Nexen pipeline spill investigation results will be made public

Alberta's Energy Minister MargMcCuaig-Boydhasassured Albertans that the results of the investigation into the Nexen pipeline leak will be made public.

"Spills like this are unacceptable," she said at a news conference in Fort McMurray Friday.

The Alberta Energy Regulator is investigating the leak, which saw the release of fivemillion litres ofbitumen emulsion onto a right-of-way near Long Lake, south of Fort McMurray.

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"We have confidencethatthe regulator is doing its job to conduct atimelyandthoroughinvestigation," she said. "Once the investigation is complete, it will be made public."

TheAERrevealed that thepipeline was never inspected before it was put into operation last year.Companiesareonly required to test pipelines every five years.

Minister thanks cleanup crews

McCuaig-Boydalso thanked the 130workerscleaning upthe spill,one ofthe biggestin the province's history, saying she was impressed with their efforts following a tourFriday morning.

McCuaig-BoydandEnvironment Minister ShannonPhillipsalso met with members of the FortMcMurrayFirst Nation, the Alberta Energy RegulatorandNexen.

Phillips said she was troubledby the lag between when the pipeline began to leak and when it was discovered, which may have been up totwo weeks.

The leak was discovered last Wednesday by a contractor walking along the pipeline.

She said she found other aspects of the leak troubling,but wouldn't provide further comment as she believed the energy regulatorneeds space to do its work.

Nexenhas apologized for the spill.