Squamish I Three rivers in the Squamish area contaminated by the spill of 41,000 litres of caustic soda when a CN Rail train derailed there a week ago will be closed to angling effective Monday, provincial Environment Minister Barry Penner announced Friday.

"We're doing this to preserve the fish stocks that survived the spill and to protect those stocks that will be returning," said Penner.

The closures will affect both the Cheakamus River and the Mamquam River and that part of the Squamish River that flows downstream from its confluence with the Cheakamus, and will remain in effect until at least Sept. 30, he said.

The spill wiped out fish in the Cheakamus River and the effects will be felt for years.

On Friday, crews working in the Cheakamus Canyon removed the ruptured tank car which had spilled the chemical into the river.

The car still contained about 10,000 litres of caustic soda which had been frozen after crews packed the car in dry ice during the last week.

"We wanted to make sure that there wouldn't be another spill once the car was moved," Penner said. "Freezing it prevented this from happening."

He added that he was happy the car was removed in one piece without any further spills.

"I'd like to commend all the hard work and diligence of the people who have been dealing with this for the past week. They'd done a great job. The river is now safe and can be used for recreation and that's good news," Penner said.

Meanwhile ministry officials will be tabulating the cost of the cleanup in preparation for giving the bill to CN Rail.

"Under the Environmental Management Act, CN Rail will have to pay the full cost associated with the cleaning up the spill and that is likely to be substantial," said Penner, who couldn't estimate what the final cost might be.

He said there was a healthy contingent of provincial staff among the 200 or so people who have been working to contain the spill and clean up the damage.

Depending on the outcome of investigations into the cause of the derailment, CN Rail could be liable for prosecution under the act which provides for fines and imprisonment of upwards of $1 million for causing environmental damage, said Penner.

"In fairness to CN Rail, they have said they will pay all the costs resulting from the spill. But we will still be looking at such things as the handling procedures used on this train to make sure everything was done correctly," he said.

gbellett@png.canwest,com

© The Vancouver Sun 2005