Emergency crews are on the scene today to clean up an estimated 1,000 to 3,000 barrels of light sour crude oil released into Jackson Creek, a tributary of the Red Deer River near Sundre, Alta.

Cleanup crews are also working to contain the product in the Gleniffer Reservoir, which saw an oil spill of 125 barrels in April 2009.

Sundre Petroleum Operators Group says it notified Plains Midstream Canada’s 24-hour control centre in Olds, Alta., Thursday around 8:40 p.m. after finding out about the spill.

Plains’ pipeline operations in the area were shut down and valves were closed to isolate area pipelines. The Energy Resource Conservation Board, Alberta Environment and Alberta Health are all involved.

“Once again we have a major spill go unnoticed by a pipeline company, this time flowing directly into a major waterway,” said Mike Hudema, a Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner.

“How many times does this have to happen before governments stop accepting the company’s assurances that they are taking environmental protection seriously? We need a full public review of pipeline safety especially before new pipelines carrying even more corrosive substances are approved. Read more …