| I N F O R M A T I O N B U L L E T I N | |
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| For Immediate Release 330-30:ELP00/01-149 Aug. 1, 2000 |
Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks |
A section of the Pembina Pipeline ruptured at about 1:30 a.m. August 1. Environment Ministry emergency staff are on site, working with Pembina Petroleum setting up containment systems about 22 kilometres downstream of the ruptured oil pipeline. Another berm is being set up a further 30 kilometres downriver to catch oil that has beaded in the cold water and escaped under the first containment system.
The pipeline has been closed. The progress and location of the oil on the river is being monitored by helicopter.
Residents along the Pine River have been advised by the District of Chetwynd not to use water directly from the river until further notice. The water from the Chetwynd water distribution system is not affected and is therefore fine to drink. Careful monitoring of the river is under way, and the ministry will alert the town if the spill threatens the town's drinking water.
A briefing for on-site media has been scheduled for 9 p.m. August 1 at the Chetwynd Recreation Arena. Staff from Pembina Petroleum, B.C. Environment, the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission and the District of Chetwynd will be on hand.
The B.C. Oil and Gas Commission and the Environment Ministry will conduct a full investigation of the incident. Updates on the cleanup efforts and subsequent public health issues will be posted regularly to the ministry Web site at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/main/news_rel.htm.
| Contact: Jacqueline Waldorf, (250) 356-2116 or cell (250) 361-5775 Media Relations Victoria
Colleen Sweet (250) 261-5734 or |
Rich Girard, (250) 565-6443 Regional Manager Pollution Prevention Prince George |