Montreal is asking for police assistance to “advance research” to determine the source of the oil slick that polluted the St. Lawrence River east of Montreal last July.
“The information gathered to date indicates that the two incidents are linked to the same spill of motor oil in the storm sewer system,” the City of Montreal said in a press release Wednesday afternoon. “Inspections and analyses have also helped to identify the period and area where the spill occurred.”
The investigations determined that the spill took place between June 27 and July 10 at the storm drain on Boulevard Tricentenaire.
In total, the initial operations had recovered 19,000 litres of water mixed with hydrocarbons, including around 1,000 litres of hydrocarbons.
More than 160 inspections have been carried out in recent weeks at commercial and industrial properties to detect possible signs of a spill or leak in the stormwater network. Camera inspections have also been carried out in the network to try to trace the origin of the spill.
“This act, which is harmful to the environment, and which we consider serious, must not go without consequences,” said Caroline Bourgeois, Mayor of the Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles borough and Vice-President of the Executive Committee, in the press release. “The community’s cooperation is essential in this investigation, and every piece of information could prove crucial.”
She therefore invites people who may have information to contact the Montreal police service (SPVM).
The City assures that environmental service inspectors will be vigilant during future rain events and “will be able to intervene quickly if necessary.”