CREOSOTE CONTAMINATION FOUND, FURTHER TESTING NEEDED

Released on September 17, 2004

Environmental testing in a residential area in the Prince Albert's northeast has found deeply-buried pockets of creosote.

Creosote was found, at depths between 15 and 17 feet, in two samples taken on public property in the McCraney Crescent area. Other samples in the area, including five in a park area, showed no contamination.

"It's important for people to understand that creosote, at the concentrations and depth of these samples, does not pose a risk to residents' health," Saskatchewan Environment's Environmental Protection Executive Director Joe Muldoon said. "We want to collect additional information to find out exactly how much creosote is present, and where, then work with the City and those affected to determine appropriate next steps."

Saskatchewan Environment, in co-operation with the City of Prince Albert, conducted the testing this summer. Further sampling, to be done later this month, will determine if creosote is present on any private properties. The monitoring in Riverview is part of the ongoing assessment of areas adjacent to known creosote contamination on the former sites of two wood treatment facilities, south and west of the neighbourhood.

The positive samples found this summer are believed to be associated with an old drainage channel, now filled in, that likely functioned as a sewer many years ago. Aerial photos show this channel as a continuation of a channel draining the former Saskatchewan Forest Products and Domtar wood treatment sites, then on the city's outskirts.

Beginning the week of September 20th, testing will be conducted in several residential yards. A drilling rig, small enough to be mounted on an all-terrain vehicle, will be used to take the samples. Affected homeowners, as well as those on adjacent properties, have already been contacted.

"We are grateful for homeowners' co-operation in allowing additional drilling," Prince Albert Mayor Jim Stiglitz said. "The creosote appears to be deep and contained to a small area; the additional information will allow us to confirm this."

Results from the new sampling will be made public as soon as they are available, likely by mid-October. Information will be presented at an open house, with staff from Saskatchewan Environment, the City of Prince Albert, and the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region on hand to answer questions.

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For More Information, Contact:

Joe Muldoon Saskatchewan Environment Regina Phone: (306) 787-6178	Denton Yeo City of Prince Albert Prince Albert Phone: (306) 953-4900
Dr. Leo Lanoie Prince Albert Parkland Health Region Prince Albert Phone: (306) 765-6600