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Pine Creek clean up efforts continue

Toronto, Oct. 2, 2003 - On October 1, 2003 a transformer failure occurred at the Cherrywood Transformer Station in Pickering. This resulted in a spill of about 39,000 gallons of mineral oil. The mineral oil has been analyzed and classified as non-PCB. The oil poses no risk to public health. Most of the oil was contained on site but some migrated into the drainage ditch and into Pine Creek.

Hydro One has successfully contained any further oil migration from the source. A 150-foot long boom has been installed where Pine Creek meets Frenchmen's Bay and 10 dams are in place in Pine Creek. Twelve vacuum trucks and other barriers are being used to assist with the oil recovery.

Crews are working around the clock to remove oil from the creek, the switchyard and the containment pit. Hydro One has reclaimed a large volume of oil from both on and off Hydro One property. As of 4:00 p.m., about 120,000 litres of a mixture of oil and water had been retrieved from Pine Creek.

A safe work zone has also been established and barriers and staff are ensuring no member of the public is injured due to the slippery conditions.

Hydro One staff continues to co-operate with Ontario Ministry of Environment and municipal officials.

Hydro One Networks owns and operates the province-wide transmission network and the largest distribution system in Ontario, serving over one million customers. Hydro One is wholly-owned by the provincial government.

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For more information, contact Hydro One Media Relations 24 hours a day at
1-877-506-7584 (toll-free in Ontario only) or 416-345-6868.