29 December 2005
CP Asked to Remove Creosote Poles
Banff National Park - Canadian Pacific Railway is under pressure to remove all
creosote-treated power poles discarded by or near water bodies in Banff National Park.
CPR was asked to remove two creosote-soaked poles that lay by the Bow River's edge near Muleshoe west of Banff amid fears
spring floodwaters would drag the poles into the water.
Parks Canada officials say the railway giant, which is dismantling telephone poles in Banff, was "quite responsive" in moving
the poles. Creosote, which is essentially a mixture of many different chemicals, is primarily used in Canada as a
heavy-duty wood preservative. "There's just potential for another piece of incremental pollution to the river because
of the creosote," said Dave Hunter, Banff National Park's environmental management specialist. "We've asked them when they
continue their pole cutting to be just aware or cognizant of the fact that these poles should be removed from any sort of water
body."
CPR is dismantling its aging telephone poles in Banff National Park now that more advanced communications are available to the railway
giant. Officials with the company say the 50-year-old plus poles could pose a safety threat, particularly if they are no
longer being maintained.
Ed Greenberg, a spokesman for CPR, said the company would regularly monitor where the poles land now that Parks Canada has brought the
matter to their attention. "We'll be making sure, as best as we can, that they remain on our right-of-way and do not
protrude near a waterway," he said. "We'll be doing ongoing sweeps as we proceed."
Greenberg said the company's environmental expert has also been monitoring the process. "We have to keep in mind that
creosote-treated wood is still used by government agencies on piers, harbors and wharfs, with the wood in the water,"
he said.
In addition, CPR has also been in discussions with local groups about what to do with the telephone poles upon which ospreys have built
their nests. "Our commitment was we would not disturb the osprey during the nesting period," said Greenberg.
Hunter said Parks Canada welcomes the move to leave the poles in place for now, adding the agency will continue to monitor use of the
nests. "In some cases where the nest poles haven't been used for a year or two, they will remove those poles because they do
present a safety hazard to the railway," he said. "If they rot out and fall and cross the railway line, it could cause
derailments so safety is always No. 1. And those ospreys can damn well find a tree to nest in like they used to."
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