[All] Oil Spill in Toronto

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi folks
Here is an interesting news story I came across tonight of an oil spill in Etobicoke Creek. The fire crews identified the substance as tar-diluted oil. Oily duck found on site too. http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/hazmat-crews-called-to-clean-up-etobicoke-creek-oil-spill-1.2374562

The news story gave reference to a reddit article from the person who helped to rescue the oily duck.  A fella named Robserial in his ID on the site. He said the spill is just south of Sherway gardens in a stream that feeds into the creek.http://www.reddit.com/r/toronto/comments/35z44y/theres_an_oil_spill_in_the_etobicoke_creek_and/
Second CTV news story now states they don't know what this solvent is. It will take weeks to test. http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/what-spilled-into-the-etobicoke-creek-1.2377064

CBC states the spill could take up to 1 week to clean uphttps://ca.news.yahoo.com/etobicoke-mystery-spill-may-days-221720571.html

I filed a formal complaint tonight with both the National Energy Board and the Transportation Safety Bureau about this ongoing spill issue. Both agencies said it was somewhat unusual for a member of the public to call in but in light of what took place and how poorly it was handled last time, I don't want to take chances this time round.

Based on FOI docs I secured it confirmed the following:-how Toronto Fire lacked the proper size booms to stop the spill-how a vac truck was used with booms to gather a solvent but the solvent was never tested or identified-how City of Toronto staff were actually instructed to not speak with Spills Action Centre staff-how the movement of the solvent on video tape doesn't match the theory that it came from upstream-how there was a delayed response by MNR who only visited the site three days after the spill took place-how there was a lack of spills volumes, lack of communication with other municipalities, lack or regard for impacts to aquatic life after the incident took place.
I told both the NEB and the TSB that we need their participation in this one. 

Let us hope to God they actually do look into it. 
Lulu 

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