Home PSEPC Daily Brief Canadian Interactive Incident Map - OLD IM05-013: Train derailment in Alberta results in fuel leak

Train derailment in Alberta results in fuel leak

Update #9: October 7, 2005

The following updates have been reported:

• On September 30, Capital Health reported that the no water-use advisory has been lifted for some residents of Whitewood Sands that have wells bordered by the area north of Lake Street, west of Sunset Avenue and north of View Street.
• Residents south of Lake Street, east of Sunset Avenue and south of View Street will have to continue not to use their water for the next few months because the groundwater is still testing positive for contaminants. CN is working on providing fresh water over the winter for some residents.

(Source: Capital Health, September 30, 2005; CN, October 7, 2005)
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Update #8: September 27, 2005

The following updates have been reported:

• On September 27, CN reported that cleanup efforts have shifted from the north shore of Lake Wabamun to the south shore. The majority of the south shore cleanup is expected to be completed in the next 2–3 weeks. CN will address remaining cleanup requirements in all affected areas until the lake freezes, and will return in the spring to resume cleanup efforts. Capital Health will have results of the latest round of well water testing in Whitewood Sands by the end of the week.

(Source: CN , September 27, 2005 )
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Update #7: September 13, 2005

The following updates have been reported:

• On September 13, Capital Health announced that it is still advising residents of Whitewood Sands area not to use their well water because of the possibility of contamination from pole treating oil.

(Source: Capital Health, September 13, 2005)
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Update #6: August 16, 2005

The following updates have been reported:

• On August 14, Capital Health announced that all residences around the lake can resume using their well water except for those in the Whitewood Sands area.
• Capital Health also announced that use of lake water (except for fishing) is permitted for areas west of Fallis Point and Betula Beach with no visible oil contamination along the shore line. For areas east of Fallis Point and Betula Beach, Capital Health is advising the public not to engage in any water contact activities such as swimming and fishing. Residences in this area should also not use the lake water for domestic use.
• On August 16, CN reports that cleanup activities continue.

(Source: Capital Health, August 14, 2005; CN, August 16, 2005)
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Update #5: August 11, 2005

The following updates have been reported:

• On August 11, Capital Health announced that results from initial water well tests for the Village of Wabamun and surrounding areas showed either no detectable pole oil or only trace amounts well below the safe drinking water standards. However, the water advisory issued on August 10 will remain in place until further notice.

(Source: Capital Health, August 11, 2005)
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Update #4: August 10, 2005

The following updates have been reported:

• On August 10, the Government of Alberta announced that the substance found at the derailment site was Imperial Pole Treating Oil , which contains hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. A government investigation found evidence that the substance leaked into Lake Wabamun.
• On August 10, Capital Health issued a water advisory for residents of Alberta ’s Village of Wabamun and surrounding areas. Residents are advised to avoid using the water in Lake Wabamun and from wells located within half a kilometre of the affected area, which have the highest risk of contamination. Wells outside of this area are at a lower risk for contamination but residents are still advised to avoid using their well water as a precaution.

(Source: Government of Alberta , Capital Health , August 10, 2005)
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Update #3: August 8, 2005

The following updates have been reported:

• Cleanup activities continue on the lake and at the site of the derailment.
• According to officials at CN rail, a faulty section of track may be the cause of the derailment.
• CN announced that a product carried in one of the cars that derailed near Wabamun contained chemical components not fully reflected in the shipping information provided to CN. Detailed chemical analysis of this product from the shipper raised concerns with provincial and federal environmental and health agencies. As a result, Capital Health has issued an advisory that water is not to be used in the Wabamun area.

(Source: CN , GLOBEANDMAIL.COM , Government of Alberta ,
August 8, 2005)
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Update #2: August 5, 2005

The following updates have been reported:

• The Government of Alberta issued an Environmental Protection Order, demanding that Canadian National Railway Company (CN) immediately take all necessary steps to clean up the Lake Wabamun fuel spill and report progress to Alberta Environment and the public daily. Failure of CN to comply with the order could result in fines or other penalties.

(Source: Government of Alberta , August 5, 2005)
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Update #1: August 4, 2005

The following updates have been reported:

• On August 4, health officials took water samples from Lake Wabamun and from the wells in the area to test the level of contamination from the fuel leak. The fuel leak in the lake was spreading because of high winds. Additional booms were placed on August 4 in order to contain the spill. Since the Village of Wabamun gets its water from the lake, the supply was shut off on August 3 and a nearby reservoir is providing a temporary supply.

(Source: cbc.ca EDMONTON , EDMONTON SUN.COM , August 4, 2005)
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Train derailment in Alberta results in fuel leak

On August 3 at approximately 05:20 MDT, 43 CN train cars derailed near Wabamun, Alberta, which is located approximately 45 minutes west of Edmonton . Bunker fuel oil, a heavy oil used for ships, was in 26 of the derailed cars. Some of the containers are leaking into the ground and Wabamun Lake. Lubricating oil is also leaking from another car. One of the rail cars was carrying toluene (a hazardous petrochemical used to make paint thinner, nail polish and adhesives) but that container was intact after the derailment. As a precaution, 22 people living in homes and cottages in the area were evacuated. Booms have been set out to contain the spill, and dikes are being built along the length of the derailment. As well, vacuum trucks will be used to clean up the site. The CN main line will be closed until Thursday night (August 4). The cause of the derailment is under investigation.
(Source: CBC News, cbc.ca EDMONTON, Radio-Canada.ca, August 3, 2005)
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