Esquimalt fuel spill leaves fishing, beaches closed nearly 4 months later
Nearly four months after one of the largest fuel spills in recent West Coast history, Esquimalt Harbour remains closed to fishing and local First Nations can't use their beach.
As much as 30,000 litres of diesel spilled into Esquimalt Harbour in May after high winds pushed a barge ashore in Plumper Bay.
At the time, officials with Western Canada Marine Response Corporation said it was one of the largest spills on the West Coast in decades, but a quick response by clean up crews managed to mop up much of the fuel before it hit the shoreline just west of Victoria.
Now, the Coast Guard says clean-up of the beaches and sediment is completed, but diesel is expected to continue to dissipate during storms and changes in the tide over the next few months.
To keep an eye on the situation Vancouver Pile Driving, which owned the barge, has agreed to carry out a monitoring program over the next two years.
The company did not respond to the CBC's request for comment
Beaches and fishing remain closed
A notice from Fisheries and Oceans Canada says Esquimalt Harbour will remain closed to all fishing until testing is done to ensure there's no risk to human health.
The beach in Plumper Bay, which is shared by the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations, also remains closed because of pollution.
The First Nations Health Authority is working to determine when the beach is safe to reopen, but it's not clear when that will happen.
"We need to receive data that shows us that there is no impact to or any risk to public health when folks are going down to the waterfront," said spokesperson Gethsemane Luttrell.
Esquimalt Nation Chief Andy Thomas says it's frustrating because the area was just recovering from decades of commercial use.
"It was just starting to come back and one diesel spill put it back to where we can't even walk on the beach now," Thomas told CBC News last week.
Thomas says there has been a lack of coordination between the agencies involved in the clean up and it's been difficult for the community to get information.
"It's been frustrating. They need to have a better way for the clean up, to make it happen, to make sure it's going to happen in a good way," he said.
