New Brunswick government inspections this year revealed that over half of the gas stations examined were not complying with provincial regulations concerning their storage tanks. The Environment Department reported that out of the 91 gas stations inspected since April, 47, or 51.6%, were found to be in violation of the rules.
Environment Minister Gilles LePage expressed concern over the infractions, noting that while some were minor, they should be taken seriously. He emphasized the importance of enforcing regulations and warned gas stations that non-compliance would not be tolerated.
As a result of the inspections, 16 tickets were issued with fines totaling $19,272, and 32 gas stations were given compliance plans to rectify their violations. The department disclosed that 189,000 liters of gas had been spilled, but there was no reported contamination of water wells outside the affected site, with ongoing monitoring in place.
Green Leader David Coon criticized the significant number of violations and attributed them to decisions made by past Liberal and Progressive Conservative governments. PC Leader Glen Savoie acknowledged the longstanding issues but stressed that the current responsibility lies with the Liberals in power.
Irving Oil, identified as the responsible party for the leak, is actively engaged in cleanup efforts at the site. Environment Minister LePage indicated that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause of the Woodstock leak and its implications, reiterating the commitment to uphold regulations for the protection of the environment and citizens of New Brunswick.
