Cleanup at a wetland area contaminated with an oily black substance continued Monday.
Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority staff have visited the site of the contamination, located on a wooded path between Lafarge Canada and First Student school bus depot off Industrial Court A and an adjacent wetland.
Conservation Authority general manager Corrina Barrett said so far there are no signs the contamination has entered the Fort Creek branch of the creek.
Although the area is under the Conservation Authority's jurisdiction, its mandate does not include the cleanup of such pollution on private property, said Barrett.
Reached by email on Monday, City of Sault Ste. Marie spokesperson Tessa Vecchio said Public Works and Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services took immediate action on Friday evening to mitigate potential damages ahead of the onset of rain.
"It’s important to acknowledge the gravity of the situation regarding oil spills and ensure that all necessary measures are taken in a timely and efficient manner," said Vecchio.
Staff with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks continued to be on the now-snow-covered scene on Monday, with a large pumper truck and other machinery staged on adjacent First Student property.
First Student communications manager Jen Biddenger said in an email on Monday the company has been working with the city's Public Works department to address the situation since the company was made aware of it.
"Crews acted quickly to contain the substance and cleanup continues. The source is still being determined," she said.
SooToday reached out to the ministry for comment on Friday but so far no response has been provided.
When it was discovered on Friday, the substance had travelled the length of the path and into an adjacent wetland, very close to Fort Creek. It was found by a neighbourhood man walking through the trail as a shortcut and reported it to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
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