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Plains Midstream says spill cleanup complete

The company that owns a pipeline that leaked nearly 3,000 barrels of crude oil into a central Alberta river, fouling shorelines, says its cleanup is complete.
Alta Oil Spill 20120608 TOPIX
Crews prepare a boom on the Gleniffer reservoir to stop oil from a pipeline leak near Sundre on Friday. Plains Midstream Canada says one of their non-functioning pipelines leaked between 1

CALGARY — The company that owns a pipeline that leaked nearly 3,000 barrels of crude oil into a central Alberta river, fouling shorelines, says its cleanup is complete.

Plains Midstream Canada said in a news release Friday that it will return to the site of leak in the Red Deer River near Sundre next spring or early summer to inspect the sites again.

The Calgary-based company says Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development has approved its restoration efforts and closure of the sites.

The pipeline leak on June 7 fouled shorelines and closed a popular downstream recreational lake to fishing and swimming for weeks this summer.

Plains Midstream says it is still trying to determine what caused the leak.

It also says they are still working on compensation for individuals who have been directly impacted.

“Plains is committed to the process and will continue to work one-on-one with individuals who have been directly impacted until the claims are resolved. Thank you to area landowners and residents for your continued patience while we work through this process.,” the company said in the news release.

A class-action lawsuit has been filed over the spill.

Plains Midstream also says aquatic studies are underway to determine the any potential impact on fish habitats, and the first phase of the long-term monitoring plan is approved and underway.

The company says the final tally on how much oil was spilled is 463,000 litres, or 2,911 barrels.