Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, March 26, 2007

SOUTH SLAVE - No lasting effects are expected from a large spill of fertilizer just north of the NWT/Alberta border late last month.

On Feb. 27, approximately 22 metric tonnes of ammonium nitrate - a fertilizer used to make explosives - spilled on Highway 1, a couple of hundred metres from the border.

Emery Paquin, the director of environmental protection with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said a transport truck was stopped on the edge of the highway when it was hit by another transport truck heading north.

The stopped vehicle was damaged and lost its product.

"It certainly was a major spill with respect to quantity," Paquin said.

However, he noted from an environmental standpoint the spilled material was fertilizer and no water bodies were affected.

The ammonium nitrate was headed north to a mine. When mixed with diesel fuel, it becomes an explosive.

"On its own, there is no explosive potential," Paquin said.

The spilled ammonium nitrate was scooped up along with snow and was taken to a landfill in Yellowknife.

While the clean-up was proceeding, traffic on the highway was restricted to one lane.

The spilled product was being transported by Edge Transportation Services. Paquin said, as a matter of course, the spill site will be inspected again in the spring.

No charges are expected in connection with the spill.