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Fuel Spill

Fuel spill leads to serious health concerns for residents south of Quesnel

Apr 12, 2023 | 5:29 PM

QUESNEL – A major fuel spill is causing major concerns for residents just south of Quesnel city limits.

According to the Lhtako Dene Nation 110,000 litres of fuel may have spilled underground from the Lhtako Gas and Convenience Store from December 2020 until June 2022 when the leak was discovered.

The details of the spill only came public in early April 2023 after a news release was issued by the nation.

Nearby residents are sounding the alarm over the timeline of communication from the nation, and concerns about what will happen to their property long-term.

Daphne Boucher, who lived next to the gas station said she saw signs of the leak back in July 2021.

“You could smell it with within the whole house, mostly in the basement,” said Boucher.

Boucher said she lived next to the store for the last 15 years, never has something like this been a problem.

Map courtesy Lhtako Gas and Convenience

Community water system:

The area of the spill is on the edge of the Lhtako Dene territory, near residents of the Cariboo Regional District south of Quesnel.

The Lhtako Dene Nation has its own community water system for roughly 300 residents. Initially, two buildings were found with contaminated water both get water from the system. It is unknown how the fuel ever got into the system.

There are dozens of other residences located within the notification zone that are not on the community water system instead operating private wells.

One of those is Mark Moir who lives down the street from the gas station. Moir said he is deeply concerned for the wellbeing of his family including his grandchild who may have consumed the water an extremely young age. Moir claims it is possible the contaminated water may have been consumed by his daughter who was pregnant with his grandchild and is worried of possible effects.

Lhtako Dene Nation response:

The response from the Lhtako Dene Nation (LDN) has been as proactive as possible according to Raymond Aldred, Councillor for the LDN.

“It is extremely unfortunate what has happened,” said Aldred.

The fuel line has been repaired and Lhtako Dene Nation will be undertaking further environmental investigations to assess the extent of contamination in coordination with Indigenous Services Canada, BC Ministry of Environment, and Northern Health (for off-reserve concerns) and First Nation Health Authority (for on-reserve concerns).

Lhtako Dene Nation has retained a qualified environmental consultant, SLR Consulting., to complete environmental investigations at the gas station and on adjacent lands following identification of the fuel leak. SLR recently confirmed that gasoline-related contamination is present in groundwater in Arbutus Road and in a nearby residential water well. The Lhtako Dene Nation community water supply has been tested by the First Nation Health Authority and does not appear to have been impacted by the contamination.

The contamination in groundwater may impact neighbouring water wells (please see the attached map). In some cases, there may also be a concern about the potential gas vapours to have impacted the air in some residences. Lhtako Dene Nation is working with Northern Health, BC Ministry of Environment, First Nation Health Authority, Cariboo Regional District and other partners to address immediate concerns related to the potential for gasoline contamination to have migrated to nearby water wells and to residences.

If your residence has a well and is within the area of notification, Lhtako Dene Nation, Northern Health and B.C. Ministry of Environment encourage you to have it tested immediately by SLR. Vapour screening and/or sampling may also be necessary in your home.

To schedule a time for field representatives to collect the water sample and assess the need for vapour screening at your home, please contact:

SLR Consulting 250-255-6432

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