Sanikiluaq fuel spill caused by ‘human error,’ GN says

Hamlet residents return home after 4,800-litre gasoline spill caused evacuations

People in Sanikiluaq went out onto the land to move away from a gas leak that prompted concern for health risks on July 22. (Photo courtesy of Allan Rumbolt)

By Kierstin Williams

A gasoline spill in Sanikiluaq Monday was caused by “human error,” the Government of Nunavut says.

Residents of the island community in Hudson Bay were advised to move away from the hamlets core area after a tank overfill occurred around 1 p.m. on Monday.

On Tuesday, the Government of Nunavut announced it was safe for people to return to their homes and to resume daily activities.

That was one of three statements the government released Tuesday afternoon, the day after the spill.

The Department of Environment tested for gasoline vapour at the tank farm. Levels were low, but there were no gasoline vapours detected within the community, a public service announcement said.

“Gasoline evaporates quickly and the present wind and weather conditions are favorable for rapid evaporation,” it said.

The GN also issued a three-page question-and-answer document about how the spill happened, saying the spill was contained and that it is considered to have a “low risk to health.”

“The spill was caused by human error where a valve between the main tank and a smaller tank was left open during resupply,” Heather Grant, a policy analyst with the Department of Community and Government Services, wrote in an email to Nunatsiaq News on Tuesday.

“The small tank, once filled, overflowed. As soon as the spill was detected, the valve was closed, stopping any further fuel loss.”

Specialists arrived on the ground within hours of notice to the Nunavut Government’s Petroleum Products Division and following an assessment by Nunatta Environmental, it was determined there is low risk to the health of residents.

The fuel spill was contained within the tank farm’s berm, a containment unit designed to contain any leaks or spills.

Sanikiluaq SAO Robert Hedley said the hamlet is still assessing what needs to be done following the spill.

“A lot of gas evaporates very quickly, I’m not sure if there’s going to be any soil remediation yet, that’s something to be determined by the contractor once they have their spill report in,” Hedley said Tuesday in an interview.

Hedley said the hamlet of Sanikiluaq did not issue an official evacuation or declare a state of emergency. But officials asked residents to move to the other side of town until any risks or hazards were assessed, he said.

Residents were advised later on Monday they could return home shortly after it was determined there was no more spilled gasoline present or the fuel had rapidly evaporated.

Out of precaution, the hamlet in conjunction with the health centre made the call on Monday to evacuate elders with health concerns like oxygen dependency or heart conditions.

An Air Inuit plane was coming in for the community’s summer games and the hamlet was able to enlist the company for assistance to fly them to the nearby Nunavik village of Kuujuaraapik.

“Air Inuit allowed us to get some people on the plane that needed care that we wouldn’t provide because we didn’t know how long we’d be out there until we got that assessment,” Hedley said.

On Tuesday, the hamlet chartered a plane to return elders from Kuujuaraapik back to Sanikiluaq.

The GN says there was unreliable information circulated by unofficial sources regarding the amount of gasoline spilled.

“The number reported by others appears to have been based on estimated capacity of the fuel tank itself, and not the actual fuel spill, which is why those numbers are exaggerated and inaccurate,” Grant said.

On Monday, a GN statement estimated the amount gasoline that leaked to be 5,000  litres.

“Following the assessment of Nunatta Environmental, on July 23 at 1 p.m., the total volume spilled has been updated to 4,800 litres.”

On Tuesday afternoon, the Government of Nunavut reissued the advisory it sent out Monday urging people and pets to stay away from the tank farm area.

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(8) Comments:

  1. Posted by 867 on

    Nunavut needs less TikTok and more Training.

    48
    1
    • Posted by Vince N on

      He turned a hand valve and walked away, one big tank over filled a small tank.

      How much training is needed for that?

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    • Posted by markusie on

      its the ship crew from south at fault if they were fueling those tank farms..

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      • Posted by Northern Inuit on

        Not true. The Ship delivers Ship to.Shore.

        PPD, GN responsible shore to tanks

  2. Posted by Daaniallie Niviaxie on

    ᖄᓐᓂᐅᔭᖐᑐ ᐅᕐᓱᐊᓗᒃ.
    ᖄᒥᑐᐃᓐᓇᕋᔭᕐᑐᒃ ᓯᒃᑭᕈᓐᓇᐃᓗᓂ

    5
    3
  3. Posted by Mit on

    This types a job should need regular drug testing also any job that people are driving heavy equipment and dangerous goods. Can’t have stoned people dealing with dangerous goods. Just my opinion

    19
  4. Posted by PPD Contract & Trainings (regular basis)??? on

    If petroleum is contracted the contractor should provide training on regular basis with new and existing staffers i.e. monitor tank farm on regular basis. The fuel trucks are own by PPD, which mean Management is part of the fault without inhouse training to monitor both tank farm, fuel, and its staffs. What’s been the contractor been administering in the fuel services???

    It appears that over past years Sanikiluaq had to fly-in train the trainee out of Chester to provide petro training and fuel service in that community! Notice this trend!?!

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  5. Posted by Jesus on

    Incidents, Accidents, Spills, etc…. Could have been prevented.

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