A pipeline spill northwest of Cold Lake has released 843,000 litres of bitumen emulsion, with cleanup now underway and questions remaining about the long-term impact.

Spill contained, cleanup underway

Imperial Oil says the spill happened April 9, about 30 kilometres northwest of Cold Lake. The company responded quickly, shut down the release, and contained the affected area.

Cleanup and remediation efforts are ongoing.

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) confirmed inspectors were sent to the site and says the emergency phase is complete. So far, no impacts to wildlife or nearby waterbodies have been reported.

Imperial Oil has apologized and says the cause of the spill is still under investigation.

First Nation seeking answers

Cold Lake First Nations Chief Kelsey Jacko says his community is still waiting for more information.

“Spills happen every year,” he said, raising concerns about how repeated incidents affect treaty rights and long-term land use.

He also wants Indigenous communities to have a stronger voice in how incidents like this are reviewed and managed.

Expert points to missing details

An ecologist who reviewed the situation says the official report leaves out key information.

Kevin Timoney says details like the type of terrain, spread of the spill, and full contents of the emulsion are not clearly outlined.

He noted the presence of saltwater in the spill, which can be more persistent in the environment than oil products.

What happens next

The investigation into the cause of the spill continues.

Any enforcement action or penalties will be posted publicly by the Alberta Energy Regulator if issues are found.

Cleanup remains ongoing at the site.