Hazardous materials processing and storage accidents are common. Most HAZMAT events occur during road or rail transportation. Accidents at industrial sites occur from natural disasters, fire, human error, infrastructure deterioration and failure, accidents and intentional damage. The success of safety standards and procedures for containment rely on the degree of enforcement and a level of environmental control.
There have been a number of hazardous materials release incidents in Squamish, including:
- 2015 Wharf fire at Squamish Terminals: ignited creosote pilings and generated clouds of noxious smoke that blanketed Squamish. A Shelter-In-Place order was declared overnight and lifted the following morning. Creosote is a probable human carcinogen with a range of other health effects. Creosote can move through the soil to groundwater and once there, can take many years to break down.
- 2006 Squamish Harbour Marine Oil Spill: A ship, the Westwood Anette became damaged while leaving port, resulting in 29,000 litres of bunker oil spilled in Squamish Harbour, causing substantial environmental damage within the Squamish Estuary and land areas within the Squamish Harbour.
- 2005 CN Rail derailment in Squamish: Nine cars derailed, spilling 40,000 litres of Sodium Hydroxide (caustic soda) in the Cheakamus River and Squamish River systems, “more than 500,000 adult and young salmon, steelhead, trout, lamprey and other species died of suffocation from skin burns and gill haemorrhaging. Birds and animals that rely on the Cheakamus salmon for food were also affected by the spill.” (Ministry of Environment).
