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UPDATE: Oil spill reported on the Onion Lake Cree Nation

Sep 4, 2018 | 5:00 PM

An oil spill has been reported in a community some 40 kilometers north of Lloydminister.

On Aug. 26, an oil release at a well on the Onion Lake Cree Nation was reported by BlackPearl Resources.

A brief statement from Jim Billington, the director of communications for the SaskParty noted officials from the Ministry of Energy and Resources were on hand monitoring the situation.

The statement indicated no bodies of water were affected by the release and no injuries were reported in the incident.

BlackPearl Resources responded to paNOW’s request for comment Sept. 4.

In a statement it said 12 cubic meters of spill oil and fresh water spilled at a wellsite located within its Onion Lake Heavy Oil Project and spill response procedures were followed successfully. The amount is the equivalent of over 3,000 gallons.

The statement added no waterbodies, streams, or marshy areas were impacted and clean up of oil stained soil and vegetation is complete and was disposed of at a third party waste handling facility.

The company laid the blame for the spill as “improper procedures” and noted “our operational procedures have been updated to prevent this from re-occurring.”

 

Editor’s note: this story was updated Sept. 4 to include comment from BlackPearl Resources.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca
On Twitter: @BryanEneas