A relatively small fuel spill on the south arm of the Fraser River Tuesday morning was another big wake up call for how there must be better communication between those involved in environmental cleanups, said Coun. Carol Day.
“I’m not happy. I don’t think we’re necessarily being informed fully. If we drop the ball, I want to know why we dropped the ball,” said Day.
A 26-metre vessel capsized and unloaded fuel into the river shortly before 8 a.m. at the Shelter Island Marina, at the foot of Graybar Road in east Richmond.
Marina management said it would not comment on the incident.
Day said when she spoke to boaters in the area, they told her it took too long for Port Metro Vancouver and Canadian Coast Guard officials to take action by placing booms around the boat.
“Officials say, ‘oh well, it will just evaporate.’ That’s not a plan. It’s unhealthy for people, it’s unhealthy for animals,” said Day, noting a nearby sunken ship from a year ago remains in its place.
“Everyone’s passing the buck,” said Day.
The spill prompted City of Richmond officials to close downstream irrigation pumps on the river’s south arm.
City spokesperson Ted Townsend said the Ministry of Environment told the city a full assessment was not warranted.
Day said city staff told the safety committee there was good communication between agencies. “That’s not what I heard. I heard the exact opposite (from local boaters),” said Day.
Last month city council directed staff to investigate what response measures and protocols are in place for a significant oil spill, in the wake of the Burrard Inlet spill.
“While the (Shelter) incident was minor, it reaffirms the city’s concerns about the potential for environmental incidents related to the jet fuel project,” said Townsend.
Local environmentalist and fish biologist Otto Langer noted in an email that it is a fallacy to think one can prevent or contain fuel spills, especially on the fast moving river.
“There is no way in any government, in any industry or in (scientific) engineering to address an effective clean-up once the oil is in the water,” said Langer.
‘Why do we not accept that?” he questioned.
