British Columbia

Odour, gasoline-like substance that shut down Trans Mountain section traced to residence, province says

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by Email

Pipeline was temporarily shut in north Surrey while crews investigated

Trans Mountain crews investigate an odour complaint and reports of a gasoline-like substance in a ditch near the Trans Mountain pipeline in Surrey, B.C. (Curtis Kreklau/CBC News)

The discovery of a gasoline-like substance that led to the shutdown of a section of the Trans Mountain pipeline has been traced to a residential home, according to the B.C. Ministry of Environment.

The pipeline was shut down Saturday in north Surrey, B.C., as crews investigated an odour complaint and a substance found in a ditch.

The pipeline was turned off as a precautionary measure, according to a statement from Trans Mountain.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to Assistant Fire Chief Shelley Morris, a petroleum-like product was found by fire crews on Saturday night around 11 p.m. PT, after they responded to a call in the area of Douglas Road and Kalmar Road.

Morris had said there was no way for fire officials to verify where the product came from and contacted Trans Mountain.

Cleanup to be completed late Monday

On Monday afternoon, crews were on site filling up holes they had earlier drilled into the ground to determine whether the pipeline was leaking.

Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis said fuel appeared to have been discarded in two areas in a ditch near the residential home.

He said city crews vacuumed out the fuel until the odour dissipated.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's not yet known who discarded the fuel, but Garis said the city has asked the Ministry of Environment to investigate.

"Hopefully they'll follow up and canvass the neighbours and see if anybody observed anything."

'No risk to the public'

A statement from Trans Mountain said no evidence had been found that the pipeline was the source.

"We are doing air monitoring in the area and there is no risk to the public at this time," it said.

ADVERTISEMENT

The existing Trans Mountain pipeline was owned by Kinder Morgan Canada until earlier this year, when the federal government bought it for $4.5 billion.

The Federal Court of Appeal has quashed Ottawa's approval of a plan to triple the pipeline's capacity, ruling it was done without a proper review of environmental impacts or adequate consultation of Indigenous people.

With files from The Canadian Press

Read more from CBC British Columbia