Josh Stewart

Josh Stewart of Alberta Environment commented on the cleanup at the site of the accident, saying it could take several weeks to properly clean the site."At this point, it is hard to say just how long it will take," said Stewart.

Josh Stewart, a spokesman for Alberta Environment, said that some sulphur dioxide, sulphur compounds and particulates were released during the incident, but the levels fell within acceptable environmental limits.

"There were no public impacts, no environmental impacts and none of the workers on site were affected," he said.

We've compiled all the evidence," Alberta Environment spokesman Josh Stewart told The Canadian Press on Friday."Right now we're going through it to evaluate whether or not we'll be passing charges along to Alberta Justice."

The decision on charges against the company that operates the pond, Syncrude Canada Ltd., is expected to be made by the end of August, said Stewart.

"The maximum penalty for this under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act is a $1-million fine," he said.

Josh Stewart, a spokesman for Alberta Environment, said that some sulphur dioxide, sulphur compounds and particulates were released during the incident, but the levels fell within acceptable environmental limits.

#147There were no public impacts, no environmental impacts and none of the workers on site were affected,#8216#8216 he said.

It took approximately 45 minutes to extinguish the fire, adds Josh Stewart, spokesman for Alberta Environment.
...
Prompted by concerns surrounding the H2S levels, Alberta Environment deployed ASERT (Alberta Environment Support and Emergency Response Team) and a MAML (mobile air monitoring laboratory) to the fire scene over worries surrounding the H2S levels, Stewart says.After the fire, hydrogen sulphide levels were at levels that were not of "great human concern," Stewart says."None of the air quality was ever at risk downwind."

Though ASERT has pulled out, Alberta Environment will still be involved with Suncor's internal investigation."We're looking at whether or not there was a hydrogen sulphide leak, or if something before hand [was] connected with the fire at all," Stewart says.The EUB is also investigating.

Alberta Environment spokesman Josh Stewart says a conviction for the charges being considered would carry a maximum penalty of $1 million.

We've compiled all the evidence," Alberta Environment spokesman Josh Stewart told The Canadian Press on Friday."Right now we're going through it to evaluate whether or not we'll be passing charges along to Alberta Justice."

The decision on charges against the company that operates the pond, Syncrude Canada Ltd., is expected to be made by the end of August, said Stewart.

"The maximum penalty for this under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act is a $1-million fine," he said.

Alberta Environment spokesman Josh Stewart says some gas containing sulphur dioxide, sulphur compounds and particulates was released during the fire.

But he says the amount thrown off was within acceptable limits.

Alberta Environment spokesman Josh Stewart said his department has been testing the area since the early 1970s, including a water study that involved the area's First Nations and industry.

"In 30 years, we haven't seen an increase in those numbers," he said of the contaminants cited in the study, which he noted his ministry has yet to receive."The amount of [ministry] monitoring is extensive on the Athabasca River," he added.

Timoney's study may have taken hydrocarbon samples from one day only and on sediment that was recently eroded, Stewart said, which may have skewed his findings.

Alberta Environment spokesman Josh Stewart said his department has been testing the area since the early 1970s, including a water study that involved the area's First Nations and industry.

"In 30 years, we haven't seen an increase in those numbers," he said of the contaminants cited in the study, which he noted his ministry has yet to receive.

"The amount of [ministry] monitoring is extensive on the Athabasca River," he added.

Timoney's study may have taken hydrocarbon samples from one day only and on sediment that was recently eroded, Stewart said, which may have skewed his findings.