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An oil spill reported near Nanaimo, B.C.’s Duke Point Ferry Terminal earlier this week has led to concerns for the surrounding marine environment and wildlife.
The City of Nanaimo said in a briefing note that its staff were first notified of the spill on the afternoon of Jan. 5 and found a storm drain near the ferry terminal with oily residue.
Staff said the spill originated from a private business, which handles used oil and battery recycling in the nearby industrial park.
A Ministry of Environment spokesperson said that a Transport Canada flight estimated that between 350 and 1,600 litres of oil sheen was on the water between Duke Point and Mudge Island.
Up to 1,600 litres of oil sheen was observed after a flight, according to the province. (Submitted by Jackie Wasyluk)
Resident Jackie Wasyluk said she observed the effects of the spill nearly three kilometres away at Cable Bay, and there was a “very strong diesel smell” there even on Tuesday.
“I was shocked because where [the spill] is, is an ecologically sensitive area,” said Wasyluk, who leads an advocacy group called Save Cable Bay.
“It’s also full of marine life and birds. There were ducks swimming in that exact spot.”
The oil sheen was visible three kilometres away from the spill at Cable Bay, which resident Jackie Wasyluk describes as a sensitive marine environment. (Submitted by Jackie Wasyluk)
In addition to sea lions, otters and seals, Wasyluk says that Cable Bay is among the best places on Vancouver Island to see orcas.
Nanaimo Coun. Ben Geselbracht said that councillors were told by city staff that the Environment Ministry had taken the lead on co-ordinating cleanup operations.
“It is worrisome having, you know, this type of quantity released in the ocean — and so I would expect a fulsome investigation to occur,” he said.
Oil boom deployed
In the city briefing note shared with CBC News, officials said that shipbuilder Seaspan had initially believed the spill originated with them.
The organization operates a commercial ferry service out of Duke Point, and Nanaimo city staff said it sent a diver to inspect the spill and later deployed an oil boom and absorbent pads — which may have helped to mitigate the spill.
A Seaspan spokesperson said it was asked to deploy the containment boom by the Environment Ministry.
“The spill did not originate from the Seaspan terminal or any Seaspan vessels,” the spokesperson said in a statement, adding that it was grateful to have assisted with the response to the spill.
The Environment Ministry spokesperson said that cleanup is underway on the spill and no additional oily material has been observed outside the boom.
In their statement, they did not say if the commercial operation where the spill originated would face any penalties.
Nanaimo city staff said the private company had engaged an environmental consultant to conduct the cleanup operation.