Columbia Fuels has committed itself to years of monitoring and remediating Goldstream River in the wake of a fuel tanker crash in April.
The Ministry of Environment released the terms of reference last week, a document outlining the responsibilities of Columbia Fuels and its parent company Parkland Fuel Corp., in terms of restoring the Goldstream ecosystem back to health.
Mopping up residual traces of the 42,000 litres of gasoline and 700 litres of diesel fuel dumped into the river system is expected to take up to two years.
Determining the full impact on the cycle of salmon spawning could take much longer B次元官网网址� thousands of juvenile coho and chum died shortly after the spill.
The surviving cohort will spend several years in the ocean before returning to Goldstream River to spawn B次元官网网址� coho live in the saltwater for up to two years and chum for up to five.
B次元官网网址淲e want to look at fish numbers coming back two, three, five years on,B次元官网网址� said Graham Knox, manager of the environmental emergency program with the Ministry of Environment. B次元官网网址淲hat comes in this year isnB次元官网网址檛 related to the Goldstream spill.B次元官网网址�
Environmental consultants, though, will be exploring B次元官网网址渟ub lethalB次元官网网址� effects of the fuel on fish through tissue analysis. Goldstream hatchery staff know coho remain in certain territories in-stream, some above the spill site and some below.
Columbia is also required to fund a regime of insect, wildlife and habitat impact assessment, as well as water and streamside sampling for trace fuels. Ministry staff are concerned residual fuel could be migrating from the spill site to the river through fractured bedrock.
Knox said the monitoring program will continue weekly and then spread out if no more fuel is detected. With that said, environmental consultants still have their work cut out to find and track fuel creeping underground.
B次元官网网址淏ecause of the highway and fractured bedrock, it makes it a lot more challenging. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot more drilling to be done to determine what is happening,B次元官网网址� Knox said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a quick sample and everything looks good so off you go.B次元官网网址�
Ultimately, Columbia Fuels is seeking a certificate of compliance within two years, which would mean the gasoline and diesel has been removed from the Goldstream ecosystem. Knox noted that even if Columbia is issued a certificate, the case can be reopened if fuel is missed.
B次元官网网址淭here is always a possibility they missed something,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�(A certificate of compliance) doesnB次元官网网址檛 extinguish liability fully and completely.B次元官网网址�
Andrea Voysey, speaking for Columbia Fuels, said the company is committed to restoring the Goldstream River ecosystem.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e always said we will do what it takes to ensure the park gets back to its original shape, if not better,B次元官网网址� Voysey said. B次元官网网址淭his (agreement) is part of that.B次元官网网址�
Voysey said the company is still calculating what it will cost for long-term remediation and monitoring, and that final number wonB次元官网网址檛 be released publicly.
Along with Goldstream hatchery volunteers, various federal and provincial regulatory agencies and environmental consultants, and five Saanich Tribes are written into the terms of reference as key partners.
Columbia and Saanich Tribes have established their own confidential relationship agreement, which likely sets out compensation to First Nations members working on Goldstream River monitoring and restoration.
Knox said involving First Nations members in the cleanup response has been a challenge B次元官网网址� there is no clear pay mechanism for people working on the river but not employed by the government.
B次元官网网址淎s much as First Nations want to be engaged and involved, there is no fund to pay for their involvement,B次元官网网址� Knox said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a huge challenge with any spill. First Nations need to be compensated for their work on the river.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
