Fishery group has concerns on Shoal Point oil leakage

PORT AU PORT EAST, N.L. — Frank Gale
The Western Star

PORT AU PORT EAST, N.L. – Tony Wakeham, MHA for Stephenville – Port au Port District, says he will be finding out where the oil seepage into Port au Port Bay at Shoal Point stands now.
The subject of the oil leakage into the bay was one of the items on the agenda of the Port au Port Bay Fishery Committee meeting held at town hall in Port au Port East on Thursday, July 18.
Bob Diamond, a member of the committee, said he and committee chair Bill Gorman recently visited the site and saw the oil sheen on top of the water next to an abandoned oil well pipe.
He said they are still waiting for the permanent reclamation of the site, as promised by the provincial government.
Diamond said the latest he heard is the province is trying to get money from the federal government to carry out the reclamation work, but the leakage continues; however, not as bad as before the temporary fix was done by a Stephenville company.
Wakeham said prior to the meeting he had tried to get in touch with the Department of Environment on the issue but wasn’t able to connect.
He said he will be following up on the matter and will get back to the fishery committee.

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Twitter: @WS_FrankGale