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The Ministry of the Environment has confirmed it is investigating the spill of almost one million cubic metres of raw sewage into the Ottawa River in the summer of 2006.
“The MOE has been conducting its own investigation as well,” said John Karapita, media spokesman for the Ontario Minister of Environment John Gerritsen.
MOE spokesman John Steele also confirmed this morning that the MOE investigation began two days ago. Steele said the investigations and enforcement branch is looking into whether or not the mandatory protocols were followed by the city and whether or not city officials informed the ministry of the spill “forthwith.”
Steele said MOE investigators will look at the type of notification that must be made under the province’s Environmental Protection Act.
“What we ask for and what is required by law is that the MOE be notified,” he said. “When and from who (the notification was made) will be looked into.”
From Aug. 1, 2006 to Aug. 15, 2006 the city confirmed 960,000 cubic metres of raw sewage spilled into the Ottawa River after a sewer gate jammed. A maintenance worker discovered the accident sometime in the afternoon of Aug. 15.
Steel said once the city discovered the spill it should have notified the MOE immediately. The city said last week, after it made the news of the spill public, that the MOE had been informed a few days later.
Steele said the city is also required to mitigate possible adverse effects from a spill. The MOE launched its investigation after learning Ottawa’s public health department said, in its 2007 Beach Report, there was potential for adverse effects from the spill.
The MOE doesn’t know how long its investigation will take but any charges would have to be laid before the end of July as the ministry has two years minus one day to lay charges.
Meanwhile, the city has said an independent investigator should be appointed by Wednesday to get to the bottom of the incident. City manager Kent Kirkpatrick has already indicated an internal investigation is being conducted into how the city managed the spill and notification – or lack of same—of senior officials.
Ottawa Sun