Banff National Park Alberta - Nearly three weeks after an investigation began into toxic waste along the Canadian Pacific Railway line , in Banff National Park, there was still material, including garbage, along the tracks.
 
The Parks Canada investigation started 14 Apr 2014 when photos came to light showing discarded oil drums, bottles of antifreeze, oil and grain spills, and food waste along the tracks near Hillsdale Meadow along the Bow Valley Parkway.
 
It's an area frequented by wildlife such as grizzly bears and the Bow Valley wolf pack.
 
Photos taken last week and sent to the Herald showed there was still trash along the track, though both Parks Canada and Canadian Pacific said any toxic waste has been cleaned up.
 
"All animal attractants were removed after receiving the initial report," Michelle Macullo, a spokeswoman with Banff National Park, said Tuesday in an email.
 
"What remains on site is trade waste. Canadian Pacific has assured us that waste will be removed at the project's completion."
 
Macullo said the investigation is ongoing and wardens continue to monitor the area.
 
Ed Greenberg, a spokesman for Canadian Pacific, said there's still some work being done on the tracks.
 
"It's not trash, it's track material," he said.
 
"At the time when we were alerted of the oversight that resulted in some refuse being left along the track, it was collected at the location for eventual pickup, the intention was to have the area cleaned up. We recognize that there was a timing issue involved in the cleaning up of the debris that was left at the time."
 
Greenberg said any remaining material was being used for track construction, including sections of steel, wooden railway ties, and various other materials.
 
An anonymous source who sent the latest photos said the grain and the large pile of garbage next to the access road had been cleaned up, but noted crews failed to remove other trash.
 
"The diesel can and full bottle of antifreeze were still left behind," said the tipster, who removed the antifreeze because an animal could puncture the bottle and die if it drank the liquid.
 
Also found at the site were a discarded oil drum, transmission fluid container, and food waste, some of which was confirmed by a Herald visit to the site Friday.
 
There was also metal banding that had been cut from railway ties.
 
Colleen Campbell, who sits on the board of the Bow Valley Naturalists, said any material left along the tracks poses a problem to wildlife.
 
"Anything that is an unnatural hazard or an unnatural attractant in the park, it's time that we emphasize a lot more care about it being left behind," she said, suggesting it should have been cleaned up immediately rather than left over the weekend.
 
Greenberg said remaining materials, including any trash that might have been missed, is being removed from the site.
 
"We had crews out there yesterday beginning the process," he said, stressing it isn't the company's normal procedure.
 
"We have a cleanup process in place. Crews are being reminded of our railway's requirements when it comes to ensuring the area is cleaned up appropriately and as quickly as possible."

Colette Derworiz.