A tractor-trailer carrying diesel fuel crashed on Highway 16 spilling at least 20,000 litres of diesel into the Fraser River near the western entrance of Mount Robson Provincial Park, March 2.
According to the Valemount RCMP, a transport truck with two trailers lost control and overturned near Moose Lake shortly before 6 a.m.
There were no reports of injuries, but the highway was closed for several hours to contain the spill.
According to B.C.鈥檚 Ministry of Environment, the truck was carrying 50,000 litres of fuel when it ended up on its side in the westbound lane of Highway 16, approximately two kilometres east of the provincial park鈥檚 visitor information centre. Pictures from the scene showed the highway was slushy at the time of the accident.
An environmental emergency response crew was immediately dispatched to the site and used drones to survey the area. Clean up crews also used vacuum trucks and excavators to clean up the areas adjacent to the highway.
The Ministry of Environment said it was unsure how much fuel ended up in the river, but said initial sample results indicate the spill had dissipated to below detectable levels about 24 kms downstream from the accident.聽
According to the statement, a contractor worked over the weekend and remains on site removing contaminated snow and soil.
The ministry said booms remain in place to prevent additional fuel from entering the river and a fisheries biologist has also been on site to conduct a fisheries assessment. An emergency response officer will also remain on site to monitor the clean up and remediation efforts.
The truck involved in the accident was owned by Federated COOP based out of Edmonton.
The Fraser River is 1,370 km long and is British Columbia鈥檚 longest river. It rises in the Fraser Pass on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains in the southeast corner of Mount Robson Provincial Park and flows southwest eventually draining into the Pacific Ocean just south of Vancouver.
It is considered one of the world鈥檚 greatest salmon spawning rivers.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
