August 16, 2026

Lemon Creek Fuel Spill
Information Update #12

 

Here is the latest information regarding the Lemon Creek fuel spill for August 15, 2013.


Breaking News – Data Being Compiled for Public Release

Executive Flight Centre’s environmental science consultant, SNC Lavalin, has completed processing the full range of data from the air, water, soil and sediment sampling that occurred between July 28th and August 9th. Sampling activities have been conducted in accordance with guidance provided by the Ministry of Environment. The Interior Health Authority and the BC Ministry of Environment used these same data sets to make the decisions which led to the removal the water bans.
In cooperation with the BC MoE and the IHA, these data sets are being organized into a format to share with the public, stakeholders and other agencies early next week.

 

Breaking News – Agricultural Land Testing Results

SNC Lavalin experts, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, have collected vegetation and soil samples in support of the program of assessment for agricultural land. The Kootenay Organic Growers Society is also working closely with the various agencies on its members behalf.
Results of the soil tests are currently being communicated to individual farms by the Ministry of Agriculture. A broader update regarding the assessment of agricultural soil health in the Slocan Valley area will be provided shortly.

 

Ongoing & Long Term Monitoring Plans Being Developed

Executive Flight Centre is committed to ongoing and long-term monitoring plans for assessing the environmental impact to fish, wildlife, water and other criteria. SNC Lavalin is currently developing plans, for review and approval by MoE, to monitor the overall health of the river system.
These long-term monitoring plans will be implemented immediately following MoE’s declaration that the cleaning efforts have achieved the desired endpoints.

 

Wells, Intakes and Water Quality

Water quality meets the Canadian Guidelines for Drinking Water and Interior Health Authority (IHA) has lifted all bans.
Residents are advised to flush their water systems in accordance with the Interior Health Authority’s recommended process outlined in the document “Procedure for Flushing a Domestic Water System after a Do Not Use Water Advisory” which is located at www.interiorhealth.ca. Copies of this advisory are available at the Recovery Centre.


IHA does not intend to sample private water supplies generally, although they will be collecting a set of audit samples to validate data they have received from other sources. Residents on private water supplies (wells and intakes) are advised of the following:

IHA is not recommending testing of private water supplies based on their risk assessment and the sample results they reviewed. If, however, residents want to have their water tested then IHA will recommend laboratories capable of doing that testing and IHA can assist them in interpreting the results.

Environmental Health Officers are available to answer questions and provide advice and can be reached at 250.420.2220.

 

Air Quality & Odors

Atmospheric concentrations have been well within established government standards. Due to the hot weather, the jet fuel is readily evaporating (the preferred method of clean-up) but this does cause some odor. Interior Health advises everyone that smell alone does not constitute a health hazard.
Recovery Centre Facilities Extended until Monday August 19th

Fewer people are using the showers and potable water facilities set up at the Recovery Centre as most residents of the Slocan Valley are successfully reactivating their water systems. At this time, shower and water service has been extended until the end of the day Monday August 19th while Quantum Murray specialists address residents’ inquiries.

In a few isolated circumstances, some residents’ water intakes are in proximity to localized flushing activities and, out of respect for these residents, EFC has extended the facilities availability. Potable water is available at the Junction of Highway 6 and Lemon Creek Road and at the Recovery Centre in Winlaw.

 

Recovery Manager Hired

To assist in the transition from Community Resiliency to Community Recovery, the Regional District of Central Kootenay has hired Nelle Maxey as the Recovery Manager. Nelle is responsible for maintaining public information boards, answering calls, supervising the facility, working with the response team’s Information Officer, attending local meetings and communicating the community’s needs to the relevant agencies.

 

Shoreline Clean-up and Assessment Technique (SCAT)

Executive Flight Centre has engaged Polaris Applied Sciences from Kirkland, Washington to conduct a Shoreline Clean-up & Assessment Technique, or SCAT. A Polaris scientist remains with the clean-up team to help guide daily activities and follow up on isolated reports of product in the environment.

 

Ongoing Cleaning Efforts

Quantum Murray is progressing with the clean-up efforts. The response effort continues to focus on those areas identified by the SCAT Assessment.

Light “flushing” activities are being conducted by field crews with hoses and clean water. This allows responders to free from streambanks and vegetation to make it available for evaporation or collection.

This process is working and allows the product to either evaporate or be collected in absorbent booms – but may cause people in the vicinity to smell the jet fuel. IHA advises that this smell is not a health hazard at these levels; however, if you feel that your health is being impacted – please visit your personal physician.

 

Quantum Murray has focused its clean-up efforts in Lemon Creek and some small isolated pockets in the Slocan River. Smaller boom setups, including both containment and absorbent booms and pads, are used for localized flushing operations on a reach-by-reach basis. Quantum Murray continues to take all appropriate steps to ensure the residual contamination is captured and removed to a licensed waste facility.

 

The Public Eye

Your help has been beneficial in helping us to identify locations where fuel is present. If you spot a site, identify the exact location and forward the information along with your name and contact to the Executive Flight Centre at (or call the toll free number at 1-855-399-1694).

 

The information will be forwarded to Quantum Murray which will investigate the area and, if necessary, dispatch a response clean-up crew to the site. This is particularly important for private landowners who may be required to grant access to the river from their property.

 


Claims

The cause and circumstance surrounding the incident are still under investigation by Transport Canada and by EFC’s safety team. While the investigation continues, anyone who may have questions about claims must follow the procedure as set out by the insurance company. Leona Ashcroft, an insurance specialist in Nelson, has a special claims number you can contact her at:

Leona G. Ashcroft, CIP Branch Manager ClaimsPro Inc.,
A division of SCM Insurance Services
2032- 622 Front Street, Nelson, BC V1L 4B7
Toll free: 1 – 800-880-8384
| www.scm-claimspro.ca

 

Communications

Executive Flight Centre is committed to keeping you informed. Our dedicated website at www.lemoncreekresponse.ca is your source for information and the place to leave comments and questions (). The Executive Flight Centre toll free information line is now in operation. The number is 1-855-399-1694 and will be staffed daily from 8:00am-4:00pm. Please leave us a message if you are calling outside those hours. We will return all phone calls and respond to all e-mails. As well, staff from EFC will be in the area to monitor progress and respond to concerns. We know how important it is to have someone to talk to.

 

Key Contacts:
Questions? Need more information? Here are the key contacts to call:

 

Executive Flight Centre:
Response website: www.lemoncreekresponse.ca
Toll free: 1-855-399-1694 (staffed 8:00am-4:00pm PDT)

Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK): 1-800-268-7325

Ministry of Environment (Nelson Office): 250-354-6333 (Mon-Fri)

Interior Health Authority- Health Protection: 250-420-2220

Ministry of Agriculture: 1-888-221-7141

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure: 250-387-3198

Claims inquiries: 1-800-880-8384

Media Inquiries: Jonathan Lok ()


Information updates will be posted on a regular basis. Thank-you.