An aerial view of the spill site. Photo courtesy Sask. government.
Energy minister Dustin Duncan says there will be a full investigation into a pipeline rupture that saw nearly 200,000 litres of oil leak on to a piece of land on the Ocean Man First Nation, about 140 kilometers southeast of Regina.
There are reports from the reserve that a band member noticed the smell of oil days before it had been reported. However, Duncan says there were no reports filed with the government.
“That odour really could have been coming from anywhere,” he said. “Our staff will go out and they will check when there is a complaint about odour and they will take that equipment out there, but the ministry did not receive a call earlier in the week.”
The spill was reported to government officials on Friday, but the public was not notified until Monday. About 175,000 litres, or 85 per cent, of the spill has now been cleaned up.
On Wednesday, the site will be excavated so officials can determine exactly which pipe ruptured.
As part of the investigation, Duncan says the way the spill was reported and handled will be examined.
Tundra Energy, which owns a pipeline in the area, is leading the cleanup.