Part of the Dempster Highway remains closed after an LNG tanker went off the road into a ditch around Kilometre 455, north of Eagle Plains, on Sept. 4.
Highways and Public Works spokesperson Oshea Jephson said on the morning of Sept. 6 that the road is closed, though it may reopen later in the day.
Environment Yukon spokesperson Heather Avery said in a Sept. 5 interview officials were notified about the tanker going off the road shortly after noon Sept. 4 and the road was closed as a precautionary measure.
In an interview the morning of Sept. 6, Avery said a Yukon government environmental compliance officer was expected to arrive on the scene the evening of Sept. 5 with a response team from the trucking company involved also anticipated to be there later that night.
An update on the situation will be provided after an assessment is done, she said, noting that would potentially be later in the day Sept. 6.
“We don’t believe it poses an environmental risk,” she said in a Sept. 5 interview.
Based on information available, Avery said it’s believed the tanker was not punctured.
Details on the company involved are not being released right now due to the investigation.
Avery said the department will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.
A spokesperson for the RCMP said officers received a report about the crash around 4 p.m. Sept. 4. There were no injuries.
Road information is available at http:// www.511yukon.ca/
Contact Stephanie Waddell at stephanie.waddell@yukon-news.com