Landfill disposal ban on petroleum contaminated soil expanded

Ralph Wiseman, Minister of Environment, today announced that effective June 30, the ban on the landfill disposal of petroleum contaminated soil will be expanded to include most communities on the island portion of the province. 

"Similar bans have been in effect on the Avalon Peninsula since 1995 and on the west coast since August of last year. I am pleased that treatment facilities are now in place throughout most areas of the province, and that petroleum contaminated soil can now be kept out of landfill sites," said Minister Wiseman.

Petroleum contaminated soil treatment facilities are presently in operation in Stephenville, Corner Brook and St. John's, with facilities scheduled to be operating in Gander by the end of the month and in Grand Falls-Windsor by July 31. Minister Wiseman said he has written communities to advise them that petroleum contaminated soil cannot be disposed into a landfill or incinerator site, but rather it must be sent to an approved treatment facility.

The minister also explained that there are still some areas of the island which do not have reasonable access to soil treatment services and as such, these areas will be exempt from the ban extension for an additional six months in order to give interested companies an opportunity to establish soil treatment facilities in those areas. 

The exempt areas are: all communities on the Burin Peninsula south of, but not including Swift Current; all communities on the South Coast which rely on ferry transportation, including all communities in Bay d'Espoir, Fortune Bay, Hermitage Bay, and Connaigre Bay; all communities north of Western Pond Brook on the Great Northern Peninsula; and all communities on the Bonavista Peninsula located north of, but excluding Lethbridge. 

"Within the next six months, the department will re-evaluate these areas to determine if appropriate facilities exist and if the ban can be implemented. Any changes to the policy will be communicated to the communities affected," said Minister Wiseman.
Media contact: Diane Keough, Communications, (709) 729-2575.

Petroleum contaminated soil landfill disposal ban
areas exempt

Exempt Areas

•  All communities on the Burin Peninsula south of but not including Swift Current.
  
• All communities on the south coast which rely on ferry transportation, and all communities in Bay d'Espoir, Fortune Bay, Hermitage Bay, and Connaigre Bay.
  
• All communities north of Western Pond Brook on the Great Northern Peninsula. 
  
• All communities on the Bonavista Peninsula north of a line located immediately north of Lethbridge and which runs easterly to a point immediately south of the communities of Old and New Bonaventure.
  
  2001 06 26                                                            1:00 p.m.