CN Fuel Spill Update

Information Update – CN Fuel Spill, November 16, 2012

This update has been compiled following briefings from CN Public Affairs, CN Environment and the BC Ministry of the Environment.

• CN continues to work through the cleanup, and will remain on-site until the site is clean. The spill area was fortunate to be located on the east side of the tracks. There is no indication at this time that the affected area has travelled to the west side of the tracks (the inter-tidal zone).
• CN has quantified the estimated amount of fuel that was spilled as between 1100 to 1500 gallons.
• It was necessary to move the locomotive to CN's facility in Surrey, BC in order to repair damages to the unit. Any extra spill that resulted during the move was handled as part of the original spill response and the affected soil was excavated along with the site of the original leak. CN monitors and will continue to monitor the impacted areas to ensure that all product has been cleaned up according to environmental guidelines established by provincial and federal regulators.
• Two CN-contracted environmental companies – SNC-Lavalin and Triton Environmental – are working through the clean-up and monitoring efforts.
• Containment is still a priority – in particular anticipating rising waters with significant rain events. A river boom, spill pads etc. remain in place.
• Nine monitoring wells have been drilled, with daily monitoring over the next two weeks, ramping down frequency as needed. The District is under the understanding that this will be the beginning of a two- to five-year monitoring plan.
• A Habitat Restoration Plan is being prepared by CN and will be shared with us once final.
• Moving forward, CN will double Transport Canada’s mandated frequency of testing on this particular section of track.
• The District anticipates that Transport Canada will provide a report on this incident, with the hopeful outcome that track maintenance and safety standards will be reviewed.

November 16, 2012