The Canadian Coast Guard has spotted a diesel fuel slick in the English Bay, near False Creek. The initial assessment revealed that since the oil slick is from a diesel spill, it could evaporate and does not pose an immediate threat to the environment.
The investigations did not reveal the source of the diesel spill and the hunt is on to pin down the source of the spill. The Coast Guard information officer, Michelle Imbeau, said that the slick was first observed near the boat launch docks in front of the Kitsilano Coast Guard station.
“The pictures are dramatic but the spill is not serious,” she said. “The spill was determined to be diesel and was deemed to be not recoverable. It will evaporate.”
Michael Lowry, the communications manager for Western Canada Marine Response Corp., said that the Coast Guard had advised the company of the spill and the company, which has 12 response vessels, including skimmers and boom boats in Vancouver’s port area, sent one vessel to the site.
“We’re standing by but the spill was deemed by the Coast Guard as non-recoverable. We have not been activated and we do not expect to be activated,” Lowry said.
A non-recoverable spill often involves light fuels or agents that evaporate and are not easy to skim up, he said.
The spill was first reported by a local helicopter company that observed a large sheen on the water near the mouth of False Creek.
Imbeau didn’t know how large the spill was but characterized it as a minor spill likely related to refuelling.
Though this is just a diesel spill and thus it is more likely to evaporate during the coming days, can this be assumed as a sign of loophole or failure of existing oil contingency plans?
Source: Vancouver Sun
