Determining reasonable response actions following a fly ash spill in the headwaters of Banff National Park, Canada
It can be challenging for practitioners to determine reasonable response actions following an environmental spill because there are risks associated with the recovery process, acute constraints on time, and few case studies available from antecedent events. Here, we evaluate environmental risk using...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | FACETS |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2023-0219 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850201671699791872 |
|---|---|
| author | Mark K. Taylor Helen Irwin Gregg T. Tomy Fonya Irvine Margaret Yole Simon Despatie Karsten Liber |
| author_facet | Mark K. Taylor Helen Irwin Gregg T. Tomy Fonya Irvine Margaret Yole Simon Despatie Karsten Liber |
| author_sort | Mark K. Taylor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It can be challenging for practitioners to determine reasonable response actions following an environmental spill because there are risks associated with the recovery process, acute constraints on time, and few case studies available from antecedent events. Here, we evaluate environmental risk using a screening level assessment (SLA) and describe risk management actions during the response phase of a train derailment that released 600 tonnes of fly ash into a headwater creek in Banff National Park, Canada. Trace metal concentrations and physico-chemical parameters from downstream of the derailment site were compared to Canadian environmental quality guidelines and upstream reference values. There was a 1–2.2-fold exceedance of sediment quality guidelines (As, Cd, and Se) as well as a 3.6–17.5-fold exceedance of water quality guidelines (Al, Cd, Fe, and turbidity) downstream of the train derailment. Despite uncertainty about site-specific toxicity when using a SLA, we did require the removal of the settled fly ash from the creek based on the multiple exceedances of guidelines, regulatory context, wilderness setting, and potential contribution to cumulative effects downstream. Case studies that evaluate risk and describe risk management actions help practitioners make consistent and efficient decisions during the response phase of a spill. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c4a201c35266464e987dd5d4b0fc7fb5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2371-1671 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | FACETS |
| spelling | doaj-art-c4a201c35266464e987dd5d4b0fc7fb52025-08-20T02:11:57ZengCanadian Science PublishingFACETS2371-16712024-01-01911310.1139/facets-2023-0219Determining reasonable response actions following a fly ash spill in the headwaters of Banff National Park, CanadaMark K. Taylor0Helen Irwin1Gregg T. Tomy2Fonya Irvine3Margaret Yole4Simon Despatie5Karsten Liber6Parks Canada Agency, Banff National Park, Banff, AB, CanadaParks Canada Agency, Banff National Park, Banff, AB, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaDepartment of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, CanadaEnvironmental Health Program, Health Canada, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaNational Environmental Emergencies Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Montreal, QC, CanadaToxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, CanadaIt can be challenging for practitioners to determine reasonable response actions following an environmental spill because there are risks associated with the recovery process, acute constraints on time, and few case studies available from antecedent events. Here, we evaluate environmental risk using a screening level assessment (SLA) and describe risk management actions during the response phase of a train derailment that released 600 tonnes of fly ash into a headwater creek in Banff National Park, Canada. Trace metal concentrations and physico-chemical parameters from downstream of the derailment site were compared to Canadian environmental quality guidelines and upstream reference values. There was a 1–2.2-fold exceedance of sediment quality guidelines (As, Cd, and Se) as well as a 3.6–17.5-fold exceedance of water quality guidelines (Al, Cd, Fe, and turbidity) downstream of the train derailment. Despite uncertainty about site-specific toxicity when using a SLA, we did require the removal of the settled fly ash from the creek based on the multiple exceedances of guidelines, regulatory context, wilderness setting, and potential contribution to cumulative effects downstream. Case studies that evaluate risk and describe risk management actions help practitioners make consistent and efficient decisions during the response phase of a spill.https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2023-0219spill responsewater qualitysediment qualityfly ash spillrisk assessmentenvironmental quality guidelines |
| spellingShingle | Mark K. Taylor Helen Irwin Gregg T. Tomy Fonya Irvine Margaret Yole Simon Despatie Karsten Liber Determining reasonable response actions following a fly ash spill in the headwaters of Banff National Park, Canada FACETS spill response water quality sediment quality fly ash spill risk assessment environmental quality guidelines |
| title | Determining reasonable response actions following a fly ash spill in the headwaters of Banff National Park, Canada |
| title_full | Determining reasonable response actions following a fly ash spill in the headwaters of Banff National Park, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Determining reasonable response actions following a fly ash spill in the headwaters of Banff National Park, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determining reasonable response actions following a fly ash spill in the headwaters of Banff National Park, Canada |
| title_short | Determining reasonable response actions following a fly ash spill in the headwaters of Banff National Park, Canada |
| title_sort | determining reasonable response actions following a fly ash spill in the headwaters of banff national park canada |
| topic | spill response water quality sediment quality fly ash spill risk assessment environmental quality guidelines |
| url | https://facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2023-0219 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT markktaylor determiningreasonableresponseactionsfollowingaflyashspillintheheadwatersofbanffnationalparkcanada AT helenirwin determiningreasonableresponseactionsfollowingaflyashspillintheheadwatersofbanffnationalparkcanada AT greggttomy determiningreasonableresponseactionsfollowingaflyashspillintheheadwatersofbanffnationalparkcanada AT fonyairvine determiningreasonableresponseactionsfollowingaflyashspillintheheadwatersofbanffnationalparkcanada AT margaretyole determiningreasonableresponseactionsfollowingaflyashspillintheheadwatersofbanffnationalparkcanada AT simondespatie determiningreasonableresponseactionsfollowingaflyashspillintheheadwatersofbanffnationalparkcanada AT karstenliber determiningreasonableresponseactionsfollowingaflyashspillintheheadwatersofbanffnationalparkcanada |