Environment Minister sets record straight on spill costs
Aug, 09 2006 - 12:30 AM

SEATTLE/CKNW(AM980) - We'll take them to court if we have to.

That from Environment Minister Barry Penner about making sure the company responsible for a massive oil spill near Squamish on Friday foots the bill for the clean-up - including wildlife rehabilitation.
The Minister says there's no way the owner of the ruptured container ship that spilled 30-thousand litres of bunker fuel into Howe Sound can escape paying the full clean-up costs. He says a Provincial law, called the Spill Cost Recovery Regulation ensures the company will pay.

Penner says that includes rehabilitation of some 40 birds impacted by the spill, "We have the authority to charge them for that. Now, I don't think we'll end up having to go to court, because the company has said that they're willing to do that. And, so far, they are paying for it on their own."

Penner says the same law was applied to CN after last year's toxic Cheakamus train derailment. He estimates the oil spill clean-up so far has cost 100 thousand dollars.