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Feds looking at dangerous goods movement

Bidding closes at noon today on a federal contract to create a comprehensive resource on what dangerous goods travel where, and how, in Canada’s North.

While Transport Canada senior communications advisor Annie Joannette told News/North the department couldn’t provide more information – such as on any specific areas of concern – while the bidding process was underway, an information package with the tender reveals some of its scope.

The logistics analysis covers all areas north of the 55th parallel, as well as remote areas in the south.

“Currently, there are gaps in (the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Directorate)’s knowledge regarding the handling, offering for transport, and transport of (dangerous goods) in Canada’s north,” reads the material.

The feds say that it’s unclear to them where and how dangerous goods move throughout the tender’s study area, which encompasses much of the country’s landmass. There are gaps in information on which dangerous goods are moving through the area, the annual volumes and emergency response capacities. There are also knowledge gaps on the impact of potential spills and leaks, such as from the transportation of oil.

The study area of an upcoming logistics analysis on the transportation of dangerous goods in Northern Canada. Transport Canada graphic.
The study area of an upcoming logistics analysis on the transportation of dangerous goods in Northern Canada. Transport Canada graphic.

The study will aim to fill in these gaps, chart out the transportation of dangerous goods, mark out where they’re handled and where they’re stored and analyze the logistics of these systems.

The GNWT is responsible for the management of dangerous goods transportation on roads within the territory while the federal government is responsible for air, marine and rail transportation.

Infrastructure department spokesperson Greg Hanna says the most common dangerous goods transported in the NWT are diesel fuel, gasoline, Jet A fuel, propane, ammonium nitrate and explosives and that close to 30 per cent of trucks carrying loads on NWT roads carry dangerous goods. The fuel that’s trucked up through Enterprise and via barge on the Mackenzie River initially arrives in Hay River via CN Rail.

“CN cannot provide a detailed breakdown of rail car traffic via commodity carried including (any dangerous goods) as this is proprietary, confidential information that cannot be released to the general public,” stated Hanna. “It would be CN’s call on whether to release such information.”

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources manages a 24-hour spill report line and a database of all spills and the status of spills.

The Infrastructure Department also produces a report on this subject each year. This report contains the total number of trucks carrying dangerous goods that reported to weigh scales in Enterprise and Inuvik along with estimated quantities of the materials; details on road transport-related spills; a count of convictions under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and Regulations.