An email from a Metrolinx representative sent Friday evening admits what the City of Barrie has said all along, that the thousands of litres of diesel that spilled into Kempenfelt Bay came from the Allandale rail layover yard.
Media relations and issues advisor Nitish Bissonauth tells BarrieToday that, despite originally denying the leak came from at or around the Metrolinx-operated Allandale Waterfront GO station, it has now been determined to have done just that.
“We are continuing to fully co-operate with the City of Barrie and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks,” said Bissonauth. “Our continued investigation now shows that one of our contractors is responsible and as such, we will cover the clean-up costs incurred by the City of Barrie.”
On Thursday, Sept. 1, BarrieToday emailed Metrolinx and asked if there had been an update to the spill that caused a clean up task on the weekend of Aug. 13.
A Metrolinx representative emailed back saying no new information was available and that the ministry investigation report may not have been issued. The spokesperson told a BarrieToday reporter to contact the city for a possible update.
City of Barrie representative Scott LaMantia confirmed that the city had heard from Metrolinx on Aug. 19 and were provided with a report that confirmed a spill of 3,528 litres of diesel fuel within the Allandale Rail Layover, located at 280 Lakeshore Dr.
"The spill is believed to have occurred at approximately 8 p.m. on Aug. 11,” said LaMantia. “The city will be invoicing Metrolinx for the full cost of the cleanup.”
That cost is yet to be determined.
