Non-hazardous oil released at Mactaquac Generating Station

NB Power
23 December 2015

FREDERICTON (GNB) – NB Power crews have repaired a valve that malfunctioned on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at the Mactaquac Generating Station, which resulted in the release of about 3,180 liters (700 gallons) of non-hazardous, biodegradable Teresso 46 lubricating oil into the St. John River.

The release occurred late Tuesday afternoon at which time the river flows through the station were 850,119 liters per second (187,000 gallons per second).

Some of the oil was contained on the site and collected Tuesday evening. An undetermined amount is being recovered from the river by a licensed cleanup contractor.

Teresso 46 is non-hazardous, has a low ecotoxicity, is not expected to be harmful to aquatic organisms, and is biodegradable.

“While the material released would have quickly dissipated, we are advising the public out of respect for those who live and work near the river,” said Keith Cronkhite, vice-president of generation and business development for NB Power.

Based on the river flows at the time, the concentration in the river would have been 1 part per million minutes after the event, with the concentration further diminishing quickly over time.

The release was immediately reported to federal and provincial environmental authorities, as well as the Kingsclear First Nation.

Media Contact(s)
Marie-Andrée Bolduc, communications, NB Power, 506-458-3212, mbolduc@nbpower.com.

23-12-15

ILR5