Hazardous Materials Incident

Hazardous Materials Incident

The responsibility to contain and clean up a hazmat spill rests with those responsible for the spill. The EOC may provide advice and monitor the situation to ensure that an adequate job is being done. If, however, the spiller is unknown or is incapable of or unwilling to take prompt action, the EOC will arrange for the work to be done with costs to be recovered from the spiller or receiver of the dangerous goods. The EOC will sanction the immediate containment and clean up of any spill if there is a threat to life, property or the environment. Dangerous goods are those substances detailed in Transport Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act.

Large volumes of identified hazardous materials product are shipped by road due to the closure of Rail America freight service (in January 2002) on Vancouver Island in addition to those products that were already transported by road. These identified products are shipped via transportation corridors that run through residential and commercial areas.