Province and Industry Promote Oil Tank Inspection -- All Tanks To Be Inspected By September 2006

* Environment, Energy & Forestry [to Nov 2011]
With less than four months to have their oil tank inspected, Islanders are being given some added incentive to avoid a last-minute rush – a chance to win one of four prizes of $750 worth of home heating oil.

The Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry and the Canadian Oil Heat Association are partnering on the Oil Giveaway promotion. It builds on the success of a similar joint initiative in 2005. Minister Jamie Ballem and Russell Noonan, President of the PEI Petroleum Marketer’s Association, announced details of the 2006 Oil Giveaway today.

“Last year’s promotion proved to be very effective with almost double the number of inspections completed over the same period the previous year,” said Minister Ballem. “With the September deadline approaching and an estimated 16,000 oil tanks still to be inspected and tagged with a PEI Oil Tank ID tag, we want to encourage Islanders to have their tank system inspected and tagged today.”

Both Minister Ballem and Mr. Noonan said industry and government are pleased to work together on the Oil Giveaway promotion.

“Oil providers in PEI are dedicated to ensuring our customers are safe, warm and comfortable,” said Mr. Noonan. “Having their oil tank system inspected and tagged gives homeowners the added peace of mind, knowing the system is properly installed and meets provincial standards.”

The Government of Prince Edward Island introduced changes to provincial regulations in 2001 to help eliminate the most common preventable causes of domestic oil spills – internal corrosion on tanks that are too old and improper tank installation. The regulations require all oil tank systems to be inspected by a licensed inspector by September 2006, and tagged with a PEI Aboveground Oil Tank ID Tag by September 2007. The tag indicates the date by which the tank must be replaced.

Since the regulations were introduced, an estimated 34,000 tanks have been inspected and tagged. There has also been a sharp decline in the number of oil spills. In 2005, there were 146 reported home heat tank oil spills, down from 179 reported spills in 2004. This figure is significantly lower than the 262 spills reported in 2001 when the regulations were introduced. Of the 146 spills in 2005, only 60 were spills of five litres or greater.

“The regulations are clearly doing what they were intended to do and that is protect our environment and protect homeowners by preventing costly oil spills,” said Minister Ballem.

To qualify for the Oil Giveaway, homeowners enter the identification number found on their PEI Aboveground Oil Tank ID Tag. Islanders who have already had their tank system tagged and those who get it done in the coming weeks and months will be eligible to win. A draw for $750 worth of home heating oil will be held June 15, July 27, September 14, and October 26.

Partners in the Oil Giveaway promotion are the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry, the Canadian Oil Heat Association, Co-op Fuels Ltd., Irving Oil Limited, Island Petroleum, K&M Home Heating, Kenmac Energy, Kerr Controls, MacInnis Fuels Ltd., Noonan Petroleum Ltd., Palmer Fuels Inc., Souris Petroleum and Ultramar Limited.

Funding for the Oil Giveaway promotion is provided through the Atlantic provinces’ portion of the Canadian Oil Heat Association's national marketing fund, Today's Oil Heat. The national marketing fund is made up of contributions from the major oil companies and independent companies which are members of the Canadian Oil Heat Association.

For more information on the Oil Giveaway promotion, including complete contest rules, Islanders can speak to their local oil provider, call the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry at (902) 368-5042, or visit the website at www.gov.pe.ca/go/oilgiveaway.

Media Contact: Sandra Lambe