And people are without water in Saskatchewan.
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A pipeline oil spill in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan is threatening the drinking water of several communities.
Workers closed the intake pipes in the North Saskatchewan River, after about 53,000 gallons of heavy crude contaminated the water and soil.
Canada’s federal environment department is investigating the incident, said spokeswoman Lo Cheng. The company also arranged for aerial surveillance to be done at daybreak.
“The first duty is to respond, to make sure people have potable water”.
AFN Saskatchewan Regional Chief Bobby Cameron stated: “We will get assurances that First Nation’s interests with respect to our Inherent and Treaty Rights to hunting, trapping, fishing and gathering will be taken into account during the environmental assessment, clean up and rehabilitation of the North Saskatchewan River, consistent with worldwide law and the United Nations Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples. That’ll need to be a part of the cost to Husky as well”.
The waters are getting a bit murky about just exactly when Husky Energy detected the rupture of their pipeline beside the North Saskatchewan River south of Paradise Hill.
The Saskatchewan government got word of the spill at around 10:30 a.m. that day.
As a precaution Husky chose to start pipeline shutdown procedures around 6 a.m. on July 21, and later that morning received reports of a sheen on the river.
They then said that they started shut-down procedures at 6:00 a.m. the following morning.
Despite all of the conflicting statements, Pushor and Wall also both defended Husky, saying it had been transparent about how things unfolded. Crews were sent to check the pipeline, but they did not find a leak.
Husky spokesperson Al Pate has repeatedly told media a “comprehensive investigation” is underway and more details will be made available when that is complete. I support my colleague, Saskatchewan Regional Chief Bobby Cameron, in his call for the direct involvement of First Nations with the Regional Response centre. A sheen is spotted on the river and emergency response kicks into gear.
Bear says the community had struck a deal with the province on Tuesday where the government would help provide water, but the deal fell through on Wednesday. “At this time, we won’t speculate on what may or may not have happened”, he said in a teleconference call with reporters.
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There are now 19 animals that have died as a result as of the spill, and the ministry is closely monitoring the situation.
