A significant cleanup effort is underway on chemin Yach in the Municipality of Thorne after a snowmobile trail groomer tipped into a pond last month and leaked hydraulic oil and diesel fuel into the water.
The incident occurred when a groomer belonging to the Pontiac Snowmobile Drivers’ Association (PSDA) went off its trail around 400 chemin Yach on Mar. 15.
It was reported to Quebec’s Ministry of Environment by a concerned citizen on Mar. 21, and Thorne director general Jessica Ménard said the province notified the municipality of the spill on Mar. 26.
In a presentation to Thorne council on Apr. 14, Thorne councillor and environment committee chair Christine Anderson said she understood the grooming machine was stuck in the pond for some time before it was removed, and that when the machine was finally pulled out, a significant amount of fuel and oil had spilled out.
The Ministry of Environment could not confirm how much had been leaked, but spokesperson Louis Potvin said the ministry conducted an investigation that confirmed the PSDA was responsible for the incident, and that the association has since had to hire a company to clean up the spill.
THE EQUITY made several requests to speak with a representative of the PSDA to learn more about the circumstances that led to this incident, but did not hear back before publication deadline.
Anderson said Gatineau-based environmental cleanup company Klondike has been hired for the work, which she said has been underway since before Easter weekend.
“The firm first implemented containment measures for the contaminated area, followed by soil excavation and the pumping of contaminated water from a watercourse,” Potvin confirmed.
“Work is still ongoing and will conclude once soil and water analyses confirm that the site has returned to compliance,” he added.
“When a specialized company is responsible for recovering materials following a spill, the Ministry follows up directly with that company to verify the progress of the work. An inspector maintains direct contact with the company, and regular follow-ups are conducted to ensure the work is proceeding properly.”
He said the incident is still under review by the Ministry, and that legal action is not ruled out to ensure the site returns to compliance.
Anderson said though the heavy machinery needed for the operation has caused significant damage to chemin Mountain and chemin Yach, Klondike is committed to restoring the roads to their original condition.
