Oil Spill in the Petitcodiac was Toxic to Fish

(Moncton - July 25, 2002) -The results from an accredited environmental laboratory in Fredericton confirm that the oil spill, which occurred on June 26 and 27 in the Humphreys Brook located in Moncton, was acutely lethal to fish.

A bioassay test of the effluent sample was performed by Buchanan Environmental Ltd. on Daphnia magna, a commonly used species to evaluate water toxicity levels. By the end of the 48-hour test period, all 30 tested daphnids had died in 100 sample material. The report also states that the sample had a strong petroleum odour, and that upon test completion only 1 of 30 daphnids were found to be intact, while the remaining organisms were found in pieces.

On June 26 2002, Petitcodiac Riverkeeper's Executive Director Daniel LeBlanc was informed of an oil spill flowing downstream from Halls Creek into the Petitcodiac. Mr. LeBlanc traced back the spill to a City of Moncton storm sewer on Humphreys Brook. He immediately alerted the environmental emergency service and the City of Moncton, but it took approximately 15 hours before measures were taken to contain the spill. That same evening, Mr. LeBlanc took a sample of the oil-based effluent, using recognized sampling protocols and sent it to Buchanan Environmental Ltd, a Fredericton laboratory.

Since there is now a possible infraction of the federal Fisheries Act as well as the provincial Clean Water Act, the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper intends to pursue its investigation to determine the cause of the spill. "We suspect that there are other flaws in the region's sewer system, and we want to know more about it", asserts Daniel LeBlanc. "We are therefore launching a vast operation against sewage spill problems in the Petitcodiac watershed to take place over the next months".

The results were presented today to the New Brunswick Department of Environment and to Environment Canada so that they can determine whether charges will be laid. A copy of the Riverkeeper's report was also handed to the City of Moncton.

Moreover, the Petitcodiac Riverkeeper was highly dissatisfied with the work of the environmental emergency service that was supposed to intervene in the June 26 spill. The Riverkeeper will ask the New Brunswick Department of the Environment and Environment Canada to investigate on the slow response to its call in order to improve this critical emergency service.

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INFORMATION :
Daniel LeBlanc, Petitcodiac Riverkeeper
Tel. (506)388-5337, www.petitcodiac.org