The Revelstoke Snowmobile Club (RSC) says its priority last December when a snow groomer fell into an icy Frisby Ridge lake was the rescue of its operator, but it would've notified the province sooner had guidelines been clearer.
This comes after B.C.'s Ministry of Environment and Parks told Black Press Media by email Monday, July 21 that it ticketed RSC for failing to report the incident and resulting diesel leak until several days later.
The snowcat, belonging to RSC, had made a wrong turn at the upper end of the Frisby Ridge trail and entered Summit Lake next to Glacier Station Cabin, according to RSC general manager Liam Marshall.
In an email, he'd said efforts by volunteers, local stakeholders and RSC members got the vehicle quickly recovered from the water, which a YouTube video documented happening over multiple days.
The ministry subsequently visited the site, with RSC "in contact about the catÎÚÑ»´«Ã½™s removal, ensuring that we were adhering to all suggested protocols," Marshall previously said by email.
According to the province, RSC did not immediately disclose to it that a snowcat had become stuck about 12 feet deep in the lake and leaked diesel.
"The Ministry was not notified until several days later, and the club received a violation ticket for failing to report the spill," the province's statement said.
It echoed RSC's estimate that "tens of litres" of diesel had entered the lake due to the vehicle ingesting water. To mitigate the spill early on, Marshall said those on site used oil booms, absorbent rags and removal of contaminated snow to contain the diesel leaking into the lake, though the ice impeded the many hands on deck from carrying out a fuller cleanup.
On Thursday, July 24, Marshall told Black Press Media that RSC's priority in the initial hours and days of the snowcat crash were the safe and successful rescue of the vehicle's operator. While he acknowledged the province ultimately fined RSC for not responding within its expected time frame, he noted that given the outstanding and unexpected circumstances of the incident, it wasn't clear to the club what the appropriate communications protocol was.
"We certainly acknowledge the seriousness of this incident," RSC president Todd Dumais told Black Press Media on Thursday, with an added note that the club hadn't previously had a groomer enter a body of water in its 57-year history.
The ministry said it first logged the incident on Dec. 7, 2024, which it noted was the day RSC managed to fully recover the snowcat from the lake, "but environmental assessments were delayed due to ice cover." Initial water testing happened last April as warmer conditions allowed, though it wasn't until snow fully melted by mid-July that higher-confidence assessments could happen.
On July 13, "visible signs of hydrocarbons (organic compounds found in petroleum and natural gas) were observed on the north side of the lake," Marshall previously said. "We are awaiting lab results to better understand the extent of residual contamination and are working with the environmental consultant to adhere to best practices."
And though the spill "could've been way worse" for RSC, he added, "we have to own this" in the ensuing assessment and cleanup by "making sure we deal with it in the most structured and efficient way possible."
The ministry shared that with remediation work now happening until September, RSC continues to collaborate with a qualified environmental professional who will lead its monitoring and mitigation efforts.
"This includes water sampling, visual inspections for sheen, and assessment of hydrocarbon presence," the ministry said, adding it "remains committed to ensuring appropriate cleanup and protecting public and environmental health."
Provincial oversight will remain throughout the remediation process, with a final assessment and "end of spill report" to be reviewed this fall following summer monitoring.
"Out of caution, swimming and drinking from Summit Lake are not recommended at this time," the ministry advised. "Further sampling results and mitigation progress will inform any change in these advisories."
However, Marshall had clarified that the environment consultant "to date has not confirmed that the water is unsafe for swimming or consumption," with RSC rather advising caution if swimming in the lake and suggesting using other sources of drinking water.
Marshall confirmed Thursday that signage has since been placed at Summit Lake, notifying passersby about the ongoing assessments and advising against swimming or drinking from there.
He previously mentioned that RSC remains in the "early stages" of this work, and is visiting the lake twice weekly to change out the oil-absorbent pads and check the oil booms.
