Government completes more petroleum system inspections

Release

Department of Environment and Local Government

October 17, 2025

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The following statement was issued by Environment and Climate Change Minister Gilles LePage:

As part of our commitment to transparency, I want to ensure New Brunswickers are kept fully informed about the progress at the Irving station on Beardsley Road in Woodstock in the wake of a diesel spill in December 2024.

The petroleum systems at this location were tested to ensure there were no other leaks prior to the retail outlet reopening to the public on Dec. 17. The total volume of product recovered is estimated to be 189,000 litres.

The second phase of a provincewide inspection of retail fuel outlets has recently been completed, and the department has completed 91 inspections since launching the exercise in April.

Non-compliances were observed at 47 sites and consisted mainly of unlicensed sites, failure to display owner/operator information, use of hold-open devices, unregistered tanks and improper storage tank labelling. These findings prompted enforcement actions by the department, including the issuance of tickets and compliance plans. Additional inspections will continue.

Irving Oil Ltd., the responsible party for the Beardsley Road Irving fuel release, continues to follow the department’s Contaminated Sites Regulation as remediation activities to clean up the spill continue at the site. Efforts include groundwater monitoring, both on- and off-site, as well as the installation of an extraction system designed to remove diesel from below ground at the site. Remediation equipment will remain in operation and will be winterized so that it can operate as needed throughout the winter.

Sampling results continue to show no impacts from the release to off-site potable wells. Additional ecological assessment has been completed, and results of that assessment will be available shortly. The Tim Hortons adjacent to the Irving station has reopened for business.

The department, which continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the release, is also ensuring that Irving Oil Ltd. is complying with environmental legislation, including the Petroleum Product Storage and Handling Regulation.

The department remains in communication with key stakeholders to keep them informed on the file. I appreciate the community’s concerns and will provide ongoing updates on remediation activities and any significant findings that can be released from the investigation process. If any member of the public has any questions, they can reach out to the department at 506-453-7945 or elg/[email protected].

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Environment and natural resources