More than two months after it was discovered, environmental cleaning of massive diesel overflow continued at an Irving truck stop on Beardsley Road, Woodstock.
The spillover range originally detected on December 12, 2024 until late February, CBC unveiled information obtained through the New Brunswick Ministry of Environment’s Freedom of Information Request.
Emails and reports collected by government officials and others through the CBC’s fact-finding search showed that up to 100,000 liters of diesel escaped from the storage tank and entered the surroundings.
The far-reaching impact of the cleanup and mitigation efforts continues to affect businesses and homeowners around truck stops and restaurants, including ongoing adjacent property testing.
Documents collected by CBC show that the fuel leak problem arrived at reports of Tim Horton’s franchise, a parking lot on Beardsley Road, Woodstock.
Tim Hortons signed on to Gemtech to test its untreated and untreated water after clients and staff raised concerns about the oil odor in the restaurant’s bathroom water.
On December 12, the company collected samples and confirmed the test results of December 14.
“They have received the results today and confirmed the presence of gasoline in the untreated water,” the environmental inspector said in a Dec. 14 memorandum.
This discovery triggered a large-scale investigation into the source, extent, cleanup and mitigation measures of the leak. Officials soon discovered that the fuel spill had contaminated Tim Horton’s well and contaminated Murray’s restaurant and Irving truck station.
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Businesses immediately closed their doors, and environmental officials, Irving employees, and numerous consultants and contractors flocked to the site to resolve the matter.
As confusing area residents and customers watched stable equipment in and around Irving’s commercial lot, daily activity levels increased, corporate and government officials provided little public explanation.
Meanwhile, documents requested by CBC information show that concerns among environmental officials are growing.
As Irving’s underground tanks were considered the source of pollution, the company immediately hired Dillon consultants to identify the problem and develop mitigation strategies.
The investigation quickly found that the initial estimated Prosser (potential 5,000-liter leak) seemed much larger, possibly over 100,000-liters. In addition to breaking through nearby wells, free-flowing fuel puts surrounding wells at risk. It seeps into the groundwater and flows up and downhill to nearby Canadian transgender highways.
Environmental inspector documents show that surface water in nearby road trenches contains 90% fuel.
Tim Hortons closed the business immediately after discovery and will close in about three months. Meanwhile, Murray’s restaurant and Irving Gas Bar reopened a few days later, using drinking water to ship to businesses.
The town of Woodstock confirmed that the Irving contractor is buying water from its town and shipping it as a business.
Soon after, trucks, heavy equipment, vacuum trucks and crew gathered around the Irving site to collect contaminated water. Irving’s shrinking water testers were dispersed through nearby areas to contact neighboring owners.
Hilary Stockford of Stockford Reefers, a trucking service company located in an industrial park north of Irving Truck Stop, said the Irving contractor “is conducting regular water tests on wells.” She said they are doing the same for other businesses and homeowners across the region.
Stockford acknowledged her in-depth “focus” on the situation and said she thanked people for their attention to ensuring water quality. She added that all test results have been restored to date and she hopes to continue.
The size of the leak shocked many people, including environmental officials. Investigators identified the cause of the leak as a ruptured elbow attached to one of Irving’s underground tanks.
Despite identifying the obvious cause of the leak, investigators noted in the report and email that they could not determine whether the diesel leaked slowly for a long time or whether it was quickly flowing into the surrounding ground.
“Inquiry is underway to see why the version did not cause any alarms and it may not be possible to know that it leaked in a few months or was shorter, shorter, explained Mallory Gilliss, manager of pollution with the Department of Environment.
Many people familiar with the records and safety protocols surrounding the fuel tank are confused about how to leak air.
“It’s incredible,” said an operator familiar with fuel storage.
He and other operators explained that service stations or any operating fuel warehouse must maintain accurate records to show the amount of fuel inflows and outflows.
The operator must make settlements daily and be ready for audits at any time.
Environmental officials declined to answer questions about its investigation into the nature of the leak, directing the media to the company’s owners. Irving officials did not respond to media investigations.
Although cleaning and mitigation efforts continue, neither government nor company officials have provided reports on the spread of pollutants, including whether it reaches the surrounding watershed or dispersed into groundwater meters.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
