Work is underway at the Squamish Terminals to dismantle the dock that was destroyed by the fire, according to a media release issued by the Squamish Terminals.
Squamish Terminals hired Fraser River Pile and Dredge (FRPD) which continues to dismantle the dock. Almost all pilings and surface debris has been removed and FRPD is now starting to remove debris from the ocean floor which is expected to take one more week to complete.
Debris from the dock is contained, and is being transferred onto a barge for shipment to the Ecowaste facility in Vancouver for proper disposal. Meanwhile, booms will remain in place around the affected terminal area while the dock dismantling and debris removal work continues.
The booms at the Cattermole Slough, Nexen Beach and Blind Channel are no longer required; the Blind Channel boom was removed yesterday and the Nexen Beach and Cattermole Slough booms will be removed over the next two days.
Until then, the company requests mariners for a slow bell around the booms and dock area and to please radio Channel 8 to facilitate transit of vessels in and out of the slough.
Team will continue to monitor and clean Nexen Beach and Cattermole Slough until the berth area is fully cleared to ensure all debris is collected. The District of Squamish will be removing the precautionary signs which were in place around Nexen Beach and nearby shorelines.
An environmental consultant has been retained to conduct an investigation as to sediment and ocean water quality in the context of potential marine ecological impacts (if any) associated with the fire. The results of this study will be made available once the report is completed.
Envirochem Services Inc, which was contracted by Squamish Terminals, has issued it final report which indicates that it’s not anticipated there is any risk for Polyaromatic Compound (PAH) contamination of soil or vegetation as a result of the fire. In addition, there is no evidence of unacceptable air quality or risk for adverse exposure at sensitive receptor locations monitored downwind of the fire, the media release noted.
