Location: Wabamun, AB

QMLP was contacted to assist our client in the containment and clean-up of approximately 500,000 L of Bunker ‘C’ and pole treatment oil which was released into Wabamun Lake after a train derailment.

QMLP was responsible for the following:

• Initiating clean-up operations on the Shoreline
• Ensuring all staff involved in clean-up operations were properly trained
• Advising and consulting with CN on overall operations

QMLP initiated a command system for shoreline operations and identified the need for an overall management team that would co-ordinate land/water operations and develop a comprehensive plan to deal with delicate environmental issues. Professional SCAT advisors were contacted and a specialty response company was brought in.

QMLP command staff worked closely with the client and the specialty response company to coordinate clean-up operations. It was determined that this incident was going to require additional resources on a large scale. QMLP responded with equipment, staff and materials.

QMLP’s management team was responsible for the following tasks on a daily basis:

• Deployment of approximately 250 staff for land and water cleanup operations.
• In charge of training staff in cleanup operations and providing specially trained strike teams to:
  - Cut and dispose of contaminated reeds
  - Remove gross oil from environmentally sensitive areas
  - Conduct various shoreline treatment procedures
• Providing containment operations to prevent further migration of spilled product and reoiling of cleaned areas.
• Operation of six watercraft to support land and water operations.
• Resource Management:
  - Provided a long-term plan that ensured continuity of clean-up operations
  - Supply/dispersal of materials and equipment for the entire clean-up operations

QMLP's management team was able to provide training and employment to many members of the local First Nations community (mostly members of Paul Band). Many of these workers remained employed with QMLP after the spill cleanup was concluded.

Wabamun Lake is one of the largest spill response incidents in Canadian history. QMLP was instrumental in ensuring that this operation ran smoothly and efficiently in a technically difficult environment.

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