By TOM FLETCHER
Feb 10 2006

VICTORIA — CN Rail’s offer of $1.25 million to restore the damage caused by last summer’s train derailment in the Cheakamus Canyon is “a good start,” says B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner. Penner says the voluntary contribution by CN, to help the fish habitat recover from a spill of caustic soda into the Cheakamus River near Squamish, doesn’t change the company’s legal obligation to cover all of B.C.’s recovery costs.

The province sent CN an interim bill of $60,000 for the initial cleanup, and is completing scientific studies to determine the long-term impact of the Aug. 5 spill that killed hundreds of thousands of adult and young fish in the river. CN has joined forces with the Pacific Salmon Foundation to contribute $250,000 a year for five years to a salmon recovery plan.

The former BC Rail line has come under federal regulation since it was taken over from the government. After the spill and two other minor derailments in the winding portion of the tracks between Squamish and Clinton, Transport Canada ordered CN to restrict its trains to no more than 80 cars on that 200 km stretch.

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