Motor Vehicle Incident Valemont
Last updated on April 5, 2024Disclaimer:
- Information provided is based on reports received by Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR).
- Information provided is considered to be current at the time of posting, but is subject to change
Incident description
| Incident Date | March 9, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Name | DGIR: 241085 |
| Source | Transport Truck |
| Nearest Community | Valemont, BC |
| Spilled Content | Diesel, Class 8 Corrosives |
| Who is involved | Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV), Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI), Transport Canada (TC), BC Hydro, RCMP, Simpcw First Nation, Lheidli T'enneh Nation |
Response phase details
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 and Climate Change Strategy (ENV) may assume the role.
The updates below reflect the ministry’s oversight of the spillers’ actions. Details describe the spill response phase only and not the complete lifecycle of the spill. Visit the 'More information' page for other reports.
Updates are in reverse chronological order with the most recent at the top.
Industry-specific language may be explained in the Glossary of Terms (PDF, 106KB).
Most recent updates
March 27
Environmental sampling has occurred and initial results indicate no impacts to the immediate surface or ground water. Sampling also took place on the closest water body to the incident site, the Albreda River (approx. 200 M from the spill location).
Soil removal operations are ongoing and anticipated to conclude by the end of the week. First Nations cultural monitoring remains on site for remediation and recovery operations.
The environmental consultant will be creating a final report upon conclusion of the remediation and recovery operations.
No further updates are expected for this spill incident.
March 21
On March 21, 2024, clean up and recovery operations continued with EEROs on site. Coordination calls took place between the responsible person (spiller) and involved parties. The environmental consultant also participated.
It was determined that approximately 6,500 liters of phosphoric acid and 1,000 liters of diethanolamine spilled along with a number of other chemicals (i.e., borax and glycol). Impacted First Nations have been engaged in cleanup operations to date and continue to be informed throughout clean-up operations.
Chemicals that were in containers have been removed successfully from the location along with the impacted semi-tractor and trailer. Remediation operations are ongoing including environmental sampling.
March 9
On March 9, 2024, a semi-truck and trailer was involved in a motor vehicle incident south of Valemont, BC. The trailer was carrying a mixed load of chemicals. Multiple containers containing chemicals were damaged. It is confirmed at least two 1000 litre totes released their contents to the ground. One tote contained Phosphoric Acid and the other contained Formic Acid. The fuel tanks were observed in intact. The total amount of spilled material is unknown.
The Responsible Person has been working to retain a Response Contractor for response and remediation.
Provincial Environmental Emergency Response Officers (EEROs) attended the site.
Environmental assessments, remediation, and recovery is ongoing.
Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.