Thousands of litres of diesel spill into ocean off Pond Inlet
Leak discovered June 11; Department of Community and Government Services issues public warning June 19
The Nunavut government is asking people to stay away from the area marked on this satellite image of Pond Inlet, where approximately 7,000 litres of diesel fuel spilled earlier this month. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Community and Government Services)
An estimated 7,000 litres of diesel fuel spilled in Pond Inlet earlier this month, prompting a warning from the Nunavut government.
The Department of Community and Government Services issued a public service announcement Wednesday asking people and their pets to avoid the community’s Petroleum Products Division shore manifold area, which is along the shoreline not far from Black Point Lodge and Ulaajuk Elementary School.
The diesel spill was discovered June 11 at around 7 p.m. Government officials believe it was caused by a ruptured connection in the pipeline.
“The leak was discovered by an engineering firm contracted by the [Petroleum Products Division],” the announcement said.
“When found, fuel had already stopped leaking as the impacted portion of the pipeline had emptied.”
Most of the fuel is believed to have flowed into the ocean, the announcement said.
The spill, estimated to be 7,000 litres, would be enough to fill the gas tanks of 70 to 100 pick-up trucks.
The water off the coast of Pond Inlet is located within the proposed Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area which, at 108,000 square kilometres, is considered to be one of the most significant ecological areas in the world, according to Parks Canada.
The pipeline has been capped until repairs can be completed. An environmental consultant is preparing a plan for cleanup.
“The petroleum products division is working closely with regulatory agencies, who are monitoring response efforts,” the announcement said.
Residents are asked to report any oil sheen that may appear on the water or near the shoreline to the Department of Environment.
Must be kids vandalsing
Completipn of the Monthly checks would have prevented this.
Drive by, yup, all good.
“Would be enough to fill the gas tanks of 70 to 100 pick-up trucks”
Just say, 29 drums of fuel.
These and other pipes some buried under communities or running down there main roads are old.. All PPD tanks are old and starting to leak, manifolds are locked out so probably kids messing with valves but the Nunavut tank farms are in a sad state of disrepair the shacks falling apart fences falling down. Dissolve PPD specifically in Rankin they are the worst start with Deputy Min.
Except when they tried to upgrade the tank farm and replace old pipeline in Arviat, people rose up and stopped it.
But let’s worry more about the mines and attempt to close them.
Yeah
That is a false dichotomy and a very lazy way of thinking.
Is PPD a make work permanant project or something? Geez what a waste. Too lazy for visual checks. But I see the person driving around. Also wayyy too many stoners or drunks working hamlet and GN jobs. No wonder everything is done only partly. People already know this too but dont care because they are stoned.
How do they live their. Poor kids stay away from infected areas