The clean up at the site of the Marie Lake diesel spill is going well and crews are just finishing mopping up the fuel that was on the surface of the ground and lake, according to Mike Drumm Mike,-Senior Contaminated Sites Officer, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection.
"At this point, I feel things are going well," he said Friday. Mr. Drumm said he is expecting a report from the clean up crew 'as soon as possible', and only then would he know how much dieselfuel has been recovered and how much remains, either on the ground or in the lake. However, he did say it may take a few weeks for the report to be sent too him, but in the meantime the ministry is monitoring the site.
We asked him if any diesel had entered the Yakoun River. "We are not aware at this point," he replied. He said the river has been protected by a boom since just after the accident, but he said his ministry is not sampling the river. "We are not sampling the Yakoun. I cannot speak on behalf of other agencies," he said, noting the the federal DFO has more expertise.
Queen Charlotte RCMP are investigating and expect to lay a charge against the driver of the truck, 23 year old Mike Stelmaschuk of Masset. His North Arm Transportation tanker, heading from Masset to Rennell Sound crashed June 15 and spilled just under 15,000 litres of fuel near the lake. He was slightly injured and is recovering at his home in Masset.