WCMRC crews are marking the successful completion of the marine portion of the diesel spill cleanup at Plumper Bay in Esquimalt Harbour. Approximately 27,000 litres of product is estimated to have been recovered from the area using booms, sorbents and skimmers. The recovered oily waste was sent to Tervita for disposal.
WCMRC headed up the marine response and cleanup and QM Environmental is handling the shoreline cleanup. Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) teams remain on-site to assist with surveys. They will continue to survey oiled shoreline areas and assess impacts in order to recommend ongoing cleanup tactics.
Shoreline cleanup began late Tuesday and included shoreline flushing in select areas where high concentrations of fuel were found. The impact on wildlife has been minimal so far – three lightly oiled goslings and one adult Canada Goose. Wildlife will continue to be monitored throughout the shoreline clean-up.
Initial sampling and impact assessments of oiled shoreline are ongoing and will be used to develop a long-term monitoring plan for the area. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans advisory against fishing and crabbing remains in effect.
The spill was first reported on Sunday by members of the local community, and was initially boomed and contained by a harbour master with the Department of National Defence.
Representatives from the B.C. Ministry of Environment remain on-hand to monitor the situation alongside Environmental Response Officers from the Canadian Coast Guard. Members of the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nation are also on hand monitoring the cleanup.
A 24-hour call-in line to report oiled shores and wildlife was established at 1-877-323-3985