In the current year, over half of the gas stations inspected by the New Brunswick government were found to be breaching provincial regulations concerning their storage tanks. The Environment Department confirmed that out of the 91 gas stations inspected since April, 47 of them, accounting for 51.6 percent, were not adhering to the regulations.
Environment Minister Gilles LePage expressed concern over the violations, emphasizing the importance of taking them seriously. The department issued 16 tickets with fines totaling $19,272, and 32 gas stations were provided with compliance plans to rectify the non-compliance issues. The department reported a spill of 189,000 liters of gas, with ongoing monitoring to ensure no water well contamination.
The inspections were initiated following a spill at an Irving Oil station in Woodstock last December. Green Leader David Coon criticized the significant number of violations, attributing them to decisions made by past Liberal and Progressive Conservative governments. PC Leader Glen Savoie acknowledged the pre-existing issues but emphasized the current responsibility to address them.
Irving Oil, identified as the responsible party for the leak, is actively engaged in cleanup efforts at the site. The investigation into the Woodstock leak is ongoing, with Minister LePage affirming the commitment to enforcing regulations to safeguard the environment and residents of New Brunswick.