Four days after the RCMP announced highway disruptions in central Alberta caused by an “oilfield material” spill, cleanup efforts continue and police say it is not clear yet when all highways will fully reopen.
An RCMP spokesperson told Global News on Monday that in the case of Highway 20 near Breton, it would be a “significant amount of time before the roads open up.”
The highway remains closed in both directions at the site of the spill.
The highways affected by the spill were Highway 20 between Township Road 470 and Highway 39, as well as Highway 39 from Highway 20 to Highway 770.
On Monday, the RCMP said Highway 39 is now open in one direction only at the scene of the spill. The RCMP said the road maintenance service company Emcon Alberta continues to be involved in cleanup efforts.
A Global News crew was at Highway 39 near Warburg, Alta., on Monday and heard from drivers that they were waiting about 10 to 15 minutes to be able to drive through the area on the one highway lane that was open.
The spill was announced Thursday night by the Thorsby RCMP detachment. At the time, Mounties and other personnel were “working to divert traffic on approximately 38 kilometres of affected highway.”
The RCMP did not originally say exactly what the substance that spilled is, but said it is “non-toxic.” They later said the material that spilled is “VGO.” The acronym is often used to describe “vacuum gas oil” but as of Monday morning, there was no confirmation from the RCMP or the province that that is the substance that spilled.
In an email sent to Global News on Friday, the office of Environment and Protected Areas of Alberta Minister Rebecca Schulz said the ministry is “working with local officials and others to clean the spill and open the highways as soon as possible.”
“Alberta Environment and Protected Areas and others have responded and is working to support the clean-up,” Ryan Fournier, Schulz’ press secretary, said in an email.
“At this time, no significant environmental impacts have been identified.”
Global News reached out to Fournier on Monday to get an update on the situation and to see if he could say exactly what the substance that spilled is.
In a reply sent by email, Fournier did not say what the substance is, but noted the “material that spilled was not regulated under the Dangerous Goods Act and does not pose an environmental safety hazard.
“An environmental consultant has been monitoring the impacted areas, and no impacts to any waterbodies have been reported. We will continue to closely monitor the area and work with the local officials as we continue the cleanup.”
When Global News reached out again to ask what the substance that spilled is, Fournier confirmed it was vacuum gas oil. One petroleum company describes the substance as “a key feedstock for fluid catalytic crackers used to make transportation fuels and many other by-products.”
In a post on the Village of Breton’s Facebook page on Sunday night, officials asked that anyone who “drove through any segments of the spill” get their vehicle sprayed off.
“The more vehicles that are cleaned, the less the VGO will be tracked around,” officials said.
“We do know crews are working on (Highway) 20 right by the village tonight.
“Thankfully the snow seems to be solidifying the VGO and preventing it from getting into the ground, even with the temperatures the last few days.”
Village officials noted they have confirmed the cleanup involves people walking through ditches and “hand-shovelling remnants of the VGO they are finding.”
They added that environmental firms have been hired to test the water along the ditches.
Village officials commented on the co-ordination involved with respect to the cleanup effort.
“(It) is very reassuring that they aren’t rushing to just be done with it.”
Micah Turner, who lives in the area affected by the spill, said he moved into his new home on Tuesday, two days before the spill occurred.
On Thursday night, Turner said he saw police lights and drove his vehicle from his home to near the highway.
“They had a tanker truck that was pulled over,” he said, noting he could not immediately see the spill itself as it was too late at night.
“(The next morning, I) took a walk down there and saw the goop on the road.”
Turner said he is frustrated by the lack of information residents are receiving about what exactly spilled and what the concerns about the substance are.
He said that aside from updates provided on social media by the Village of Breton, residents have had to reach out to authorities to ask questions.
On Friday, he said he felt he could not leave his home because he “didn’t want to get the stuff on the vehicle.”
“The one issue I’ve had is lack of communication,” he said. “I don’t really know a lot.
“It would be nice to have some more info, … (like) ‘Hey, this is what the product is.’
“We’re on a creek here. … (I’m) slightly concerned.”
Turner said cleanup crews have been putting sand down on the highway in what he believes is an attempt to absorb the substance. He also said vac trucks have been out and that cleanup crews have been working 24 hours a day.
An RCMP spokesperson told Global News on Friday afternoon that the driver of the vehicle involved in the spill will be facing charges under the Traffic Safety Act as well as under the Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulation.
On Monday, an RCMP spokesperson explained what investigators believe led to the spill. They believe that an oil valve on the truck involved was not sealed properly and that it was leaking without the driver realizing.
Late Monday afternoon, Fournier said “the cost associated to the cleanup is the responsibility of the trucking company, Torq Trucking Ltd., who is the responsible party.”
Jarrett Zielinski, the CEO of Torq Energy Logistics, spoke to Global News on Monday about the incident and the aftermath.
“(Our) first response is to ensure that we focus on the recovery and cleanup of the environment and the safety of the community,” he said.
Zielinski said the driver involved in the incident was a subcontractor.
“Unfortunately, the driver has not been co-operative,” he alleged.
–with files from Lisa MacGregor, Global News