An Arrow Transportation truck, en route from Mount Polley Mine to Vancouver on Feb. 20, turned over, spilling its load of 25,000 to 30,000 kilograms of copper concentrate onto the frozen South Hawks Creek.
The truck and trailer have been removed and work continues on removing the concentrate.
Norm Fallows, senior environmental emergency response officer with the B.C. Ministry of Environment, says an estimated 200 litres of diesel from the saddle tanks was also spilled at the site.
He says the creek is fish-bearing, though it’s not known if that particular area of the creek is.
The one-vehicle accident occurred where Mountain House Road joins Likely Road. Hazco Environmental Services Arrow Transportation have been at the site.
Further site clean-up is in the works, and assessments will be done to ensure that the water quality at South Hawks Creek isn’t being compromised.
Fallows says the environmental impact is likely minimal. No one was injured.