By Spencer Sterritt

Communication over serious fuel spill off Nanoose Bay shores criticized by area First Nations

Feb 26, 2018 | 4:42 PM

NANAIMO — A First Nation band gravely concerned about the 30,000 litres of fuel spilled into the Strait of Georgia says they found out about the event the same time everyone else did.

Tom Bob, a councillor and land manager with the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation in Nanoose Bay, said their community learned about the major spill from a Canadian military ship on social media, the day after it happened.

“There was no contact from the federal government or Department of National Defence. And here we are, three days later,” he told NanaimoNewsNOW. Since then, Bob said one email was returned but no one from a spill response team had been in touch.

On Sunday afternoon, when Bob found out about the spill off their shores, Maritime Forces Pacific announced the HMCS Calgary spilled 30,000 litres of fuel into the water when it was transferring fuel stores aboard the ship.

A report from the Ministry of Environment said the spill started off Nanoose Bay shores and continued as the ship sailed for several hours to roughly 100 km southeast of Tsawwassen.

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Bob said the lack of communication with Snaw-Naw-As and Nanoose Bay, where not so much as a news release was sent out, showed a clear lack of respect, especially since the Department of National Defence has a base in Nanoose Harbour.

“We’re a call away, we’re neighbours, building relationships and this certainly doesn’t look like good faith for relationship building when there’s no contact.”

At the time of the spill, Bob said the wind was blowing out of their harbour, pushing any spilled fuel away. But he said it was terrifying to think what would have happened if the wind was pushing in a different direction towards their shellfish harvesting operation.

“With a spill that significant, we’re worried about the environment, we’re worried about our shellfish, not just in our bay but along the coastline of our neighbours also. The clam harvesting (we do) is quite significant to our Nation and our employees.”

The delay of notifying community and the public was the subject of much harsh criticism online, with many people commenting to NanaimoNewsNOW they were wondering where our “world-class oil spill response plan” was.

The Department of National Defence told NanaimoNewsNOW they added four ships to the area on Monday, pollution scanning flights are planned and crews in Nanoose Bay are on standby.

Neither the Department of National Defence nor Emergency Management BC commented on what comprises the province’s spill response plan and did not answer specific questions about why the public was notified a day-and-a-half after the spill started.

If anyone does see unevaporated fuel in the water they’re urged to immediately call the Regional Joint Operations Centre.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit