bluffs here, I mean water would.

DORNIN: A big waterfall, right?

RICHARDSON: A big waterfall; pretty.

DORNIN: Now, the only way to get water is to fire up the 1961 fire engine and head two miles to a fire hydrant in Alabama for water donated by another town. They hook up the hose, fill 'er up, then it's back to the town's tank to unload.

DORNIN: So, how many times do you have to make the round trip in a day?

RICHARDSON: Oh about 7 times, about 7 loads.

DORNIN: Back and forth every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Then, the moment parched residents are waiting for: Mayor Tony Reames cranks open the water valve; down below Debbie Cash waits.

CASH: Nothing, nothing, nothing.

DORNIN: And then how long does it take after he turns the water on for it to come out of the faucet?

CASH: Just a few minutes.

DORNIN: Luckily there is help on the way. By Thanksgiving, Orme should have water piped in. But Reames says his town's predicament is a warning to others.

MAYOR TONY REAMES, ORME, TENNESSEE: All these people on river systems better take note. Because once your mountain streams, your tributaries to the river starts drying up, the river ain't far behind.

DORNIN: Debbie Cash says never take your natural resources for granted.

CASH: Cherish the water you got and be kinda careful with it, cause you never know if you will be out of water.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Is this legit

AZUZ: Is This Legit? On the periodic table, the symbol for helium is He. Yes! And the atomic number of this noble gas is 2.

Deflating Supply

LLOYD: Here are a few more facts about helium: It's colorless, and it doesn't have a smell or a taste. But the element is in high demand. After all, think of all the birthday balloons that get filled with it. The problem is, there's only a limited amount of helium to go around. Gabriel Morales of affiliate KFDA has more on the shrinking supply.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GABRIEL MORALES, NEWSCHANNEL 10: Balloons are a favorite for several occasions, but party store owners like Terry Bogey say don't take them for granted. She says her helium distributor sent her a warning.

TERRY BOGEY, PARTY AMERICA: The price may go up, there may be a shortage, we may not get it on time. That's why we have to -- what do they call it -- stockpile.

MORALES: And that price increase may affect you. Experts say an increasing global demand for helium and a lack of new plants coming online are causing a helium crunch.

LESLIE THEISS, BUREAU LAND MANAGEMENT: Basically, demand is rapidly outstripping supply. And it's not getting any better right now. That's the problem.

MORALES: In 1996, the U.S. government decided to get out of the helium business except for a reserve: one plant near Dumas. The hope is that private companies will step up to fill the gap.

THEISS: That's not been happening. They've not been able to bring new sources and supply online fast enough, so the demand is rapidly outpacing everything else.

MORALES: But right now, Bogey says she's forced to buy more helium tanks at one time.

BOGEY: Not only are you paying for the helium, but you're also paying a rental charge, which that is going to come back to haunt you. Because now I have to have more tanks in the back.

MORALES: Bogey says she may eventually have to raise the price of her balloons by about 9 to 10 cents to offset costs. She already says she's not making a profit.

BOGEY: When I feel it enough, then they'll feel it, cause it's not a non-profit organization.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Before We Go

LLOYD: And finally, a story in Oklahoma sparked our interest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEVIN ELDREDGE, LIGHTNING ENTHUSIAST: I like lightning. I like to watch lightning, sparks. And this took care of that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LLOYD: Sure did. You're not looking at special effects or even something made with photoshop. That's actual lightning, and it's in this man's backyard! He even has a checklist of things to do before flipping the switch. Put the dogs inside? Yeah, we're guessing rover's high-tailing it to the house on his own. Still, the crackling creation makes for an electrifying view.

Goodbye

LLOYD: And that lightning bug is the last flicker in today's show. But we'll see you tomorrow for more CNN Student News. Thanks for watching, everyone. I'm Monica Lloyd. E-mail to a friend