Suncor Energy has experienced another pipeline spill and crews are working to clean up the problem. According to reports the spill involves 20,000 litres of diluent at the oilsands facility for the company, situated to the north of Fort McMurray. Nicole Fisher, the spokesperson for Suncor, explained that at approximately 3 a.m. company safety staff “responded to a notification from our leak detection system. The leak detection system notified us right away and we were able to respond within minutes and the containment system worked as intended. We will continue to cooperate with the Alberta Energy Regulators and monitor the area where the incident occurred.” Fisher did not go into detail about the cause of the spill or the specific chemical which leaked out, but she did state that no further environmental risks are expected.

In recent years there have been a number of pipeline spills and problems, and the latest at Suncor Energy provides additional fodder for those who object to the energy giant on environmental grounds. In spite of safety precautions and numerous protocols in place to prevent any leaks there have been several incidents which have caused concern to the public. The involvement of the Alberta Energy Regulator does offer some assurances though because this ensures that proper clean up and monitoring will be mandatory. Further details about the spill may be revealed in coming days and weeks, but for right now few details have been released. The chemical which spilled may never be identified to the public but the energy agency should have access to this information in order to assess and monitor any environmental impact from the pipeline spill.