Members of a northern native community say the province’s assurances that one of the largest oil spills in Alberta’s history poses no health threats are disappointing and premature.
On April 29, Alberta’s oil and gas regulator issued a press release stating it was investigating an oil pipeline leak northeast of Peace River — seven kilometres from the 500-member community of Little Buffalo.
The spill from the 45-year-old Plains Midstream Canada pipeline had been “isolated,” “no injuries” occurred and there was “no threat to public safety,” assured the Energy Resources Conservation Board.
Five days later, ERCB officials revealed it was, in fact, one of the largest spills in the province’s history — at least 28,000 barrels of crude oil soaking into the ground and a nearby pond.
While investigations into the cause of the spill are ongoing and ERCB officials maintain public safety is not threatened, classes at the Little Buffalo School were suspended after children and staff had nausea, burning eyes and headaches.
“That the ERCB is saying that there are no health impacts is premature when people are already feeling the impacts,” says Melina Laboucan-Massimo, member of the Lubicon Cree. “There could be long-term impacts because of this.”
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