UPDATE: Environment ministry says coke-making spill poses no risk to city water

Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks says most of a flushing-liquor spill at Algoma Steel on Saturday was contained on-site, with "a low risk of impacts to the St. Marys River."

"The Sault Ste. Marie municipal drinking water intake was not at any risk from the spill," says Gary Wheeler, ministry spokesperson.

Algoma Public Health is also indicating there are no concerns about drinking water in Sault Ste. Marie or places downstream (east) of the city.

Dr. Jennifer Loo, medical officer of health at Algoma Public Health, says the early-morning spill was contained by 8 a.m.

"Based on information reported to APH on the spill's contents and its subsequent containment, and further consultation with Public Health Ontario, there is no concern for an active or ongoing risk of exposure," Dr. Loo said in a statement to SooToday's Alex Flood.

"There is no concern related to the Sault Ste. Marie municipal drinking water system at this time and people who use water from the St. Marys River downstream (east) of Algoma Steel Inc. may continue to do so," Loo told us.

The following is the full text of Wheeler's statement to SooToday on behalf of the environment ministry:

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks takes all spills and threats to the environment very seriously.

Our role is to assess for any environmental impacts and ensure the responsible parties eliminate any adverse effects, clean up the spill, restore the natural environment, and put measures in place to prevent future spills.  

On Saturday January 20 at about 3:30 a.m. an unknown amount of flushing liquor spilled from the coke-making plant at Algoma Steel.

The spill was caused by the collapse of piping that moves the flushing liquor throughout the plant.

The piping collapse damaged the coke oven gas mains and led to a shutdown of the plant. Workers in the immediate area were evacuated and there were no injuries.

The ministry’s environmental officer attended the scene as soon as possible to assess the situation and to ensure the company was taking appropriate action.

The majority of spill containment was on-site and at this time there is a low risk of impacts to the St. Marys River.

The Sault Ste. Marie municipal drinking water intake was not at any risk from the spill.

There are no downstream municipal drinking water intakes on the St. Marys River within approximately 25 kilometres.

Flaring at the coke ovens is ongoing and will continue until repairs have been completed.

The ministry is maintaining close communication with Algoma Steel as clean-up activities progress and we will continue to be involved as necessary to ensure that appropriate action is taken to contain and clean up the spill.