Snowplow in ice not leaking fuel: ENR
Large truck remains half submerged near Jolliffe Island as of yesterday; plan to remove it unclear
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A truck that went through the ice on Yellowknife Bay late Sunday morning is not leaking fuel, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR)which assessed the site that day.
A snowplow was clearing the path for upcoming dog sled races when it plunged through the ice near the southern tip of Jolliffe Island. - Walter Strong/NNSL photo |
In an e-mail Judy McLinton stated an ENR officer attended the site near Jolliffe Island once the incident was reported and did not see any sheen from fuel on the ice. The officer also noted the fuel tanks were above the ice, according to McLinton.
"The company is putting together a plan to remove the truck from the ice. ENR will continue to monitor the situation," stated McLinton.
The truck, belonging to Aurora Telecom Services, was still stuck in the ice yesterday morning. No one was working to remove it when Yellowknifer visited the scene. The truck had been clearing a path for the Canadian Championship Dog Derby set to begin on Friday.
The truck was on the south side of Jolliffe Island, about 30 feet from the island's shoreline when the back end of it went through the ice.
"Aurora Telecom has done its due diligence," an Aurora Telcom Services employee who declined to give his name told Yellowknifer Sunday.
"We are waiting on further directions," he said when asked what the plan is to remove it.
A representative of the company couldn't be reached for further comment by press time.
A temporary plastic fence erected around the truck was still there yesterday morning.
Meanwhile, Cory Vanthuyne, the site supervisor for the Long John Jamboree, Yellowknife's annual winter festival which gets underway on Friday on the bay, said he is aware of the situation. He said he has been testing ice thickness around the jamboree site and feels that the ice is safe. The truck went through the ice about three-quarters of a kilometre away from the jamboree site.
"It looked like they were cutting the trail a little bit closer to the island than what they have done in years past," Vanthuyne said. "The least depth I had was 25 inches and the thickest I had was 37 inches. The 37 inches was right out front in the middle of the bay where the Burn on the Bay structure is."
Vanthuyne said he has been told by nearby residents that it is necessary to be careful around Jolliffe Island because of the water currents flowing through there which can weaken the ice.
"You just never know. It could be that someone cut a bunch of ice fishing holes there two weeks ago. I just know you have to be careful around Jolliffe Island because of the undercurrents there."
Vanthuyne said people worried about their vehicles being parked on the ice for the jamboree should simply park on shore and walk.
"Something we've always advocated is to park on land and walk down. Park over by the Arnica Inn - the big open site by the blue bins and walk down. Or take local transit. We've always advocated that," Vanthuyne said.
"It's individuals obviously that have to make their own choices and certainly the jamboree can't be held responsible for those choices."
The organizers of the dog derby had returned calls from Yellowknifer as of press time.
