Business Takes Responsibility For Oil Spill

A local agricultural implement dealer has taken full responsibility for an oil spill which has impacted the Hillcrest Golf Course when an unknown amount of unused motor oil ended up in a creek on the golf course property.

In s written statement South Country Equipment takes full responsibility for an oil spill which impacted the Hillcrest Golf Course.

“South Country Equipment takes this incident very seriously,” Manager of Human Resources Drew Watson said in a press release.

“This was an unfortunate accident and we will be reviewing our procedures to identify ways to avoid similar mistakes in the future. Immediate steps have already been taken to ensure this does not happen again at any of our locations, including Moose Jaw,” Watson is quoted saying in the statement.

According to the news release a 1000 litre tote of unused oil was punctured on Tuesday evening with some of the oil making it into the storm sewer system where it later affected the Hillcrest Golf Course.

Holes 6,7,8,9,10,11 at the Hillcrest were closed due to the spill.

The oil ended up in the creek on the golf course properly where it is contained and presently being cleaned up.

The oil spill resulted in interfering with the operations of the Hillcrest.

Presently clean up operations are under way involving the City of Moose Jaw, Water Security Agency and Saskatchewan Environment.

In a release the City said clean up operations continue.

“Upon discovery the City’s Municipal Operations department immediately engaged the Ministry of Environment and led a containment, cleanup and remediation effort,” The City of Moose Jaw said in a separate press release.

“The Moose Jaw Fire Department assisted by placing absorbent booms in the creek to contain the oil within the creek and prevent further migration downstream.”

It is unknown at this time if South Country Equipment reported the incident and spill to any government bodies prior to the discovery in the creek on the Hillcrest Golf Course. Nor is it known how much oil ended up in the creek.

South Country Equipment has assumed the costs of the cleanup and remediation associated with the spill.

“We are grateful for the quick response by the City of Moose Jaw and efforts by the City and Ministry of Environment to contain the oil and prevent more serious consequences. We also apologize to the Hillcrest Golf Course for the disruption this event has caused,” the release from South Country Equipment stated, adding “South Country Equipment assumes all responsibility, including costs, associated with the leak and the subsequent cleanup and remediation efforts.”

The spill was detected late Wednesday morning in the creek and containment and clean up operations were initiated.