Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
Environment and Conservation
August 12, 2011
Deadline extended for Oil Tank Repairs in Inuit Communities
To further assist and encourage homeowners in Inuit communities to participate in the Government Assistance Plan for oil tank repair or replacement, the deadline to make repairs to what are known as single-walled tanks for compliance with environmental regulations is extended from September 1, 2011 to January 1, 2012.
Under the plan, a recent series of over 750 pre-inspections, carried out at no cost to homeowners, determined that some 175 tanks required only repairs in order to meet Heating Oil Storage Tanks System regulations and be registered. The majority of these are single-walled tanks.
“This extension will allow homeowners with tanks that require only repairs in order to be registered sufficient time to carry out those repairs,” said the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. “This means homeowners can make certain their tanks are safer, more secure, and compliant with environmental regulations at a greatly reduced cost.”
Residents who had their tanks pre-inspected and wish to continue with efforts to have their tanks certified through the Government Assistance Plan are now required to fill out a consent form. The form has been sent by mail and is also available at www.gov.nl.ca/laa/programs_we_offer/gap.html. Officials with Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs have been following up with door-to-door visits throughout the communities. Participants must have the form completed and forwarded by mail to the address provided no later than August 26.
“The Provincial Government’s efforts to ensure oil tanks meet Heating Oil Storage Tank System regulations have been successful, with some 61,000 tanks registered since the regulations came into effect in 2002,” said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “However we recognize that for the Inuit communities on Labrador’s north coast, extreme circumstances, such as the remoteness of communities, the region’s short marine shipping season and the limited availability of licensed inspectors, add to the challenge and expense of repairing, replacing and registering oil tanks.”
Through a combination of financial and in-kind resources, the Government Assistance Plan encourages compliance with Heating Oil Storage Tank System regulations. Homeowners who participate will see a substantial reduction in the necessary expense to achieve compliance to a level comparable to costs incurred by homeowners in other parts of Labrador.
Under the plan, the Provincial Government will reduce the per-unit cost of oil tanks through a bulk purchase, eliminate oil-tank shipping costs, and pay the travel costs of the licensed inspectors who will do the installations, repairs and registrations.
Participating homeowners requiring tank replacement will be expected to make a $500 down payment, which will be waived for persons with an annual household income of $35,000 or less. As well, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) will provide loans for the replacement of tanks to homeowners with a maximum annual household income of $35,000. Eligible homeowners are encouraged to apply to the NLHC Oil Tank Replacement Program at: www.nlhc.nl.ca/OilTankProgram/index.html.
Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador, includes $1.5 million for an assistance plan for Inuit communities where homeowners face unique and difficult challenges associated with the registration of home heating oil tanks to meet compliance with Heating Oil Storage Tank System regulations.
For more information on the Government Assistance Plan for the repair or replacement of residential oil tanks, please go to: www.gov.nl.ca/laa/ or call toll-free 1-877-788-8822.
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Media contacts:
| John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs 709-729-1674, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca |
Melony O’Neill Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 689-0928 moneill@gov.nl.ca |
2011 08 12 1:25 p.m.