Highway 4 between Port Alberni and the Ucluelet / Tofino Junction (approximately 33 kms east of Ucluelet) continues to be closed due to a vehicle incident. The highway is expected to reopen to single lane traffic by 4 p.m.
The road is closed due to a fuel spill caused when a tanker truck hauling jet fuel flipped onto its side near Hydro Hill around 3 p.m. on Thursday.
HAZMAT salvage/recovery contractor (NUCOR Environmental) arrived on site mid morning and is currently setting up to undertake transfers operations from the impacted fuel tanker pup. Hetherington Industries was retained to address fuel contamination in and around the impacted site (land side).
Western Canadian Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) was retained and arrived on site – they are conducting an on-water assessment in conjunction with Ministry staff and TerraWest Environmental.
Based upon a mass balance calculation provided by the responsible party, it is estimated up to 3000 L of fuel may have been lost (not 5000 L as originally reported). Once transfer operations conclude, a better determination can be made.
Ministry of Environment is currently on scene coordinating the fuel spill containment and cleanup.
“Community members are greatly concerned about the environmental impacts of an aviation fuel spill in the Kennedy Lake area of Ha’uukmin, a Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Park and we look forward to further details from the Ministry of Environment as soon as possible,” said Tofino mayor Josie Osborne.
For more information, refer to Drive BC: http://www.drivebc.com/.
