Enterprise (Feb 24/03) - About 10,000 litres of diesel fuel spilled when a tanker truck overturned last week near Enterprise.

The spill occurred roughly 500 metres from the Hay River, but the waterway was unaffected, officials said.

Darrell Dean of Stan Dean and Sons Ltd. burns diesel fuel spilled when a tanker truck overturned last week south of Enterprise. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo -

"At this point we're confident no fuel has left the immediate site of the accident," says Emery Paquin, the director of the GNWT's Environmental Protection Service.

Paquin notes snow and cold temperatures help contain such spills.

The accident occurred at about 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 19, about two kilometres south of Enterprise.

Const. Brock Linaker of the RCMP Highway Patrol says it appears the right wheels of the truck went off the edge of the pavement and into snow, drawing the vehicle into the ditch. It rolled over and came to rest on the driver's side.

The driver was uninjured. No charges have been laid.

The truck was operated by ARS Trucking and Welding of Edmonton.

The fuel was being hauled north for Echo Bay Mines. In all, the B-train rig was carrying 40,000 litres of diesel.

One of the tanks spilled about half its contents.

Paquin says a cleanup was immediately initiated by ARS Trucking. The firm contracted Bassett Petroleum of Hay River to pump out the fuel remaining in the tanks.

Stan Dean and Sons Ltd. of Hay River began cleanup of the site, again under contract to ARS Trucking.

The cleanup involved burning the spilled fuel. Contaminated snow and soil will also be removed to a DIAND-approved pit about 20 kilometres north of Enterprise.

The fuel can be recovered when the snow melts in the spring.

The site of the accident will also be inspected in the spring to ensure it is fully cleaned up.

Paquin says such accidents are not unusual on NWT highways, noting there are typically between 10 and 20 a year.

"This one would rate as a fairly large spill."