Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment Chester Gillan commended Islanders today for their efforts in realizing a dramatic drop in the number of oil spills this past winter.
Eight weather-related spills were reported this year, compared to 130 last winter.
"While the weather conditions were not as severe this year, the actions of Island residents certainly played a role in those statistics. Homeowners took steps to protect against oil spills by installing weather protection devices and taking time to remove any buildup of snow and ice from around their tanks," said Minister Gillan. "These individual efforts are essential in preventing oil spills, and I thank Islanders for their assistance."
The 2001 home heat tank survey of 400 randomly-selected homes across PEI showed a 240 per cent increase in the use of weather protection devices on outside tanks. One of the most effective means of protecting against an oil spill, these devices sit above the valve and product line vibration loop, helping to keep these vulnerable parts from being broken or damaged by the natural elements. In the 2000 survey, 10 per cent of outside tanks had weather protection devices. That figure reached 34 per cent in 2001.
"If we continue to see this increase in the use of weather protection devices, weather-related spills could become a thing of the past," said Minister Gillan. "That's good news for homeowners and business owners whose lives can be turned upside down by an oil spill, and it's good news for the environment. Oil leaks are one of the most common causes of groundwater contamination and can cause irreversible environmental damage to a property."
For further information on oil tank weather protection devices or other home heat safety tips, contact the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment at (902) 368-5042.