This week, when winds gusted over 50 km/hr across much of Alberta and B.C., CEC was called to respond to a train that was literally pushed off a 200-m long trestle bridge spanning the Battle River, near Wainright, Alberta. 

The derailed section of train fell approximately 50 m to the ground below. While the cars landed well away from the river, an environmental assessment was necessary to advise on clean up and to address any potential for impact to terrestrial habitats.  

From onsite coordination with regulators to construction oversight and advisement that effectively manages environmental impact, CEC actively contributes to various emergency response projects throughout BC and Alberta.

CEC staff have a long history of responding to emergency situations interfacing with natural resources.  One of the keys to the successful resolution of these projects is our collaboration with regulators, community, and subject matter experts. It takes a collaborative team to reach an outcome that is safe and effective. 

Here are just a few examples of the range of emergencies CEC has responded to and those we have collaborated with to transform the emergencies into successful resolutions. 

 

Wind Impact: Battle River Bridge Derailment Cleanup; Wainwright, Alberta

Photo courtesy of CEC Staff

 

  • The Situation: High winds pushed train cars off a 50-m high trestle bridge to upland area near Battle River.
  • Risk Assessment: Located upland to Battle River (approximately 150 m), damage to bridge infrastructure, cleanup of non-hazardous materials and rail cars, site access in wet conditions.
  • CEC Involvement: Onsite environmental management, coordination with subject matter experts and regulators, environmental monitoring of cleanup, site access strategy to reduce terrestrial impact.
  • Key Collaboration:

 

 

Ice Jam: Snake River Ice Jam Mitigation; Jasper National Park, Alberta

  • The Situation: Mitigate potential impact to transportation infrastructure by substantial ice jam due to abnormal winter freeze-thaw pattern.
  • Risk Assessment: Works within a National Park, Snake River, fish and fish habitat, wildlife corridor, downstream ice jamming from surface ice removal, water quality, public interest, remote site conditions, working on ice covered water, crew safety.
  • CEC Involvement: Onsite environmental management, environmental monitoring, regulatory advisement, permitting, and planning, environmental impact assessment, procurement and oversight of subcontractor specialists, contributing to planning of crew safety working around ice covered water, wildlife assessment.
  • Key Collaboration:

 

 

Rock Slide: Train Derailment Cleanup; Yale, B.C.

 

Photo courtesy of CEC Staff

 

  • The Situation: Rock slide pushes rail cars down slope toward river.
  • Risk Assessment: Fraser River, fish and fish habitat, water quality, wildlife, remote site conditions, crew safety.
  • CEC Involvement: Onsite environmental management, environmental monitoring, oversight of cleanup of non-hazardous material (grain) and damaged rail cars.
  • Key Collaboration:

 

 

Flood: Pine River Watershed Washouts

 

Photo courtesy of CEC Staff

 

  • The Situation: Over 20 significant sections of railway washed out or damaged.
  • Risk Assessment: Tributaries to Pine River, fish and fish habitat, transportation infrastructure, active flooding conditions, remote sites, crew safety.
  • CEC Involvement: Onsite environmental management of all damaged sections, fish and fish habitat assessment, regulatory advisement and planning, site stabilization, long-term stream restoration, procurement and oversight of subcontractor specialists, development and implementation of restoration plans.
  • Key Collaboration:

 

 

Wildfire: Lac la Biche Rail Bridge

 

Photo courtesy of CEC Staff

 

  • The Situation: Rail bridge burns in Fort McMurray Wildfire
  • Risk Assessment: Meadow Creek, fish and fish habitat, active wildfire, crew safety.
  • CEC Involvement: Onsite environmental management, regulatory advisement and planning, procurement and oversight of subcontractor specialists.
  • Key Collaboration:

 

 

Arson: Mayerthorpe Bridge Fire

 

Photo source cbc.ca

 

 

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