Last winter, workers dismantling a disused chemical plant in Faro found they were being affected by chemicals on the site. The Faro fire chief knew what to do. He called Environment Canada's Spill Line.

The Yukon's first line of defence against spills of hazardous materials, the Spill Line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and accepts collect calls from anywhere in the territory. Environment Canada's goal is to respond to every call within 15 minutes, no matter when the call comes in.

Not all calls are as serious as the chemical plant in Faro, says George Balmer. As head of Environment Canada's Enforcement and Emergency Section in Whitehorse, he's the man in charge of the Spill Line.

Some calls are as simple as a complaint about antifreeze dripping from a parked car or a pan of oil left in the street after a vehicle oil change. Others are more serious, like a tanker truck overturned and spilling its contents along a Yukon roadside, or a mysterious gas that drives everyone out of a laboratory.

Balmer and Environmental Inspector Stephen Arrell are part of Environment Canada's spill response team in the Yukon. They are trained and equipped to deal with everything from spilled chemicals in a garden shed to industrial-level oil spills.

They're also equipped to handle spills in remote areas. Their spill response trailer is outfitted with most of the information and gear they might need, including generators to keep the clean-up going after dark. The trailer is the only one of its kind in Yukon, says Balmer, who designed and helped build it.

In some situations, however, even the best equipment is not enough. A spill of unknown substances is especially tricky, says Arrell.

In the case of the abandoned chemical plant in Faro, no one knew exactly what chemicals had been used or what had been done with them. Several tanks still contained unknown chemicals, and others had spilled or been dumped on the property.

In a situation like that, says Balmer, the first step is to collect all the information available locally to get the best possible idea of what substances you're dealing with.

"If it's something that should scare you, then you either make the decision not to go in, or you go in at the top level of personal protection to sample and detect." The protection includes self-contained breathing apparatus, gas detectors, and rubber suits. The suits are resistant to most chemicals, but even they don't stop all chemicals.

"The important thing to remember is that even though Steve and I are trained in the equipment, the support that goes along with using this equipment is quite extensive and heavy," says Balmer.

When the highest level of protection is needed, at least two more trained crews are required: one to wash Arrell and Balmer down when they come out of the contaminated area, and another to rescue them if they need help. Since Environment Canada doesn't have the extra personnel, the back-up crews generally come from local fire departments.

"It's a very technical business," says Balmer. "Plus you're dealing with chemistry most of the time -- a series of unknowns. It's only predictable when you know exactly what you're dealing with."

Fortunately, only a few spills called in to the Spill Line each year are as serious as the Faro chemical plant. Of roughly a hundred calls a year, only about half require a physical response on the part of Environment Canada. Many of the others can be dealt with by providing information over the telephone or by referral to another agency.

Environment Canada's first job is to determine what federal, territorial, municipal or private agency is responsible for cleaning up the spill. Then the department informs that agency and monitors the clean-up.

The Environment Canada team takes an active part in about 20 cases a year. About half a dozen times a year, the party responsible for a spill is unknown or a spill can't wait until the responsible party acts. Then Environment Canada takes over full control of the immediate clean-up.

"If no one else is responsible, or no else is capable of responding or is actually responding, we'll do it," says Balmer. "And then we'll go back afterwards for cost recoveries and whatever is required." The number of the Yukon Spill Line is (867) 667-7244. For more information about the Spill Line, contact the Environmental Protection Branch, Environment Canada, Whitehorse, at 667-3400.