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SARNIA, ONT. — The size of a Sarnia, Ont., oil pipeline leak remained unclear days after it was first reported, a nearby First Nation said last week as it issued a call for transparency. 

Aamjiwnaang First Nation is demanding answers about a March 11 spill it said took place along the southern fence line of Suncor’s Sarnia refinery, adjacent to its reserve. 

In a news release, the First Nation said reports confirm it led fuel product to leak into the ground and St. Clair River. 

“There is no end in sight. No cause of the leak has been reported to Aamjiwnaang, and we still do not know how large of a spill occurred,” read the First Nation’s statement.

“Aamjiwnaang demands answers.” 

Suncor said its preliminary investigation indicated the source of the release might be a third party. 

Sun-Canadian, which operates a refined oil pipeline from Sarnia to the Toronto area, said it was made aware on March 12 of the suspected release and started to investigate its system.

In a statement, it said “containment and recovery measures have been deployed,” but it did not immediately respond to questions about the size or source of the leak. 

Ontario’s regulator confirmed it was investigating a “hydrocarbon spill” on March 11 from a licensed Sarnia pipeline. The Technical Standards and Safety Authority said the impacted pipeline section has been shut down and an investigation is ongoing. 

The mayor of Sarnia, a border-city hub for pipelines moving much of Ontario and Quebec’s crude oil, said he had yet to hear directly from the companies involved. 

Mayor Mike Bradley said companies were in contact with the fire chief over technical issues. But he noted there has been a lack of public communication on who was responsible and what steps are being taken.

“We haven’t had spills in the river here of any substance for quite some time. And we’re very proud of that,” Bradley said in an interview.

“So, when you get one like this, it creates the negativity that’s not needed right now.” 

Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks said it was monitoring the cleanup and had been in touch with local communities, including Aamjiwnaang and Walpole Island First Nation. 

The ministry said steps were being taken to clean up the spill and ensure there were no impacts to the St. Clair River, which runs along the Ontario-Michigan border. 

“Suncor and Sun-Canadian Pipeline are also working together to develop a detailed excavation and execution plan. The ministry continues to assess information provided by the companies to determine if compliance actions are required,” it said in a written statement.

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