3:45 p.m. update:
Algoma Public Health (APH) has issued a public advisory warning residents downstream from Algoma Steel not to consume, swim or bathe in water drawn from the St. Marys River. Wells located close to the shoreline may also be contaminated.
The river should also not be used for recreational purposes, such as kayaking and fishing, until further notice.
The municipal drinking water system has not been impacted by this incident.
Additional information can be read here.
11 a.m. update:
Algoma Steel has released the following statement regarding the spill:
A quantity of oil left our site early this morning and entered the adjacent waterway. The source of the spill has been safely contained.
The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Spills Action Centre, the Canadian Coast Guard and the City of Sault Ste. Marie have been notified and we are currently coordinating with officials, deploying equipment, resources and personnel to mitigate any possible impact to the environment.
Original story:
Emergency crews are on site of a reported chemical spill near Purvis Marine facilities.
The spill was reported around 8:30 a.m.
Purvis Marine currently has a tanker vessel, the AlgoCanada, docked at the facility. Algoma Central Corp. said the spill did not originate from its vessel the AlgoCanada.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.