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Home > News Releases > News Releases 2005 > NEB oversees clean up efforts in Terasen Pipelines spill in B.C.

NEB oversees clean up efforts in Terasen Pipelines spill in B.C.

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News Release

05/15
For immediate release
19 July 2005

NEB oversees clean up efforts in Terasen Pipelines spill in B.C.

CALGARY - The National Energy Board issued an update today regarding the response to a crude oil pipeline leak from from a Terasen Pipelines facility near Abbotsford, B.C. on 15 July.

The NEB is leading the co-ordinated response of federal and provincial agencies. NEB environmental, emergency response and pipeline integrity specialists have been on site since Saturday morning. Also responding to the spill are Terasen Pipelines, the Transportation Safety Board, Environment Canada, BC Ministry of the Environment, Fraser Health Authority, Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service, Burrard Clean and several environmental consultants.

It has been determined that crude oil had leaked from a Terasen Pipelines facility into the Marshall Creek/Kilgaard Creek system. The pipeline was shut down on Friday afternoon and will remain closed until repair work is completed. Crews have put in place a number of measures, such as berms and weirs, to prevent the spill from moving outside the containment area.

The amount of oil spilled is yet to be determined and an approximately 300-metre stretch of creek downstream of the spill has been impacted at the intersection of Ward Avenue and Sumas Mountain Road, south of the Terasen Pipelines tank facility. Recovery of product continues today and the recovered product (oil, water and soil) is being handled according to federal and provincial regulations.

NEB priorities are the safety of local residents, the containment and clean up of the spill and assisting the Transportation Safety Board in its investigation into the cause of the spill.

Terasen has fully enacted its Emergency Response Plan, which called for the notification and evacuation of nine households on Friday night. These residents were permitted to return to their homes on Sunday, as it was deemed safe for them to do so.

Air, groundwater and surface water quality monitoring are ongoing. Water sampling conducted to date does not indicate the presence of hydrocarbons outside the spill containment area. Soil sampling within the spill area is also underway to assess the soil contaminant levels and determine the extent of the impacted area.

Clean up efforts continue and are expected to be ongoing for some time. Investigation into the cause of the spill continues under the guidance of the Transportation Safety Board. A long term clean up plan is being developed by Terasen and will be submitted to federal authorities for review and approval.

The NEB is an independent federal agency that regulates several parts of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to promote safety and security, environmental protection, and efficient energy infrastructure and markets in the Canadian public interest, within the mandate set by Parliament in the regulation of pipelines, energy development and trade.

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For further information:

Charlene Gaudet
Team Leader, Communications
National Energy Board
Telephone: 403-299-2713
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265

 

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Date Modified:
2011-10-28