Fort Simpson (July 30/04) - Workers for Enbridge Pipelines are still mopping up after an estimated 12,000-litre crude oil spill that was discovered along the pipeline route on July 13.

A black bear is believed to have opened a valve allowing the oil to seep out, according to a preliminary incident report that Enbridge officials filed with territorial and federal regulators.

Enbridge workers practise their emergency response skills during annual mock oil spill containment and clean-up exercises.

Oily bear tracks and claw marks were reportedly found in the area of the valve site, located on the south side of the Mackenzie River, approximately eight kilometres from Fort Simpson.

The incident report states that the bruin apparently pulled off the culvert lid and tugged at a fibre bag in the culvert. The bag caught on a drain valve, opening it a quarter turn. The report also notes that the drain valve was not plugged and the valve below the flange was left in the open position, which contributed to the mishap.

Ian LaCouvee, manager of public affairs for Enbridge in Calgary, said the flow from the pipeline was "a trickle," which is why the company's automated system didn't detect a drop in pressure.

After the spill was noticed from the air, the line was shut down for about seven hours. The spilt crude oil has been pumped out of the culvert and into barrels. The petroleum product will be decontaminated and re-injected into the pipeline, LaCouvee said.

Damage to the nearby muskeg and grass was noted. The bear is the only animal known to have come into contact with the spill.

Any contaminated soil that can be readily excavated is to be removed from the site, according to the report. Due to the remoteness of the spill site, crews will likely have to complete the excavation in the winter when large equipment can be brought onto the muskeg. LaCouvee said the cost of clean-up will likely be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Enbridge plans to chain and lock its culvert lids to prevent any similar incidents in the future.

Considering the circumstances, "it would be rare (in) something like that charges would be laid," said Jamie Kereliuk, environmental specialist with the National Energy Board (NEB) in Calgary.

"They immediately implemented their emergency response plan and took action," Kereliuk said of Enbridge.

The NEB is the lead regulatory agency in overseeing the clean-up, but, Kereliuk noted, it works co-operatively with resource officers for the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, who are based in Fort Simpson.