Mr. Speaker, an NTCL barge, which was being moved by a tug, hit a shoal at Wrigley Rock in the Mackenzie River early in the morning of Tuesday, August 25, 2008. The barge was loaded with diesel fuel and building supplies. The tugboat is operated by Horizon North Logistics Inc.
The Horizon North representative reported that the crew discovered a hairline fracture at the waterline when they were checking the barge after the incident. The crew deployed containment booms and contacted the necessary authorities. The crew transferred the fuel from the leaking compartment into another compartment on the barge. The Horizon North representatives suggested fog and wind as the likely cause of the incident. Transport Canada is investigating the accident. The Coast Guard led the response to the oil spill and has worked with Horizon North to limit the amount of diesel fuel released.
The barge contained 577,000 litres in total, with 85,000 litres in the affected compartment. The Coast Guard representative reported that diesel fuel evaporates and dissipates quickly when released into the environment. Approximately 60 per cent of the spill would have evaporated within 24 hours, and the water quality was and has been monitored at that point.
Mr. Speaker, as we all know, any amount of fuel spilled into our rivers is too much. Local constituents have suggested to me that the federal agencies were slow in responding and have minimized the importance of the incident. Northerners expect that federal regulators can learn from these events and improve their response time and action so that they can be ready for large scale development and pipeline activity.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister responsible questions on this incident. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
