Oil Leak Ashbridges Bay

[BIGFRANK]

Cleanup continues in Ashbridges Bay following Hydro One leak
Crews are working to clean up a leak in Ashbridges Bay that officials say poses no threat to drinking water or the environment.

Toronto Fire’s Hazmat unit was called to the Lakeshore and Coxwell area around 6:30 p.m. Monday after a substance, initially thought to be diesel or home heating fuel, was found leaking from storm drains into the lake.

Officials from the ministry of the environment were already on scene, trying to skim the substance off the water’s surface, when the Hazmat team arrived. Booms were also laid to contain the spill.

On Tuesday the Ministry of the Environment confirmed the substance is mineral oil used by Hydro One to lubricate hydro lines and cool them down.

Hydro One, Toronto Fire, the Port Authority and city crews were at the scene Tuesday continuing the cleanup effort.

BIGFRANKs note:Folks should keep an eye out for oiled birds and notify Toronto Wildlife  TWC Wildlife Hotline: (416) 631- 0662 from 9am-6pm Ive no clue what effect if any mineral oil would have on ducks but thought it worthwhile to post.

[GStuart]

For once I'm hoping to not see a Western Grebe.

[Lloyd]

Any word from Hydro One about how or why it got there?

[BIGFRANK]

They say no effect on wildlife on tonights news..how much we believe them? Id still watch for birds(waterbirds) in trouble. It is leaking from somewhere Lloyd,not sure they know where yet.

[feathered]

Thanks for the news, Frank.

Anyone keeping an eye out would be much appreciated, so we can admit any oiled duckies and Dawn bathe them (yes, just like on TV!).

Edit - Apparently an oiled Canada Goose has been admitted so far.

[norman]

That probably explains the CFTO helicopter hovering over the scene Tuesday morning -- thought Jim Junkin was on another bender and jumped into a chopper -- also fire trucks making a racket all morning.

In bird news, you'll be tripping over chubby robins all over the Kew Beach area, and a turkey vulture was reported east of the park before noon, riding the robust winds ...

I'm told there are two male mockers in the City of Toronto yard at 50 Booth -- Eastern Avenue, just east of Broadview ... if you like mockers (how can you not like mockers?), the fellow who seems to be winning the territorial dispute is a young 'un -- he's doing mostly mimid repetitions, but has a pretty good cardinal impression going. On sunny mornings, he just can't help himself. If you hear abrasive "chacks," they're still in negotiations. You can get in around 8am without confrontation, and keep heading south to a yard filled with green shacks. Once they see the binoculars, they'll probably write you off as harmless eccentrics. Worth recording, if you have the means. Bring batteries!

Woodbine Park (Coxwell and Lakeshore East) will likely have a bird guy set up there by the end of April, who's threatening to post sightings on the (locked) announcements board at the washroom building at the north end of the park; any sightings reported here will be added. The south pond, apparently, is a staging area for black-crown night herons -- he seems to know his stuff-- loggerhead shrike in September, 2008, a mocker doing car alarms and about eight species of birds -- and other goodies. Also, in the furry department, somehow a beaver or two made short work of a few trembling aspens last summer / autumn ... how'd they make it across Lakeshore Boulevard? lI'll grill him on other stuff as time permits.

Margaret left suddenly on Saturday am with her considerable array of optical equipment (Heard the Buick revving wildly at 4:30am). Destination unknown. If bail arrangements result, I might need some help.

[Halton Hills]

They say no effect on wildlife on tonights news..how much we believe them?

Well.....if there happens to be an Oil spill.....it's better that it turned out to be Mineral Oil

Mineral Oil is in a lot of products and can be safely applied to your skin or even swallowed.

Baby Oil is just scented Mineral Oil......and pure Mineral Oil can be taken internally as a laxative.......etc.

Mineral Oil should be applied to your wooden cutting boards and salad bowls......never use cooking oil.


.

[norman]

Frankie's got it bang on ... I spoke with a few of the fellows working there this afternoon, and it is indeed mineral oil. They've put booms -- floating barriers -- for containment around the breach area, and they're "hoovering" the oil from the water surface.

The fellow who did most of the talking wasn't evasive about the leak -- a split in the cable housing, perhaps -- and seemed confident that the clean-up will be successful.

Thanks, Frank, for posting the telephone number(s). Hope you had time to make it back to Rosetta -- see any more vultures today? As I noted in my post yesterday, one was in pretty low near the boardwalk near the Balmy Beach Club, just sailing in the chilly wind.

My aunt returned from parts unknown today, and our home is redolent with the peculiar fragrance of creme de menthe. Actually, "fragrance" is me being polite ... She wants to meet you; she muttered something about "That Frankie Fella ...raptors ... raptors ...  Urgh." before passing out under the Lego David Suzuki she finished on New Year's Day.

Watch out for a white Buick Wildcat in the area ...