Gasoline and "diesel-like" material is seeping from Chevron Canada's Burrard Inlet refinery in Burnaby, B.C.
Spokesman Ray Lord said Thursday groundwater from a ditch outside the property began seeping sometime in the last month and includes traces of crude oil.
In Pictures: B.C. refinery leak
Lord said crews haven't located the source of the seep, which appears as a sheen on waters just east of Vancouver, similar to what would be seen at a marina.
He said the hydrocarbon mixture is confined to a boomed section of a remote beach.
Lord said the company hasn't yet determined what, if any, damage has been caused to the inlet.
"We're dealing with a very small amount of material and because it's mixed with water it's been difficult to determine an exact quantity, but this is not something that we think presents a danger to the environment or to the public," he said.
"But it needs to be addressed and it needs to be cleaned up."
An Environment Ministry spokesman said the government will monitor Chevron's progress in confining the material.
Suntanu Dalal said the company has put up signs about the restricted area on the beach and has informed the city of Burnaby and Environment Canada of the situation.
Dalal said Chevron will take samples from the beach area in about a week to assess their content.
