Alberta premier criticizes oil spill cleanup

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach is critical of the company behindone of the biggest oil spills in the province's history.

"From what I gather they could be doing a better joband we're going to hold their feet to the fire to make sure they're there and they will have to pay all the costs related to the clean up," he said Thursday.

'We're going to hold their feet to the fire.' Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach

He did not elaborate any further.

But the premier said there is no reason to send his environment minister to the cleanup site.

His spokesman said later that Stelmach was criticizing the company's communications with the public and the Lubicon Cree, who live near the leak site.

Plains Midstream Canada apologizedThursday for any damage caused by itspipeline leak, whichspilled 4.5 million litres of crude oil near Peace River, Alta., over the weekend.

The Rainbow pipeline leak contaminated eight acres of beaver ponds and muskeg in a densely forested area, said vice-president Mike Halihan.

The line has beenrepaired andis waiting to come back into operation, he said.

The 60-centimetre pipeline runs775 kilometres from Zama, Alta., to Edmonton and is capable of moving220,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Stelmach, however, said the pipeline won't be allowed to come back on line until the nearby First Nation community of Little Buffalo can be assured it is safe.

Some residents in the community14 kilometres awaycomplained fumes from the spill were makingtheir children sick.

The company has been monitoring the air around the spill site and the nearby First Nationcommunity Little Buffalosince theleak began, said Halihan.

So far there have been no readingsabove the hydrocarbon levels allowed under Alberta's air quality guidelines, he said.

Lubicon Lake Nationofficialsat Little Buffalo met withcompany representatives Wednesday.

Chief Bernard Ominayak said he was toldthe spill should be contained by the weekend.

"We hope to continue to have meaningful dialogue with Plains Midstream Canada going forward which will include the Lubicon Lake Nation actively participating in cleanup efforts," he said in a press release.