New Brunswick says chemical spill risk is low, but response time questions remain

The province says 900 litres of the substance, which included hexavalent chromium, was spilled over a span of 14 kilometres.

Nearly a week after a chemical spill in Fredericton that has raised concerns for residents and motorists, the province of New Brunswick has offered an update on the investigation, saying the health risk is low and analysis continues.

The substance, which was bright yellow and spanned 14 kilometres, was spilled by a vehicle travelling on the Vanier Highway/Trans-Canada Highway between Fredericton and Oromocto.

Testing later revealed the substance included hexavalent chromium, which is described as being toxic and possibly carcinogenic.

During a media availability Wednesday, Charbel Awad, deputy minister of Environment and Local Government, said about 900 litres had spilled.

In explaining the timeline, he said the spill was reported to the province by the City of Fredericton last Thursday, and preliminary lab results were received on Friday at noon.

Once the presence of hexavalent chromium was identified, the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (NBEMO) was activated at Level 2.

Based on the timeline, there has been criticism the province took until Friday to shut down the section of the highway.

Mark Scott, director of operations with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, said closing the road was “not a decision that we take lightly” and that it took “a significant amount of time and resources to do so.”