Tenders to be Issued for Oil Tank Repair and Replacement

To support ongoing efforts to make oil tanks safe and secure, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will issue a series of tenders for the Inuit Communities of Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik and Rigolet.

The tenders issued under the Government Assistance Plan for oil tank repair or replacement will cover:

• Tanks and parts;
• Concrete blocks required for tank replacement; and,
• Repairs, replacement and inspection.

“The Government Assistance Plan is a clear recognition of the unique circumstances faced by residents living in the remote Inuit communities of northern Labrador,” said the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. “The issuing of these tenders marks an important juncture in the plan for repairing and replacing oil tanks to meet provincial environmental standards. Participating residents look forward to ensuring their oil tanks are safe, secure, and compliant with environmental regulations.”

Through a combination of financial and in-kind resources, the Government Assistance Plan encourages compliance with Heating Oil Storage Tank System (HOST) regulations. Participants 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.

The Provincial Government’s efforts to ensure oil tanks meet HOST regulations have been successful, with some 61,000 tanks registered since the regulations came into effect in 2002. However, for the Inuit communities of northern Labrador, extreme circumstances, such as remoteness, a short marine shipping season and the limited availability of licensed inspectors, add to the challenge and expense of repairing, replacing and registering oil tanks.

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 HOST regulations.

For more information on the Government Assistance Plan for the repair or replacement of residential oil tanks, please go to: www.laa.gov.nl.ca/laa/ or call toll-free 1-877-788-8822.

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Media contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
709-729-1674, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca 

2011 09 16                                 9:50 a.m.