SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A broken pipe at the Ekati diamond mine in late January led to a spill of an estimated 500,000 to 3 million litres of kimberlite tailings which froze in place, according to spill reports.

The Ekati diamond mine was the site of a kimberlite spill, estimated at between 500,000 and 3 million litres Jan. 27. - NNSL file photo

Scott Stewart, the Department of Lands regional superintendent for the North Slave region, downplayed the risk of environmental impact.

"There really could not be any environmental impact from that spill based on the location," he said last week. "Essentially it's on the lip of the pit where this occurred. It looks basically like it is just blast rock underneath."

The spill took place Jan. 26 when the elbow joint of a pipe broke and was noted in an inspection report of the site Jan. 27 by the Department of Lands. It was also reported to the spills line the same day as the inspection.

Kimberlite tailings is a byproduct of diamond mining and contains processed ore crushed to about half a millimetre in size. He described the tailings going through the pipe as hot and wet, with the consistency of a slurry.

Stewart said the material hasn't been chemically processed, although deferred to the company to provide further details about the material.

Yellowknifer requested an interview last week, but was instead provided an e-mailed statement from CEO Brendan Bell.

The spill was "reported right away," the statement says, but since the GNWT inspector deemed the spill isn't an environmental threat, it will be rechecked once snow and ice has cleared.

"Dominion Diamond is committed to mining in a safe and environmentally responsible way, and making sure the mine area is clean and safe for people, plants, and animals," the statement says. Mine operations were not impacted by the spill, stated Bell.

The company inspects its kimberlite pipelines several times a day, according to the statement.

Stewart said the area will be re-checked once it isn't covered in snow to get a better sense of the spill site.

He said the company is expected to clean up the material, which will go into a holding area it was originally destined for before the pipe broke.

Stewart said there won't be a fine or legal implication for the company as long as the inspector is happy with the cleanup.

In 2008, a 4.7 million litre spill of kimberlite at Ekati covered 37,000 square metres and was described as not harmful to the environment.