CP Rail not fined for polluting Port Coquitlam creek, says it's committed to cleanup

Photo: Glacier Media

CP Rail won't be fined for a diesel fuel spill even though it hasn't cleaned up the petroleum product from a creek next to a Port Coquitlam park.

This week, a film of diesel fuel can still be seen in the creek next to Dominion Park.

The residue is what's left of a large volume of diesel oil that spilled on CPR property on Feb. 4, and made its way to the watercourse through city drains and storm sewers.

But despite the impact, and the death of a beaver from diesel fuel poisoning, neither the City of Port Coquitlam nor B.C.'s Ministry of Environment is considering slapping fines on the railway company.

This is in contrast to the City of Coquitlam, which recently fined two contractors $500 each for discharging pollution into storm drains after the mess was tracked down by city workers.

According to the Ministry of Environment, fines aren't being recommended or considered because CP Rail is cleaning up the mess.

"The ministry’s recovery team continues to monitor the ongoing clean up of the CP site," a ministry spokesperson stated in an email, adding that impacts from the spill will be "remediated and returned to their pre-spill condition."

Still, weeks after the spill, diesel fuel can still be seen in a Port Coquitlam watercourse, which, though not salmon-bearing, is located close to homes and trees where eagles nest.

The City of Port Coquitlam says it's closely working with CP Rail and has engaged an environmental consultant to examine the damage and recommend mitigation.

Once officials get the report, said Joshua Frederick, director of engineering and public works, CP Rail will be expected to do the clean up or pay for all the costs of the clean up.

Currently, booms have been put in place to stop the fuel from moving further up the watercourse and they are stained a rusty red.

But according to Frederick, there is iron in the soil and that is helping to turn the creek into a brownish red colour. However, he admits that the sheen is still visible although much of the fuel has dissipated, Frederick said.

"We are going to be following up once we have the post impact assessment report. At this point CP has completely committed to working and collaborating with the city and at this point we’re not posing any fines," Frederick said.