N.B. conducting provincewide gas station inspections in response to Woodstock spill

New Brunswick is conducting inspections at gas stations following a diesel leak in Woodstock.

The New Brunswick government says provincewide inspections of gas stations will be done following a large diesel spill at an Irving Oil truck stop in Woodstock last year.

Environment Minister Gilles LePage issued a statement Tuesday where he said the inspections will be done to confirm regulatory compliance and ensure site owners have the right measures in place for detecting and managing oil spills.

LePage said his department has conducted hundreds of inspections in recent years, but the new ones will be in addition to those.

“The diesel release at Beardsley Road Irving was discovered in December and was the result of a crack in a remote fill elbow, which has since been decommissioned. The petroleum systems at this location were tested to ensure that there were no other leaks prior to the retail outlet reopening to the public. The department continues to investigate the circumstances around the cause of the diesel release,” he said in the statement.

Work continues to contain and clean up the affected area.

LePage added off-site potable wells and nearby wetlands were not impacted by the spill.

He said he will continue to provide regular updates as the investigation continues.

Irving Oil identified as responsible party

LePage’s department has also determined Irving Oil Ltd. as the responsible party for the incident and has required the company to hire a site professional to oversee emergency response and cleanup.

His office will continue to investigate the incident for any violations of environmental legislation, and ensure Irving continues to comply with those legislations, including safe storage practices. They will also monitor the site professional to ensure cleanup regulations are followed.

In a statement released Tuesday, Irving Oil said steps were immediately taken to address the issue upon its discovery at the Murray’s Truck Stop location.

“On-site filtration systems ensured public safety was not compromised at any time as a result of this incident,” the release reads in part.

“Potable well water testing – both regulated and voluntary – has been ongoing in the surrounding area with results consistently falling within safe parameters. A separate supply of potable water from the Town of Woodstock is being provided to Murray’s Truck Stop and we want to assure all who visit our site that all requirements have been met to ensure their experience at Murray’s is safe.”

The company said it has undertaken a “thorough and extensive” review of the incident to prevent future occurrences.

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