The substance that leaked in Hope Bay causing concern for members of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation was furnace oil.
The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks confirmed it came from a storage tank on a property on Hope Bay Road. The spill was reported on March 5.
"Ministry staff confirmed some fuel oil had moved off the property toward Hope Bay and has stepped in to oversee the off-site response – as well as to ensure that the responsible party takes necessary actions to contain, clean up and monitor the spill," a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
Furnace oil is a type of petroleum-based fuel.
The spill led the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Environment Office to issue a warning Tuesday afternoon for its members to use caution and limit contact with the water and shoreline in the area for the time being. It called the spill a "serious concern" because Hope Bay and its connected creeks are important areas where members carry out traditional activities including smelt harvesting.
The Environment Office has also asked anyone who has spotted sheen on the water detected a strong odour, or spotted affected wildlife to contact them.
The ministry stated that it is working with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and local authorities and will continue to monitor the situation to determine if additional clean-up is needed.
