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Coal spilled in Columbia during derailment near Edgewater
Environment and Climate Change Canada, Interior Health Authority, First Nations Health Authority and the B.C. Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy (MOE) are investigating a Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) coal train derailment that occurred near Edgewater last Saturday night.
On the evening of October 10, at approximately 10:45 p.m., 17 train cars derailed with two cars flipping over near Edgewater.
Canadian Pacific Railways (CPR) confirmed that the train cars were carrying coal. An unknown quantity of the spilled product has entered into the Columbia River, the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy reported.
“Environmental contractors have been retained to undertake water sampling upstream and downstream of the impact site and to assist in mitigation measures of the incident site, including silt fencing and containment boom. Salvage and cleanup operations are ongoing. Interior Health Authority, First Nations Health Authority and local First Nations have been notified of the incident,” the ministry said.
An Environmental Emergency Response Officer with the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy is continuing to work closely with partners to monitor the incident.
The ministry pointed out the “responsible person or spiller is legally required to clean-up or manage the clean-up of a spill. In incidents where the responsible person is unknown, unable or unwilling to manage the cleanup, the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy may assume the role.
Lead image: Spilled coal along the Columbia River embankment on October 11. MOE photo
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