YELLOWKNIFE (November 21, 2013) – The Alberta Environment Support and Emergency Response Team has advised the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) that:

• The leading edge of the sediment plume is about 83 kilometres upstream of Fort McMurray.
• The average speed of the plume during the past 24 hours has been 1.3 km/hr.
• At this rate of speed, the plume is expected to reach Fort McMurray on November 23, 2013 and Lake Athabasca on December 4, 2013.
• Water samples are taken regularly downstream at the leading edge, mid-plume, tail of the plume and upstream of the plume to track the plume and effects on water quality.
• Revised volume of the spill is 670,000 cubic litres.

 

Turbidity levels continue to decrease as the plume moves downstream.

The GNWT and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada continue to work together to monitor the water and liaise with the Alberta regulators in an on-going effort to assess the situation.

Updates will be provided on an on-going basis and we will continue to keep downstream communities informed.

Sherritt Coal, owner of the Obed Coal Mine, is posting regular updates on its remediation actions and results of water quality sampling online at:  www.obed.ca.

For more information:

Judy McLinton
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Environment and Natural Resources
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel:  867-873-7379
Email:  judy_mclinton@gov.nt.ca