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IRM reports small sulphuric acid leak at Waneta reload

IRM states a small volume of less than one cup and three dime-sized drips were leaked from carrier
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An investigation is underway after a sulphuric acid leak was discovered at the Waneta Re-Load Centre on Saturday.

” … A small sulphuric acid drip was noticed on a Trimac Transportation Ltd truck and trailer following unloading of the product and transfer from truck to rail at the Quirk Siding Reload Centre in Waneta at approximately 5 p.m.,” IRM (International Raw Materials) reported early Sunday.

“A small volume of less than one cup was found on site at the transfer station and three dime-sized drips found on Seven Mile Dam Road adjacent to the Reload Center.”

Emergency services including the RCMP, Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Service, the Teck Emergency Response Team, and IRM Technical Advisors responded.

All were neutralized and cleaned up in accordance with Transportation of Dangerous Goods standards, IRM stated.

“As a precaution, the Teck Emergency Response Team and the Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Service conducted extensive testing of the entire truck route from Teck Trail Operations to the Quirk Siding Reload Centre,” the company advised.

“To facilitate this testing, a portion of Highway 22 was closed for a brief period of time. All tests resulted in negative findings for sulphuric acid for the entirety of the route along Highway 22 and Highway 3B.”

The trailer has been secured, and Trimac will be conducting a full investigation into the root cause of the drip and corrective actions will be taken.

All sulphuric acid shipments via road have been temporarily suspended while this investigation takes place.

Trimac is contracted by International Raw Materials Ltd. (IRM) to carry sulphuric acid between Teck Trail Operations and the Reload Centre.

Background:

IRM markets and distributes crop nutrients and industrial commodities throughout our extensive distribution system. We deliver inputs essential for growing healthy, sustainable crops and maximizing yields in farming systems around the world. Beyond agriculture, we provide inputs used in a range of industrial and technical applications.