Cleanup of the site of a Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) derailment near Cherry Creek west of Kamloops is continuing, with the last of the derailed cars scheduled to be removed on Monday, Nov. 10.
The derailment took place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, with one locomotive, four cars loaded with aviation fuel, five cars loaded with powdered gypsum, one car loaded with pulp products, and seven empty cars leaving the tracks approximately 20 kilometres west of Kamloops.
While leaks from the fuel cars were sealed by crews, it was estimated that some 80,000 litres of fuel had been spilled during the derailment. This was subsequently changed to 70,000 litres which spilled on the shore above, and into, Kamloops Lake.
CPKC initiated water sampling on Nov. 2 and samples were immediately sent to a third-party, qualified B.C-based laboratory for priority analysis. Additional water sampling results have been received and are being shared with BC Environment, Interior Health, and local water system operators.
As of Nov. 9, test results from all water samples collected Monday through Friday (Nov. 3–7) continue to show no hydrocarbon detections. Additional daily water samples continue to be taken and sent for analysis. Sampling has been done in several locations, including Savona, Walhachin, and Ashcroft.
Containment booms remain in the water along the shore, and shoreline assessment is continuing.
CPKC environmental crews remain on site working with federal, provincial, local, and Indigenous responders on the cleanup. The company notes that it is fully committed to the cleanup of the site.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) operates the water systems in Savona and Walhachin, and says that regular testing of water quality will continue in relation to the derailment. Any change in status to either water system will be communicated by the TNRD through Voyent Alert, if necessary.
There are other privately-owned and operated water systems that draw water from Kamloops Lake, including Tobiano. Anyone who has questions about a private water system should contact their water system operator.
TNRD staff continue to monitor the situation, along with the Ministry of Environment and Interior Health. The environment ministry provides daily updates on spill response and cleanup; to view the ministry’s incident webpage, go to https://bit.ly/4hWJn56.
A Nov. 10 public information meeting about the derailment can be viewed on the TNRD’s YouTube page.