Gas spill keeps residents on edge

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A gasoline spill on Highway 63 is keeping local residents near the village of Wandering River on edge.

Lac La Biche RCMP confirmed that on Aug. 16 at approximately 4:15 p.m. A Trimac Transportation tanker truck with a pup-trailer tavelling south-bound on Highway 63, overturned

into a ditch, spilling 43,000 litres of gasoline.

The accident occurred about 15 km from the village.

"There was concern that fuel may have run into the nearby river, but the spill was contained at the accident scene," said Alberta Environment spokesman Kate Thompson this week.

"We don't anticipate any real damage," she said.

"Everyone is concerned, when something like this happens. It's one of the hazards of living on the highway," says Gord Taylor, co-owner of the Esso station and restaurant in

Wandering River.

Shortly after the accident, Alberta Forestry workers constructed dykes to contain the gasoline. The actual recovery process beginning the following day, reported Taylor.

Howard Johnson, owner of the land where the spill occurred, expressed some concern but is satisfied with the cleanup job so far.

"With the cleanup completed, it is now up to the Environmental people to determine if there is any reason for concern," said an RCMP spokesmen, who wished to be unidentified.

In June, another Trimac truck was involved in a fuel spill, when a fuel truck overturned spilling about 21,000 litres of diesel on Highway 38 near Redwater.

The cleanup cost in that accident was estimated at $100,000 and there was an estimated 1,000 litres ended up in the North Saskatchewan River.

Environment Minister Ralph Kline, could not be reached for comment concerning the results of both spills.