Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Apr 26/02) - The amount of hazardous spills reported in the Inuvik area has doubled in the last two years, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

A summary of the reported chemical, corrosive, flammable and toxic material spills in 2001, was due largely to an increase in oil and gas activity and but also due to diligent companies filing reports.

"We've seen significant increase in the over-all number of spills being reported," said Emery Paquin, director of the environmental protection services. "We've seen that trend continue into 2002."

The North Slave Region reported 52 per cent of spills and the Inuvik region had 26 per cent.

"Inuvik and the North Slave region have seen the largest increase in spills reported," he said.

Each year, the department compiles a summary of spills that were reported through a service operated by federal and territorial governments with the Inuvialuit Land Administration is also a signatory.

The purpose of the summary is to provide public awareness and to spot trends.

The spills are broken down by product categories with fuel oil, lube oils, used oils and gasoline making up 73 per cent of all spills territorial-wide.

"Hydrocarbons by far make up the largest number of total spills," Paquin said.

He says most reported spills are small and some even too small to be reported as the size of the spill must meet or exceed a threshold volume specific to each category.

"What we're seeing is an increase in numbers in spills that are below that volume threshold, but are still being reported," he said.

With flammable liquids, such as fuel oil or gasoline the reporting threshold is 100 litres. With acids or other corrosives the threshold is 5 litres. Lubricating oils, anti-freeze, glycol and other miscellaneous products have a 50 litre threshold.

Chemicals all carry different thresholds depending on level of toxicity.

"It depends on the product and the classification of that product under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act," he said.