HUSKY OIL SPILL - Maidstone, SK

[Oscar]

WATER SECURITY AGENCY RELEASES RESULTS OF WATER QUALITY SAMPLING ON NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER

[ http://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/n ... ty-testing ]

Released on August 15, 2016

Today, the Water Security Agency (WSA) released the first results of its ongoing water quality testing on the North Saskatchewan River and Saskatchewan River systems as a result of the Husky oil spill.

The results show no exceedances of the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines or the provincial drinking water standards. However, exceedances were found relative to the Canadian Protection of Aquatic Life Guidelines. One of the samples had an exceedance of toluene, and one sample had an exceedance of pyrene.

This additional sampling will help WSA make an informed decision on when and what is required to turn on the water treatment plant intakes for the communities impacted downstream of the spill site.

WSA is undertaking a water safety assessment to further evaluate water quality in order to reopen the intakes. Specifically, WSA has requested further data from Husky and other agencies involved in the technical working group specific to drinking water quality.

This includes the following components:

•Where is the remaining oil that has not been captured (evaporated off, degraded microbiologically, captured within river bed sediment or elsewhere);
•What form is the oil in, is it a potential risk to the waterworks, and how will it respond or react to various factors such as flooding, or spring break-up conditions;
•What short-term and long-term monitoring program will be required; and
•Will any additional pre-treatment processes have to be considered for the existing water treatment plants.
Upon receiving this information, which is expected in the coming weeks, WSA will evaluate the findings as part of the water safety assessment and make a decision on when the water intakes can be reopened.
In general, the intakes from the North Saskatchewan River will be reopened when:
•There is low risk of oil reappearing in the source water;
•There is a risk of oil appearing but monitoring can detect this and intakes can be shut down prior to oil entering the system (back-up water systems must be in place); and
•Water treatment plants can treat oil that may enter the plant. -30-

For more information, contact:

Felechia Brodie
Water Security Agency
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-3907
Email: felechia.brodie@wsask.ca
Cell: 306-513-7547

[Oscar]

100 days and counting . . . .

Letter to the Editor

Published in Wadena News on August 8, 2016

So, here we are – had to happen eventually - dealing with our very own, made-in-Saskatchewan oil spill as Husky Oil's muck and chemicals move down the beautiful North Saskatchewan River on its way to the open ocean and beyond.

Sort of our initiation or 'coming of age' into this modern, bottom-line corporate world, addicted to fossil fuel.

Left behind are 20 - 50 years of rehabilitation for the riverbanks, the wildlife, the people - First Nations, Metis and settlers alike - and, the life of the River itself. Along with the fear, anger and frustration experienced by all of the other communities around the world held hostage by this industry.

There are many questions about this tragic event: when did Husky Oil really know about the spill? Why the confusion about the date and time? Is the best we can expect from their data collection? When did they inform communities downriver about the break in their pipeline near Maidstone or did they let the media do that? Can we see it in writing, please: Husky Oil will pay for ALL EXPENSES incurred due to this grotesque tragedy?

Will the 30-km overland waterline from the South Saskatchewan River really be ready by July 29? How long will it have to be maintained before Prince Albert and area residents can trust that the normal source of their water is safe to drink: 2 months? 6 months?? With freeze-up some 100 days away, how and at what expense (Husky's?) will that waterline be kept open, and for how long?

Will the needless tragedy now playing out on the North Saskatchewan River change Premier Wall's obsessive pursuit of the ENERGY EAST pipeline: it will be much larger and much longer, crossing some 3000 waterways on its route from Alberta to New Brunswick?
[ http://www.canadianconsultingengineer.c ... 003402336/ ]

How many communities and their precious drinking water are at risk in that scenario . . . .?


Elaine Hughes
ARCHERWILL, SK

[Oscar]

WATER SECURITY AGENCY RELEASES RESULTS OF WATER QUALITY SAMPLING ON NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER

[ http://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/n ... ty-testing ]

Released on August 15, 2016

Today, the Water Security Agency (WSA) released the first results of its ongoing water quality testing on the North Saskatchewan River and Saskatchewan River systems as a result of the Husky oil spill.

The results show no exceedances of the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines or the provincial drinking water standards. However, exceedances were found relative to the Canadian Protection of Aquatic Life Guidelines. One of the samples had an exceedance of toluene, and one sample had an exceedance of pyrene.

This additional sampling will help WSA make an informed decision on when and what is required to turn on the water treatment plant intakes for the communities impacted downstream of the spill site.

WSA is undertaking a water safety assessment to further evaluate water quality in order to reopen the intakes. Specifically, WSA has requested further data from Husky and other agencies involved in the technical working group specific to drinking water quality.

This includes the following components:

•Where is the remaining oil that has not been captured (evaporated off, degraded microbiologically, captured within river bed sediment or elsewhere);
•What form is the oil in, is it a potential risk to the waterworks, and how will it respond or react to various factors such as flooding, or spring break-up conditions;
•What short-term and long-term monitoring program will be required; and
•Will any additional pre-treatment processes have to be considered for the existing water treatment plants.
Upon receiving this information, which is expected in the coming weeks, WSA will evaluate the findings as part of the water safety assessment and make a decision on when the water intakes can be reopened.

In general, the intakes from the North Saskatchewan River will be reopened when:

•There is low risk of oil reappearing in the source water;
•There is a risk of oil appearing but monitoring can detect this and intakes can be shut down prior to oil entering the system (back-up water systems must be in place); and
•Water treatment plants can treat oil that may enter the plant. -30-

For more information, contact:

Felechia Brodie
Water Security Agency
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-3907
Email: felechia.brodie@wsask.ca
Cell: 306-513-7547

[Oscar]

Concerned citizens form Kisiskatchewan Water Alliance Network after Husky oil spill

[ http://thestarphoenix.com/business/ener ... -oil-spill ]

Alex MacPherson, Saskatoon StarPhoenix Published on: August 22, 2016 | Last Updated: August 22, 2016 9:29 PM CST

A month after a Husky Energy Inc. pipeline failed, spilling at least 200,000 litres of heavy crude near and into the North Saskatchewan River, activists, environmentalists and organizations have teamed up to create a new water advocacy group.

“Water is life. No water, no life — it’s that simple ” said Emil Bell, a Canoe Lake First Nation elder whose weeklong hunger strike protesting the July 20 spill led to the formation of the Kisiskatchewan Water Alliance Network (KWAN).

The alliance — Kisiskatchewan is the Plains Cree name for the North Saskatchewan River — is intended to bring together organizations under the banner of activism, and lobby both government and industry for better environmental protection.
Bell’s hunger strike ended Aug. 12. Tyrone Tootoosis, who hosted the 75-year-old elder in a tipi on his farm north of Duck Lake, told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix that the goal has shifted from raising awareness to taking action. [ http://thestarphoenix.com/business/ener ... l-alliance ]

“It seems like some of the people are in this apathetic state of complacency — can’t seem to wake up,” Bell said Monday, echoing Tootoosis’s words. “People gotta start taking it seriously, this disaster.”

Formed after two meetings held near Duck Lake, KWAN has been joined and endorsed by organizations including Idle No More, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and the North Saskatchewan River Basin Council, according to a news release.

“We talked a lot about how water can bridge communities and I think there was a real sense that we should be doing things like … [ http://thestarphoenix.com/business/ener ... -oil-spill ]really try and find the different ways we can work together,” said Don Kossick, one of the alliance’s spokespeople.

The results of a study on the “real impact” of the spill, performed by the Santa Fe, New Mexico-based non-profit E-Tech International, are expected to be released and distributed in the next few weeks, he said.

“With communities receiving more information about what’s happening and what the impacts on them (are), they themselves and different organizations they’re part of can hold industry and government to account.”

KWAN’s study will be the fourth examination of the North Saskatchewan released since the spill. Two studies performed by a Husky-financed technical team and one by the provincial Water Security Agency have shown encouraging results. [ http://thestarphoenix.com/business/ener ... -oil-spill ]

Husky turned down an interview request.

MORE:

[ http://thestarphoenix.com/business/ener ... -oil-spill ]

Related

'I cried for Mother Earth': Emil Bell ends hunger strike, helps launch environmental alliance - August 12, 2016
[ http://thestarphoenix.com/business/ener ... l-alliance ]

Hunger striker protesting handling of North Saskatchewan River oil spill - August 8, 2016
[ http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-ne ... -oil-spill ]

Complete coverage of the Husky Energy oil spill
[ http://thestarphoenix.com/tag/husky-oil-spill ]

[Oscar]

First Nation with poisoned waters feels abandoned after Husky oil spill

[ http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/08 ... -oil-spill ]

By Elizabeth McSheffrey in News, Energy | August 24th 2016

- - - -

QUOTE: " . . . one of the expert organizations recruited to analyze Husky's water data from the river, the U.S. based Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH), has previously been accused of "protecting industry" by downplaying the severity of oil spills. The controversial consulting firm whole-heartedly denies these accusations, but its involvement has still prompted some critics to question whether the public can trust any information coming from Husky about its cleanup."

- - - - - -

A First Nations community in Saskatchewan is feeling abandoned with poisoned waters in the wake of a major pipeline spill that has leaked massive amounts of oil and other toxins onto its territory.

The devastating impacts that the James Smith Cree Nation observed this week on wildlife, nearly 300 kilometres away from the source of a Husky Energy pipeline spill, are coming to light as the Calgary-based oil company dismissed allegations that it hired an industry-friendly consulting firm to assist with water testing in order to downplay the disaster.

Husky has been under fire since one of its pipelines failed early on July 21, releasing up to 1,570 barrels — roughly 250,000 litres — of crude oil and other toxins into the North Saskatchewan River, a drinking water source for thousands of Canadians. [ http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/07 ... skatchewan ]

The disaster prompted emergency water restrictions in several municipalities, killed more than 140 animals, and is the subject of federal and provincial investigation. [ http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/07 ... nate-river ]

The James Smith Cree Nation, a community of 1,600 people about 80 kilometres east of Prince Albert, has not been impressed by Husky's response. Chief Wally Burns said the provincial government has sent officials to test the water, but his own community is now running out of funds to pursue its own response to the disaster.

“Husky hasn't come to the table and they failed to help," said Burns in an interview with National Observer. "That’s the way I see it. And yet it’s their problem. I’m just here to protect my people, the future generations to come, so that they can have a good life.”

- - - SNIP - - -

Consulting firm accused of protecting industry

Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that one of the expert organizations recruited to analyze Husky's water data from the river, the U.S. based Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH), has previously been accused of "protecting industry" by downplaying the severity of oil spills. [ http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/06/18 ... wanted=all ] The controversial consulting firm whole-heartedly denies these accusations, but its involvement has still prompted some critics to question whether the public can trust any information coming from Husky about its cleanup.

- - - - SNIP - - -

Mark Calzavara, a regional organizer for the social action organization, Council of Canadians, accused the consulting firm of "downplaying the effects of the spill in the media."

"Husky is desperately trying to manipulate public opinion after their disastrous spill," he said in an interview with National Observer. "The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health is nothing more than a hired gun brought in to downplay the effects of the spill. They would be more aptly named 'Oil Spill Spin Incorporated,' which better describes their history and clientele."

The accusations, while unproven, are concerning given that Husky has refused to answer repeated requests from National Observer for more information on the methodology of its water quality testing, the timeline of the spill's detection, and when such data might be made available to the public.

“I suggest you go to our website for the latest information,” was all Duvall, its spokesperson, said in an email statement.

- - - - SNIP - - -

Saskatchewan government scarce on details

"Husky is continuing to update the public in regards to its recovery work and environmental impacts, and has released information, including some water testing information, on its website," said the statement. "The Ministry is participating in a discussion on the future release of more data in a manner informative to the public, including the potential for graphic information such as maps."

Despite its own experts having access to the company's data from the spill, along with Husky, it declined to share this data with National Observer, and could not provide an estimate on when that science might be available to the public for analysis. The ministry said the energy company has its own "protocol to release information on spill responses, including water quality information, publicly on a regular basis," and advised that further media inquiries should be directed to Husky.

The response was deeply unsatisfying to Calzavara, who accused the province of "kowtowing" to a corporate energy giant response for a catastrophic oil spill.

“It’s so outrageous that the Government of Saskatchewan is capitulating to Husky’s protocols about information on a public spill," he said. "The Government of Saskatchewan — right from the start — they’ve been so complicit I would say, in restricting information, the public is really in the dark around this.”

The federal environment department, Environment and Climate Change Canada, has also been in the loop with regards to data from the Husky oil spill, but said in an email it could not comment on the matter, as the accident remains part of a federal investigation.

Cleanup efforts in the North Saskatchewan River shoreline are ongoing, and Husky has reported that roughly 47 per cent of the shoreline has been cleaned so far. Saskatchewan's Water Security Agency has recently reported [ https://www.wsask.ca/About-WSA/News-Rel ... wan-River/ ] that while the major water way now safe to drink from, it remains a hazardous environment for wildlife.

— with files from Mike De Souza

[Oscar]

North Saskatchewan River - Water Quality Sampling Update – Aug. 25, 2016

[ https://www.wsask.ca/About-WSA/News-Rel ... g-25-2016/ ]

Surface Water Monitoring

The Water Security Agency (WSA) has results for 120 surface water quality samples. Samples were tested for a comprehensive suite of parameters (substances) including Petroleum Hydrocarbon F1 to F4 fractions, the BTEX compounds (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene) and a set of 20 different compounds known as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in each of the 120 samples.

So far WSA has seen one exceedance in raw water for any treated drinking water quality standards, guidelines or screening values. This exceedance was for Benzo(a)pyrene at North Battleford along the northeast bank of the river and was just above the current drinking water quality guideline value of 0.01 ug/L and measured 0.02 ug/L (parts per billion).

There are 16 samples that have shown exceedances for the guidelines for protection of aquatic life, 11 were for Toluene, three for Pyrene, one for Benzo(a)pyrene and one for Fluoranthene. There were 43 “detections” which were below any guideline values for various petroleum constituents.

Sediment Monitoring

WSA has also been collecting sediment samples (mud, silt and sand) from the river bottom, from the Point of Entry all the way down the river system.

WSA found detectable amounts of F3 and/or F4 hydrocarbons in the five sites monitored but not at each location on a river transect site were monitoring was carried out across the width of the river. There were F2 hydrocarbons at the upper sites (near the point of entry and near #21 highway bridge).

There were also some PAH compounds present near the point of entry and #21 highway bridge in the sediments. Since the F2, F3 and F4 and PAH compounds tend to attach to organic materials found in the sediments and are essentially non-soluble in water, these are expected to be found in the sediments and less so in water. There were a total of 6 exceedances of the Canadian Council of the Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines at two of the stations (four exceedances at the sites near the Point of Entry and two exceedances at #21 Hwy).

The CCME interim sediment quality guidelines are intended to protect organisms that live in or on the bottom sediments and thereby the aquatic food chain, but are not of direct concern for people.

WSA continues to sample water and sediment quality in the area.

Water Security Agency Head Office
111 Fairford Street East
Moose Jaw, SK S6H 7X9
8:00am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday
306.694.3900

[Oscar]

Saskatchewan First Nation says oil from Husky spill affecting sturgeon spawning

[ http://globalnews.ca/news/2910354/saska ... -spawning/ ]

By Staff The Canadian Press August 30, 2016 5:59 am Updated: August 30, 2016 6:11 am

Chief Wally Burns of the James Smith Cree Nation surveys the Saskatchewan River next to an oil boom he had a hand in setting up, on Friday, August 25, 2016, in this handout photo. A First Nation in northern Saskatchewan says oil from the Husky Energy pipeline leak has shown up in the spawning grounds of an endangered species. Officials from James Smith Cree Nation say an oil plume and foam was discovered in the Saskatchewan River where lake sturgeon spawn.

A First Nation in northern Saskatchewan says oil from the Husky Energy pipeline leak has shown up in the spawning grounds of an endangered species.

Officials from James Smith Cree Nation said an oil plume and foam was discovered in the Saskatchewan River where lake sturgeon spawn.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada said the fish are an endangered species. [ http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct5/index_e.cfm ]

Chief Wally Burns said the First Nation, about 60 kilometres east of Prince Albert, ordered residents to not swim, hunt, fish or gather along the Saskatchewan River after the contaminant showed up Aug. 21.

Water samples taken by Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency on Aug. 18 found the foam contained at least one component of petroleum exceeding sediment quality guidelines.

It took more tests on Friday, after the most of the plume appeared on the First Nation, and are waiting for the results that can determine if the material is from the Husky spill.

Husky’s pipeline leaked last month near Maidstone, Sask. into the North Saskatchewan River.

The pipeline was carrying heavy oil mixed with a lighter petroleum product that enables the crude to flow.

The North Saskatchewan and South Saskatchewan rivers meet just west of the First Nation and become the Saskatchewan River.

The province said last week that almost 75 per cent of the estimated 225,000 litres of petroleum that spilled has been recovered.

The Cree First Nations said it has taken its own water and soil samples for testing for hydrocarbons and point of origin.

- - - -

Related

Prince Albert, Sask. water pipeline springs leaks, vandals may be to blame - August 26, 2016
[ http://globalnews.ca/news/2905241/princ ... -to-blame/ ]

North Sask. River oil spill cleanup on hold due to rising water levels - August 25, 2016
[ http://globalnews.ca/news/2903614/water ... uidelines/ ]

Legendary 600-lb ‘Pig Nose’ fish caught by B.C.’s sturgeon whisperer - August 24, 2016
[ http://globalnews.ca/news/2901539/legen ... whisperer/ ]

= = = = =


Wait until Monday, Husky tells oil-impacted First Nation

[ http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/08 ... rst-nation ]

By Elizabeth McSheffrey in News, Energy | August 26th 2016

#49 of 49 articles from the Special Report: Secrets of Government Fund this Report [ http://www.nationalobserver.com/special ... government ]

Husky officials meet with Chief Wally Burns and other members of the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan after one of the company's pipelines dumped oil inter a major river. Photo courtesy of James Smith Cree Nation, taken on Thurs. Aug. 25, 2016.

When Husky Energy officials showed up more than 40 minutes late to an emergency meeting with the James Smith Cree Nation, the band members thought it was rude.

When an unknown advisor was sent instead of the company's own manager of aboriginal and community relations, the elders though it was "appalling." But when a Husky official told the entire Indigenous community — whose territory may be poisoned by its catastrophic oil spill — to wait until Monday for answers, it was more than Chief Wally Burns could handle.

"In my heart, I think this meeting was just a waste of my time," he told National Observer, frustrated after a two-hour consultation with Husky Energy on Thursday evening. “You know the sad thing about it? We can’t wait until Monday because the river is going to come up four feet, [ http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/08 ... ll-cleanup ] and when it goes down it will have environmental impacts.”

Since early August, the James Smith Cree Nation has found foam and oil [ http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/08 ... -oil-spill ] washed up on the shores of the North Saskatchewan River, which runs right through its territory in the heart of the province. Dead crayfish litter its river banks, and all of the summer wildlife — butterflies, grasshoppers, frogs, and more — have disappeared.

MORE:

[ http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/08 ... rst-nation ]

[Oscar]

Saskatchewan water intakes closed after oil spill could reopen before winter

[ http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/saska ... story.html ]

THE CANADIAN PRESS, SASKATOON STAR PHOENIX September 1, 2016

The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency says cities affected by an oil spill on the North Saskatchewan River could reopen their water intakes before winter.

Agency spokesman Sam Ferris said there’s no definitive timeline, but he’s “fairly confident” most water intakes can be used again before freeze-up.

The cities of North Battleford, Prince Albert and Melfort had to shut off their water plant intakes after the July spill by Husky Energy and find alternate sources.

Ferris said only one of the 135 water samples taken from the river by the agency did not meet drinking water guidelines and 17 were too high for guidelines for aquatic life.

He said 12 sediment samples taken from the river bottom were also too high, but that’s not unexpected.

MORE:

[ http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/saska ... story.html ]

[Oscar]

More calls for transparency in the aftermath of Husky oil spill

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3747018 ]

Independent report released after testing of North Saskatchewan River

By Devin Heroux, CBC News Posted: Sep 02, 2016 5:33 PM CT| Last Updated: Sep 02, 2016 5:33 PM CT

Nearly two weeks after a group of grassroots organizers joined together to conduct their own testing of the North Saskatchewan River, a report released Friday is calling on more transparency from Husky Energy.

"It's not enough to say we have this many boats on the water if we don't know what those boats are doing," said Ricardo Segovia. "If they're just rolling up and down the water doing nothing, then it doesn't matter if you have thousands of boats out there."

Segovia was one of three people on the ground collecting data over the last two weeks. He's a hydrogeologist who was looking at the environmental and ecological impacts after the Husky Energy oil spill.

Segovia said the team gathered nine samples at strategic spots along the North Saskatchewan River on Aug.16 and 17. He said thousands of samples are unnecessary in this case. Segovia also said the team collected sediment samples that showed a "definite presence of contaminants."

In an initial primary assessment report of 43 pages, Segovia's team highlighted the data they collected, people they interviewed and provided a detailed description of how they felt Husky's response was inadequate.

"People need to be more critical," said Segovia. "I don't think very many people are criticizing Husky the way they should be criticized."

The independent group wants facts and figures. In the report, there are a number of recommendations highlighted including demanding "full access to the raw data from Husky's sampling program and a detailed cleanup strategy."

The report also calls into question Husky's late reaction to the July oil spill, saying the 14-hour delay "allowed time for the spill to travel much further downstream."

In late July, a pipeline break, reported by Husky Energy, resulted in an estimated 200,000 to 250,000 litres of oil reaching the North Saskatchewan, entering the water near Maidstone, Sask. So far, the government has said Husky has recovered 73 per cent of the oil and solvent that spilled into the river. Eighty-four per cent of the "high priority areas" have been cleaned.

But Segovia says despite Husky continuing their cleanup, they are ignoring the fact that the oil is now settling on the bottom of the river.

"This is going to cause long-terms problems," said Segovia. "There isn't enough detail about the results coming out or the methods used or the quality-control documents."

Segovia and his team are now looking to secure more funding so that they can continue to test the water.

"People are obviously very hungry to get some clear answers and some independent technical data," said Segovia.

MORE:

[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.3747018 ]

[Oscar]

Husky spill highlights need to embrace clean energy economy

[ http://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/colum ... -sawa-view ]

Jack Jensen and Rick Sawa

Published on: September 8, 2016 | Last Updated: September 8, 2016 5:30 AM CST
​
Weeks after the spill of about 250,000 litres of heavy oil and diluent, much of it into the North Saskatchewan River, several questions come to mind:

· Premier Brad Wall stated on July 27th that the government wants to see is the “complete restoration and rehabilitation” of the habitat and ecology of the river. How does he propose that this be achieved, who will pay for it, and what inspection regime will he put in place to ensure that it happens?

· What is the extent of contamination to wild food and herbs, and how do Husky and the province propose to compensate First Nations for the loss of traditional foods and medicines?

· Why did it take Husky 14 hours to realize that a “pressure anomaly” in its monitoring system signified a leak that could have serious impacts?

· How do Husky and the government propose to clean heavy oil from the riverbed? If not removed, the oil that has sunk or will sink to the bottom of the river could create dead zones and continue to perpetuate ecological damage for years. However, as demonstrated in the much larger 2010 leak in Kalamazoo, Mich., an adequate cleanup of this dense oil fractions may be virtually impossible.

· Given that it is extremely challenging to clean up certain hydrocarbons, what is the precise composition of the mix that was spilled?

· When was this Husky Energy pipeline last inspected by the province?

· What steps will be taken to ensure an adequate pipeline inspection regime? The government currently only has 27 inspectors to monitor more than 100,000 kilometres of pipelines. There have been about 18,000 leaks in Saskatchewan since 1990, about two per day, mostly onto farmland. And that’s just the ones that were reported.

· With the industry’s duty to maximize public safety competing with the profit motive, will Premier Wall abandon the government’s current approach of industry self-regulation and establish an effective, independent regulatory system?

· What steps will the province take to ensure that future oil pipelines are not routed close to vulnerable waterways?

· What steps will it take to ensure that future oil pipelines are installed only with the informed consent of First Nations through whose traditional territory they pass?

· What will the government do to develop a consistent water security regime for Saskatchewan — one that recognizes water is a fundamental need both for human life and for the ecosystem, and respects First Nations’ inherent rights and traditional knowledge?

· Why was the deputy minister of the economy the spokesperson for the spill, not the environment minister? This suggests that Premier Wall sees the spill only as an economic problem, rather than also an environmental and public health problem.

The Husky leak should, furthermore, prompt deeper questions about how our economy is structured. It should be yet another warning of the need to urgently plan and pursue the transition to a sustainable economy.

Devastating forest fires in the North, and virtually unprecedented flooding of cities and agricultural land in the south warn us that the climate is changing, and that we must move away rapidly from dependence on greenhouse gas emitting fossil fuels.

The drop in the international oil price and the weak markets for potash and uranium warn us of the volatility and instability of an economy based on extractive industries. This pipeline leak warns us that dependence on oil can threaten the very basics of life even at a local level — something that First Nations in northern Alberta have been telling the world, based on their painful personal experience, for decades.

We fear that premier Wall’s commitment to Big Oil — reinforced by substantial infusions of Calgary petro-cash to his party — renders him incapable at present of reading such signs of the times.

While the premier has taken some constructive measures to respond to the spill, he is backing TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline proposal — a project whose purpose is to enable expansion of oilsands production. This pipeline would bring the risk of diluted bitumen spillage to nearly 3000 waterways, including seven in Saskatchewan, as well as the Great Sand Hills ecological reserve, Carry the Kettle First Nation and Regina’s Harbour Landing neighbourhood.

It’s long past time for a rethink, and for a just transition to a clean economy.

- - - -

Jack Jensen is a member of Renewable Power — the Intelligent Choice. Rick Sawa resides in Prince Albert and is a national board member of the Council of Canadians.

[Oscar]

Council-supported study finds 14-hour delay amplified oil spill damage to North Saskatchewan River

[ http://canadians.org/blog/council-suppo ... ewan-river ]

September 3, 2016 - 7:08 am

The Muskoday First Nation had to truck in its water after the Husky Energy oil spill in the Kisiskatchewan (North Saskatchewan) River.

The Husky Energy oil pipeline spill into the North Saskatchewan River this summer meant that the drinking water supply for more than 70,600 people - in North Battleford, Prince Albert, Melfort, and the Muskoday First Nation (also known as the James Smith Cree Nation) - was compromised. The three cities had to shut off their water plant intakes and secure alternate sources of drinking water, while the Muskoday First Nation had to truck in its water.

The Saskatoon Star-Phoenix now reports, "A 14-hour delay between the start of Husky Energy Inc.’s oil spill in Saskatchewan and the company’s response greatly amplified its effect on the environment, according to the scientist behind a new investigation into the July 20 incident. ... Commissioned by groups affected by the spill, including Idle No More, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Council of Canadians, E-Tech International’s report is based on the results of nine composite sediment samples collected on Aug. 16 and 17."

The newspaper explains, "Husky’s initial incident report, filed with the provincial government, said the spill was detected at 8 p.m. on July 20, and that it notified the provincial government 14 hours later. That report was later amended to say the leak was detected at 10 a.m. on July 21, and that the province was notified about 30 minutes later. The company said the change was necessary because its first report was based on a miscommunication."

There are still outstanding questions about the timeline of the spill's detection, as well as the methodology of Husky's water quality testing and when this information will be made public.

The Star-Phoenix adds, "The provincial government declined a request for an interview regarding E-Tech International’s report. In an email, Executive Council’s chief of operations and communications, Kathy Young said, the results of an ongoing investigation will be made public."

While a representative of the provincial Water Security Agency said last month he was “hopeful” North Battleford and Prince Albert would be able to reopen their water treatment plants' intakes before this winter, the author of the report, E-Tech hydrogeologist Ricardo Segovia, warns that the hydrocarbons detected in sediment along the river are “very, very nasty” and could persist for years. He says, “You can’t go back to the way things were before … because there’s that chance that (contaminants) can be stirred up from the sediments, you have to be constantly monitoring those water intakes for the next several years at least."( [ http://thestarphoenix.com/business/ener ... am-report2 ] and [ http://thestarphoenix.com/business/ener ... ogist-says ] LINKS added. Ed.)

CBC News adds, "So far, the government has said Husky has recovered 73 per cent of the oil and solvent that spilled into the river. Eighty-four per cent of the 'high priority areas' have been cleaned. But Segovia says despite Husky continuing their cleanup, they are ignoring the fact that the oil is now settling on the bottom of the river. 'This is going to cause long-terms problems', said Segovia. 'There isn't enough detail about the results coming out or the methods used or the quality-control documents.'"

The Council of Canadians has been following this situation throughout the summer.

On July 24, energy campaigner Daniel Cayley-Daoust wrote in No More Pipelines - Major Oil Spill Forces Closure of Drinking Water Intakes for Multiple Saskatchewan Municipalities [ http://canadians.org/blog/no-more-pipel ... skatchewan ], "Following a third party observation of an oil sheen on the North Saskatchewan River on [July 21] Husky Energy deployed emergency response teams and set up booms to attempt to stop the spill from progressing downstream. By late [July 22] evening a government official announced that the attempt to contain the spill with booms had failed and that the oil was sailing through North Battleford, a city of 14,000."

On July 28, organizer Mark Calzavara wrote in Parallel pipeline disasters [ http://canadians.org/blog/parallel-pipeline-disasters ], "There are many parallels between [the] heavy oil spill from a Husky Energy pipeline in Saskatchewan and the Enbridge pipeline rupture in Kalamazoo Michigan almost exactly six years ago. Both ruptures occurred while control room staff were restarting the flow in the pipelines. In both cases, 'anomalies' were indicated by computers systems monitoring the pipelines. In both cases, the companies failed to interpret the 'anomalies' as leaks. In both cases, significant periods of time elapsed before the companies were made aware of the leaks by members of the public seeing the oil floating down river."

The National Observer has also quoted Calzavara commenting, "Husky is desperately trying to manipulate public opinion after their disastrous spill. The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health [the U.S.-based firm hired by Husky to test water samples] is nothing more than a hired gun brought in to downplay the effects of the spill. They would be more aptly named 'Oil Spill Spin Incorporated,' which better describes their history and clientele." ( [ http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/08 ... -oil-spill ] LINK added. Ed.)

On July 29, Cayley-Daoust and water campaigner Emma Lui wrote in a Regina Leader-Post op-ed, "Though proponents claim pipelines are the so-called 'safest' method of transporting oil, we have seen 8,360 spills in Saskatchewan since 2006, of which Husky is responsible for 1,463. This isn’t isolated to Saskatchewan either — there have been 28,666 crude oil spills in Alberta in the last 37 years. How is this considered safe? The problem is that there are far too many spills from both rail and pipelines. The answer to this is twofold: we need to regulate existing pipelines and rail transport better, and we need to overcome our addiction to oil and begin the transition away from fossil fuels." [ http://canadians.org/blog/saskatchewan- ... e-away-oil ]

Cayley-Daoust and Lui also highlight, "The Trudeau government has committed to reviewing environmental and freshwater legislation this fall. We hope this will be an opportunity to develop stronger regulations and prevent environmental disasters of this magnitude in the future. By gutting the Fisheries Act, the Navigable Waters Protection Act, the Environmental Assessment Act and the National Energy Board Act, the Harper government opened up lakes and rivers to even more risk than before. These new regulations need to be stronger and more effective at regulating and evaluating industrial projects in Canada that can have an impact on our environment."

In addition, organizer Diane Connors participated in the first meeting of the Kisiskatchewan Water Alliance Network formed in response to the spill. And organizer Brigette DePape will have an article in the upcoming issue of Canadian Perspectives that features interviews with residents of the communities whose water was impacted by this spill.

For more on our energy campaign, please click here: [ http://canadians.org/energy ]

For more on our "Every lake, every river" campaign, click here: [ http://canadians.org/every-lake-every-river [

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Husky Oil Spill: Two Months Since the Pipe Burst

[ http://canadians.org/blog/husky-oil-spi ... pipe-burst ]

September 22, 2016 - 5:45 pm

“If we are doing it to the Earth, what do you think is going to happen to us?” David Suzuki asks the crowd after describing how humanity has polluted land, air, and water around the world. Beautiful banners reading “Water is Sacred” fluttered everywhere as one by one, speakers expressed the importance of water and the need to bear down on a transition away from oil. The large gathering in Saskatoon came together on Sunday under the Kisaskatchewan Water Alliance Network, a group that formed in response to the oil spill that oozed into the North Saskatchewan river from a Husky pipeline on July 20, 2016.

September 20th marked two months since the disaster began.

Much has happened since technicians at Husky noticed the readings on one of their pipelines wasn’t normal. We know that over 14 hours elapsed between that moment and any definitive action being taken by the company. We know that a foamy substance began floating down the river, collecting at docks and piling up against the carcasses of river animals that died from chemical exposure. We know that dark oily crude began to stick the the edges of the river. We know that water was diverted for thousands of people who began to fear for their health and the natural place they lived by and loved. We know that some leaders spoke out, and that some said nothing or very little. We know that there were songs, gatherings, and coming-togethers of those who wanted to take action for their communities. We know that many people’s concerns, especially of those who live in First Nation communities, were not attended to or were indeed ignored. We know an assessment was done by a company whose only gain would be had in a result that showed everything was fine. We know the river water is quietly coming back into circulation for affected cities. We know the government and the media don’t really want to talk about this any more. We know the community still wants to talk about it.
- Photo from James Smith Cree Nation

Several events in Saskatchewan are bringing the conversation back to the forefront. Ricardo Segovia, of environmental consulting group E-Tech International (that works primarily with land defenders who would otherwise not have access to technical services), was part of a team commissioned by a group of active citizens to do an independent assessment of the health of the river. At the Saskatoon event, Ricardo conveyed the findings:

“We came on August 16 and 17, and there was still crude oil on the banks of the river. We took some samples downstream of Prince Albert and found some very nasty chemicals in the sediments. The [testing from the] water might be coming back clean - that’s not surprising because the stuff that’s on the surface, through evaporation, might disappear pretty quickly, and then also a lot of it is going to start to submerge. So even though the cities are going to use the water again for use, it doesn’t mean the problem is over. This spill is not over. There is a lot of oil submerged under the surface, and there is a lot of oil that’s going to be in the sediments for years to come. Part of the reason is the late reaction from Husky. In the 14.5 hours between the spill being released and the time Husky reacted, that oil made it a long way. It had a long time to go down the river and become submerged. That was a huge failure on the part of Husky - their reaction was completely inadequate.”

Ricardo is spent the week in Saskatchewan, travelling to meet with communities along the river and explaining the findings of the testing done by the independently commissioned team. Along with the Saskatoon event, he also had stops planned in North Battleford, James Smith Cree Nation, the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Indigenous Students’ Centre, and Prince Albert.

“We need a revolution for the water”

Christi Belcourt’s assertion to the crowd was met with cheers and applause: “We need a revolution for the water. Water is sacred. Water is life.” The prolific Metis artist proceeded to read an ethereal poem about humanity’s dependence and interconnectedness with water, her strong voice lifting the words to the listeners. Her allusion to the waters of the Earth as the birthwaters of life were built on by others who spoke of women as leaders and keepers of the waters - acknowledging the efforts and sacrifice of women activists, especially Indigenous land defenders, who have been at the frontlines of these kinds of fights for years. Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak opened by affirming that “it is women who are speaking on our behalf on water. It’s important that we recognize that as we move forward in this revolution that is is our women leading the way in these discussions, leading the revolution for us.”

Chief Nepinak also spoke about the difficult situation First Nations find themselves in as whole communities have been prescribed to poverty through generations of dispossession and government sanctioned oppression. He explained that sometimes leadership of First Nations feel forced to make deals for their communities to survive - such as after the funding cuts of the Harper government, which lead private companies to descend during a time of vulnerability. Applause broke out as Nepinak stated that the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has not accepted a dime from Enbridge, TransCanada, or any other pipeline company, even under pressure.

Many speakers emphasized how it is foolish to risk water by entrenching fossil fuel industry and driving our society in a direction we don’t want: global climate change and an economy that doesn’t value people or nature. David Suzuki asserted that “the Husky spill is just one of the latest opportunities that we have to say ‘this is crazy’ - we are undermining the very things that keep us alive and healthy. This Husky spill should be the moment that we say ‘we cannot go on this way’ that we have to change the way that we are living.”



Links and actions: (- not 'live')

Join the Kisaskatchewan Water Alliance

Read the Independent Assessment by E-Tech International

Get involved with the Energy East campaign to stop risking waterways with pipelines

Get involved with the Water campaign to reinstate legislative protections for water

Look in your community to support local renewable energy organizations


Diane Connors' blog
Prairies-NWT Regional Organizer
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/diane-connors ]

[Oscar]

Prince Albert chapter holds public forum on Husky Oil spill in North Saskatchewan River

[ http://canadians.org/blog/prince-albert ... ewan-river ]

September 23, 2016 - 6:39am

Ricardo Segovia of E-Tech International conducts sediment tests in the North Saskatchewan River following the Husky Oil spill. Photo by Resurgence Environmental.

The Council of Canadians Prince Albert chapter held a public forum last night on the Husky Oil spill in the North Saskatchewan River.

In its outreach for the event, the chapter posted, "Interested in the results of an independent assessment of the Husky Oil Spill? Discover them Thursday Sept. 22 at 7 pm at the John M. Cuelenaere Library Auditorium for a presentation by Ricardo Segovia, a hydrogeologist with E-Tech International and Resurgence Environmental."

About 60 people were in attendance for last night's presentation. A Facebook video of the forum can be viewed here: [ https://www.facebook.com/beverly.boe/vi ... 739878378/ ]

The Husky oil spill this summer meant that the drinking water supply for more than 70,600 people - in North Battleford, Prince Albert, Melfort, and the Muskoday First Nation (also known as the James Smith Cree Nation) - was compromised. The three cities had to shut off their water plant intakes and secure alternate sources of drinking water, while the Muskoday First Nation had to truck in its water. Segovia says, "This is going to cause long-term problems. You can’t go back to the way things were before … because there’s that chance that (contaminants) can be stirred up from the sediments, you have to be constantly monitoring those water intakes for the next several years at least."

This morning, CBC reports, "A new water sample from the North Saskatchewan River has exceeded drinking water guidelines. The water sample, taken near Prince Albert, Sask. found Benzo(a)Pyrene, a carcinogen that can be found in everything from car exhaust to coal tar. ...The tests also showed two new samples that exceeded aquatic life guidelines, bringing the number to 22. As well, 28 more samples of sediment were found to exceed guidelines. Those guidelines are meant to protect organisms that live on the bottom of the river, and are an integral part of the aquatic food chain."

But that article also notes, "Last week, the Water Security Agency (WSA) gave North Battleford and Prince Albert permission to start drawing drinking water from the North Saskatchewan River once again. The WSA said the new contaminated water test will not impact plans to get the plants up and running again." Remarkably, an agency spokesperson says, "[The oil] is attaching to sediments. So, the water treatment plant can efficiently remove the oil because it's attaching to the sediments and essentially doing what the plant is designed to do."

Yesterday, Council of Canadians organizer Diane Connors wrote in her blog Husky Oil Spill: Two Months Since the Pipe Burst [ http://canadians.org/blog/husky-oil-spi ... pipe-burst ] about a large gathering that took place on Sunday (September 18) in Saskatoon to highlight ongoing concerns about the river and water protection. That event - organized Kisaskatchewan Water Alliance Network [ https://www.facebook.com/groups/kisiskatchewan/ ] (the Council of Canadians is a member of this network formed after the Husky spill) - featured Segovia, well-known environmental activist David Suzuki, Metis artist Christi Belcourt, Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak and others.

And in an op-ed published earlier this month in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix and numerous other newspapers [ http://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/colum ... -sawa-view ], Council of Canadians Board member Rick Sawa and Renewable Power activist Jack Jensen highlighted the ongoing risks to waterways from pipelines both in Saskatchewan and across the country.

They write, "While [Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall] has taken some constructive measures to respond to the spill, he is backing TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline proposal — a project whose purpose is to enable expansion of oilsands production. This pipeline would bring the risk of diluted bitumen spillage to nearly 3000 waterways, including seven in Saskatchewan, as well as the Great Sand Hills ecological reserve, Carry the Kettle First Nation and Regina’s Harbour Landing neighbourhood. It’s long past time for a rethink, and for a just transition to a clean economy."

Further reading

Council-supported study finds 14-hour delay amplified oil spill damage to North Saskatchewan River (September 3, 2016)
[ http://canadians.org/blog/council-suppo ... ewan-river ]

Tags: chapters
[ http://canadians.org/tags/chapters ]

Brent Patterson's blog
Political Director of the Council of Canadians
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/brent-patterson ]

[Oscar]

Independent report looks at Husky response to Saskatchewan oil spill

[ http://globalnews.ca/news/2919182/indep ... oil-spill/ ]

September 2, 2016 5:48 pm Updated: September 5, 2016 11:05 am

by Joel Senick Anchor / Reporter Global News

Play Video: Coverage of the Husky Energy oil spill near Maidstone into the North Saskatchewan River

If Husky Energy reacted sooner to an oil spill in the North Saskatchewan River, downstream drinking water likely wouldn’t have been affected, according to a co-author of an independent report on the incident.

“Had they found the spill as soon as it happened, let’s say within an hour, that oil would not have had a chance to affect the water supply of [Prince Albert] or North Battleford,” said Ricardo Segovia, a hydrogeologist for New Mexico-based E-Tech International. On Thursday, the group released an “independent primary assessment” of the oil spill that occurred in late July.

“They would have been able to contain the spill in the first few kilometers of that river stretch,” Segovia added.

The report states there was a 14-hour delay in response to the spill, however a Husky spokesperson pushed back against the findings Friday and said “that there are a number of basic errors” within the report.

A timeline provided days after the spill by the Calgary-based company states “the pipeline monitoring system indicated pressure anomalies” hours before a sheen was reported on the river. A pipe near Maidstone had spilled an estimated 225,000 liters of blended crude oil, some of which entered the river.

“Our response was immediate upon discovery of the leak and was informed by the responsible provincial and federal regulators as well as the foremost scientists and experts in the field,” Husky Energy spokesperson Mel Duvall said in an emailed statement Friday.

In an interview, Segovia said “one doesn’t detect abnormalities in pressure unless something’s happening to that oil. So there had to be something leaking out of the pipe when they first detected the anomaly.”

“Those were very critical hours in determining how far the oil would go,” he added.

The E-Tech report was commissioned by concerned indigenous and non indigenous groups near the spill, according to Segovia. He added that the visitors spoke with area residents and took water samples during a four-day visit to the province in mid-August.

Segovia said he expected his group to return to Saskatchewan in the coming weeks for additional testing.


Related

• Chief Wally Burns of the James Smith Cree Nation surveys the Saskatchewan River next to an oil boom he had a hand in setting up, on Friday, August 25, 2016, in this handout photo. A First Nation in northern Saskatchewan says oil from the Husky Energy pipeline leak has shown up in the spawning grounds of an endangered species.Officials from James Smith Cree Nation say an oil plume and foam was discovered in the Saskatchewan River where lake sturgeon spawn. Saskatchewan First Nation says oil from Husky spill affecting sturgeon spawning

• The City of Prince Albert is confident it has enough an ample supply of water to lift all restrictions following an oil spill into a Saskatchewan river. Water restrictions lifted in Prince Albert, Sask. after North Sask. River oil spill

• The Prince Albert city manager said one of the options being discussed is to return to drawing water from the North Saskatchewan River and treating it for hydrocarbons. Water customers may get break after oil spill


- - - - -

EXCERPT

Independent Primary Assessment of Husky Energy Oil Spill into the North Saskatchewan River - E-Tech International / Resurgence Environmental - September 1, 2016

Summary of Findings and Recommendations

1. Husky’s late reaction to the July 20th, 2016 oil spill (14 hour delay) allowed time for the spill to travel much further downstream then if they had reacted immediately. It also allowed time for the heavier components of the diluted crude oil to attach to sediment particles and submerge into the water column and to the bottom of the North Saskatchewan River.
Recommendations: Lessons should be taken from the Kalamazoo River spill in Michigan and submerged oil should become a recovery priority. Some methods found to be effective in the Kalamazoo River included Gabion Baskets filled with sorbent material and sediment basins to slow sediment migration. Hydraulic dredging was found to be effective in recovering oil once it reached the river bottom. Any recovery process should go through an ecological impact analysis since some methods can be too aggressive for sensitive ecosystems. Husky needs to start taking sediment samples along the river bed since the problem is quickly shifting from surface contamination to submerged contamination.

2. Husky Energy has not been transparent with its sampling data or cleanup plans.
Recommendations: Local residents need to demand full access to the raw data from Husky’s sampling program and a detailed cleanup strategy. The cleanup strategy should include reasoning for boom numbers and placement, techniques for dealing with submerged oil, and monitoring strategy for the next two years. Husky needs to sample water and sediment downstream of Prince Albert, where they have set their current sampling limit.

3. Husky Energy did not warn residents of the health risks associated with evaporating BTEX-group chemicals and other volatile compounds that are present in peak concentrations in the first 48 hours after a spill. Husky should have warned residents (especially children and pregnant women) to stay away from the river immediately after the spill.
Recommendation: Local residents should demand information about the potential dangers of the exposure to volatile compounds and the continued health risks associated with the more persistent chemicals such as the PAH group of chemicals.

4. E-Tech/RE samples showed the presence of BTEX chemicals and PAHs at the Tobey Nollet Bridge and the Cecil Ferry downstream of Prince Albert. The specific PAHs found at Cecil Ferry were all found near the spill site at Tobey Nollet Bridge, indicating that the hydrocarbons at Cecil Ferry are very likely the result of the July 20th Husky spill.
Recommendation: Additional sampling should be conducted upstream of the spill in order to determine pre-spill conditions within the North Saskatchewan River. Sampling should also be done at Cumberland Lake at the mouth of the North Saskatchewan River where contaminated sediment is likely to submerge.

5. Infrastructure improvements need to be a priority in order to prevent further spills. Husky should disclose all of its pipeline inspection data, its pipeline maintenance schedule, and the ages of all sections of pipeline. Soil stability also needs to be considered an integral component of pipeline stability and geotechnical data near pipeline supports should be provided by Husky.

6. The James Smith Cree Nation needs to be supported in its effort to mitigate and monitor the damage to their traditional territory. Funds should be made available to communities interested in conducting their own mitigation and monitoring efforts. E-Tech/RE can assist in training local environmental monitors.

For any questions regarding this report, please contact Ricardo Segovia at segoviacaminando@gmail.com or at (604) 704-1232.
Ricardo Segovia, Hydrogeologist, E-Tech International / Resurgence Environmental
Danielle Stevenson, Remediation Specialist, Resurgence Environmental
Leila Darwish, Remediation Specialist, Resurgence Environmental

References

CBC News (2016). Husky admits crews missed leak night of Saskatchewan oil spill.
Available at: [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699007 ]

Husky Energy (2016). Saskatchewan Pipeline Incident Updates.
Available at: [ http://huskyenergy.com/news/saskatchewan-updates.asp ]

James Smith Cree Nation (2016). James Smith Cree Says Our Waters Are Priceless.
Available at: [ http://www.jamessmithcreenation.com/news/index.html ]

National Academies Press (2016). Spills of Diluted Bitumen from Pipelines: A Comparative Study of Environmental Fate, Transport, and Response.
Available at: [ http://www.nap.edu/read/21834/chapter/1 ]

USEPA (2016). FOSC Desk Report for the Enbridge Line 6B Oil Spill. Marshall, Michigan.
Available at: [ https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/fi ... -241pp.pdf ]

Water Security Agency (2016). Surface Water Quality Verification Dataset - Summary North Saskatchewan River Release.
Available at: [ https://www.wsask.ca/Global/About%20WSA ... 0Table.pdf ]

Water Security Agency (2016). Sediment Quality Verification Dataset - Summary North Saskatchewan River Release.
Available at: [ https://www.wsask.ca/Global/About%20WSA ... 0Table.pdf ]

Appendix 1: Material Safety Data Sheet for Crude Spilled into N. Sask. River - Material Safety Data Sheet for HLU Blended LLB Heavy Crude Oil:
[ https://huskyenergy.msdsbinders.com/Cus ... %20Company) ]

Appendix 2: Fact Sheets on Toxins Found in the Oil Spilled:
Properties of Crude Oil Spilled: [ http://www.crudemonitor.ca/crude.php?acr=LLB ]
Benzene [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts3.pdf ]
Tolulene [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts56.pdf ]
Ethylbenzene [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts110.pdf ]
Xyrene [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts71.pdf ]
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts69.pdf ]
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts123.pdf ]

[Oscar]

Independent report looks at Husky response to Saskatchewan oil spill

[ http://globalnews.ca/news/2919182/indep ... oil-spill/ ]

September 2, 2016 5:48 pm Updated: September 5, 2016 11:05 am

by Joel Senick Anchor / Reporter Global News

Play Video: Coverage of the Husky Energy oil spill near Maidstone into the North Saskatchewan River - on Original URL above

If Husky Energy reacted sooner to an oil spill in the North Saskatchewan River, downstream drinking water likely wouldn’t have been affected, according to a co-author of an independent report on the incident.

“Had they found the spill as soon as it happened, let’s say within an hour, that oil would not have had a chance to affect the water supply of [Prince Albert] or North Battleford,” said Ricardo Segovia, a hydrogeologist for New Mexico-based E-Tech International. On Thursday, the group released an “independent primary assessment” of the oil spill that occurred in late July.

“They would have been able to contain the spill in the first few kilometers of that river stretch,” Segovia added.

The report states there was a 14-hour delay in response to the spill, however a Husky spokesperson pushed back against the findings Friday and said “that there are a number of basic errors” within the report.

A timeline provided days after the spill by the Calgary-based company states “the pipeline monitoring system indicated pressure anomalies” hours before a sheen was reported on the river. A pipe near Maidstone had spilled an estimated 225,000 liters of blended crude oil, some of which entered the river.

“Our response was immediate upon discovery of the leak and was informed by the responsible provincial and federal regulators as well as the foremost scientists and experts in the field,” Husky Energy spokesperson Mel Duvall said in an emailed statement Friday.

In an interview, Segovia said “one doesn’t detect abnormalities in pressure unless something’s happening to that oil. So there had to be something leaking out of the pipe when they first detected the anomaly.”

“Those were very critical hours in determining how far the oil would go,” he added.

The E-Tech report was commissioned by concerned indigenous and non indigenous groups near the spill, according to Segovia. He added that the visitors spoke with area residents and took water samples during a four-day visit to the province in mid-August.

Segovia said he expected his group to return to Saskatchewan in the coming weeks for additional testing.


Related

• Chief Wally Burns of the James Smith Cree Nation surveys the Saskatchewan River next to an oil boom he had a hand in setting up, on Friday, August 25, 2016, in this handout photo. A First Nation in northern Saskatchewan says oil from the Husky Energy pipeline leak has shown up in the spawning grounds of an endangered species. Officials from James Smith Cree Nation say an oil plume and foam was discovered in the Saskatchewan River where lake sturgeon spawn. Saskatchewan First Nation says oil from Husky spill affecting sturgeon spawning

• The City of Prince Albert is confident it has enough an ample supply of water to lift all restrictions following an oil spill into a Saskatchewan river. Water restrictions lifted in Prince Albert, Sask. after North Sask. River oil spill

• The Prince Albert city manager said one of the options being discussed is to return to drawing water from the North Saskatchewan River and treating it for hydrocarbons. Water customers may get break after oil spill


- - - - -

Independent Primary Assessment of Husky Energy Oil Spill into the North Saskatchewan River - E-Tech International / Resurgence Environmental - September 1, 2016

[ https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/i ... 1472837923 ]

EXCERPT

Summary of Findings and Recommendations

1. Husky’s late reaction to the July 20th, 2016 oil spill (14 hour delay) allowed time for the spill to travel much further downstream then if they had reacted immediately. It also allowed time for the heavier components of the diluted crude oil to attach to sediment particles and submerge into the water column and to the bottom of the North Saskatchewan River.
Recommendations: Lessons should be taken from the Kalamazoo River spill in Michigan and submerged oil should become a recovery priority. Some methods found to be effective in the Kalamazoo River included Gabion Baskets filled with sorbent material and sediment basins to slow sediment migration. Hydraulic dredging was found to be effective in recovering oil once it reached the river bottom. Any recovery process should go through an ecological impact analysis since some methods can be too aggressive for sensitive ecosystems. Husky needs to start taking sediment samples along the river bed since the problem is quickly shifting from surface contamination to submerged contamination.

2. Husky Energy has not been transparent with its sampling data or cleanup plans.
Recommendations: Local residents need to demand full access to the raw data from Husky’s sampling program and a detailed cleanup strategy. The cleanup strategy should include reasoning for boom numbers and placement, techniques for dealing with submerged oil, and monitoring strategy for the next two years. Husky needs to sample water and sediment downstream of Prince Albert, where they have set their current sampling limit.

3. Husky Energy did not warn residents of the health risks associated with evaporating BTEX-group chemicals and other volatile compounds that are present in peak concentrations in the first 48 hours after a spill. Husky should have warned residents (especially children and pregnant women) to stay away from the river immediately after the spill.
Recommendation: Local residents should demand information about the potential dangers of the exposure to volatile compounds and the continued health risks associated with the more persistent chemicals such as the PAH group of chemicals.

4. E-Tech/RE samples showed the presence of BTEX chemicals and PAHs at the Tobey Nollet Bridge and the Cecil Ferry downstream of Prince Albert. The specific PAHs found at Cecil Ferry were all found near the spill site at Tobey Nollet Bridge, indicating that the hydrocarbons at Cecil Ferry are very likely the result of the July 20th Husky spill.
Recommendation: Additional sampling should be conducted upstream of the spill in order to determine pre-spill conditions within the North Saskatchewan River. Sampling should also be done at Cumberland Lake at the mouth of the North Saskatchewan River where contaminated sediment is likely to submerge.

5. Infrastructure improvements need to be a priority in order to prevent further spills. Husky should disclose all of its pipeline inspection data, its pipeline maintenance schedule, and the ages of all sections of pipeline. Soil stability also needs to be considered an integral component of pipeline stability and geotechnical data near pipeline supports should be provided by Husky.

6. The James Smith Cree Nation needs to be supported in its effort to mitigate and monitor the damage to their traditional territory. Funds should be made available to communities interested in conducting their own mitigation and monitoring efforts. E-Tech/RE can assist in training local environmental monitors.

For any questions regarding this report, please contact Ricardo Segovia at segoviacaminando@gmail.com or at (604) 704-1232.
Ricardo Segovia, Hydrogeologist, E-Tech International / Resurgence Environmental
Danielle Stevenson, Remediation Specialist, Resurgence Environmental
Leila Darwish, Remediation Specialist, Resurgence Environmental

References

CBC News (2016). Husky admits crews missed leak night of Saskatchewan oil spill. Available at: [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... -1.3699007 ]

Husky Energy (2016). Saskatchewan Pipeline Incident Updates. Available at:
[ http://huskyenergy.com/news/saskatchewan-updates.asp ]

James Smith Cree Nation (2016). James Smith Cree Says Our Waters Are Priceless. Available at: [ http://www.jamessmithcreenation.com/news/index.html ]

National Academies Press (2016). Spills of Diluted Bitumen from Pipelines: A Comparative Study of Environmental Fate, Transport, and Response. Available at: [ http://www.nap.edu/read/21834/chapter/1 ]

USEPA (2016). FOSC Desk Report for the Enbridge Line 6B Oil Spill. Marshall, Michigan. Available at: [ https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/fi ... -241pp.pdf ]

Water Security Agency (2016). Surface Water Quality Verification Dataset - Summary North Saskatchewan River Release. Available at:
[ https://www.wsask.ca/Global/About%20WSA ... 0Table.pdf ]

Water Security Agency (2016). Sediment Quality Verification Dataset - Summary North Saskatchewan River Release. Available at:
[ https://www.wsask.ca/Global/About%20WSA ... 0Table.pdf ]

Appendix 1: Material Safety Data Sheet for Crude Spilled into N. Sask. River - Material Safety Data Sheet for HLU Blended LLB Heavy Crude Oil:
[ https://huskyenergy.msdsbinders.com/Cus ... %20Company) ]

Appendix 2: Fact Sheets on Toxins Found in the Oil Spilled:
Properties of Crude Oil Spilled: [ http://www.crudemonitor.ca/crude.php?acr=LLB ]
Benzene [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts3.pdf ]
Tolulene [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts56.pdf ]
Ethylbenzene [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts110.pdf ]
Xyrene [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts71.pdf ]
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts69.pdf ]
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons [ https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts123.pdf ]