The mystery surrounding the origin of the motor oil spill that polluted the banks in Pointe-aux-Trembles deepens as Quebec suspends its investigation into a possible land-based source, a decision that is “unacceptable” in the eyes of an environmental group.
“Given that all possibilities have been verified several times, Urgence-Environnement has redirected its efforts towards the recovery of the product. However, if a new lead is brought forward, the investigation could resume,” the Ministry of the Environment indicated on Monday.
Recovery of the black, viscous material was continuing, four days after the first report of the pollution slick. No less than 19,000 litres, water and hydrocarbons combined, have been recovered so far, said the Canadian Coast Guard, which is responsible for the operation.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The black, viscous material that spread into the St. Lawrence River, near Pointe-aux-Trembles
The federal agency, which is also responsible for investigating a potential marine source of the spill, said as of Sunday that it was continuing its investigation with partners, including the Department of Education.
“It’s unacceptable,” said the president of the Rivières Foundation, Alain Saladzius, indignantly, after the announcement by Quebec of the suspension of the land-based component of the investigation.
We are asking for a full explanation of the deployment that has been made. Why would it be too late?
Alain Saladzius, President of the Rivers Foundation
The water treatment engineer also points out that, if no one is found to be the culprit, citizens are very likely to end up picking up the bill for the clean-up operation, which is set to be hefty.
What is more, nothing excludes the possibility of a new episode like that of last Thursday, when dozens of metres of river bank were covered, happening again, insists Alain Saladzius, who still does not rule out the possibility that the water table could be linked to the presence of several refineries in the area, and therefore to a land-based source.
Mowing may be necessary
Since it began last Friday, the product recovery operation has allowed two-thirds of the contaminated vegetation to be cleaned, the Ministry of the Environment said on Monday. While no cutting of vegetation was necessary, mowing could still be required in places.
Three-quarters of the Pointe-aux-Trembles marina, where several ships had been soiled by blackened water, were also cleaned. A sampling of the vegetation was carried out by Urgence-Environnement in order to document the product residues, it was specified.
An inventory of two plant species was carried out by the ministry to ensure that the copper redhorse’s diet is not affected by pollution. One of them has been identified so far and is more than 30 cm from the water surface, which means that it has not been affected by the engine oil.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The marina of Pointe-aux-Trembles
Since last Friday, the no-navigation advisory in effect in the area to prevent waves from contributing to the dispersion of pollution has been downgraded to a speed reduction advisory by the Coast Guard.
On Sunday, another suspicious slick was reported downstream, near the eastern beach, but turned out to be a residual that quickly dissipated, the Ministry of the Environment also revealed on Monday.