New Criteria for Domestic Fuel Oil Spills

The cost of cleaning up domestic fuel oil spills is expected to fall with changes to soil and water remediation criteria announced today, Dec. 1, by the Department of Environment and Labour.

The changes will, for example, raise the total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) allowed in residential soil to 140 parts per million from 60.

This will reduce the amount of soil that has to be removed after fuel oil contamination.

Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morash said the changes conform to an Atlantic Canadian standard based on the latest science and Canada-wide guidelines.

"These are risk-based standards developed from the best science available," said Mr. Morash. "They continue to protect the environment and human health, but they will lessen the burden on property owners affected by domestic fuel oil spills.

"The changes were made after careful consideration and consultation. They will be consistent with standards in the other Atlantic provinces."

The maximum total petroleum hydrocarbons allowed for groundwater at residential sites will increase to 3.2 parts per million from 1.1.

For commercial properties contaminated by domestic fuel oil, the criterion for soil will rise to 840 parts per million from 90; and the limit for groundwater at commercial sites will increase to 15 parts per million from 1.8.

Commercial standards are frequently different from residential ones because of factors such as time spent on the site.

Detailed information is available on the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/contaminatedsites/ .