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Premier François Legault tried to reassure the population of Châteauguay and Kahnawake on Friday after an oil spill in a stream on the edge of the city and the Mohawk community.
A fuel oil spill from a tank occurred at 2325 Ford Blvd. near the eastern tip of Châteauguay, according to the emergency environment intervention register of the environment ministry.
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“Each spill of toxic products into the environment is a horror and a tragedy for the population and the environment. It is certain that we are collaborating with the federal and provincial authorities as well as with the Kahnawake Band Council so that the person(s) responsible for this accidental spill or, if it was intentional, this wild spill, assume all the consequences and costs,” Châteauguay Mayor Éric Allard said in a statement from the city.
While in the region Friday afternoon, Legault indicated he had discussed the situation with the grand chief of the Mohawk Council, Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, and with the local CAQ MNA Marie-Belle Gendron.
“The Ministry of the Environment is involved. What I want to ensure is that the work that needs to be done will be done to ensure that there are no impacts on humans or animals. So, I will make sure, with Benoit Charette, Minister of the Environment, that we do the work that is necessary.”
According to the environment ministry, the fuel oil spill is a Category 1 environmental emergency. This means the consequences “are minor and easy to identify” or “easily controllable by usual, well-known and well-established response means” or that “impacts on property are relatively minor and human health is not affected.”
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It is unknown what caused “what appears to be an accidental or criminal spill on private land,” according to Allard.
The city’s statement says “the owner of this tanker truck unfortunately died last weekend, making the investigation more complicated.”
The contamination was discovered on Feb. 9 in Kahnawake by a resident whose property was affected by the spill, but it was not until Feb. 12 the municipal authorities of Châteauguay were informed of the spill.
Châteauguay police and fire services were called to the site by the owner around Feb. 1. He then noticed a leak on a tanker truck and requested the vehicle be towed.
“The firefighters inspected the scene and noted that the leak was limited and contained, that there was no spread of contamination on the site, nor in the storm sewer and the ditch. On site, the owner of the tanker truck then agreed to properly dispose of the few litres recovered in sealed containers and then to have his truck towed,” the city’s statement said.
The contamination apparently occurred a few days after the intervention and to date, the situation is “contained and under control,” according to the municipal administration.
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