Legal Action Looms Over Major Diesel Spill in Woodstock

A significant diesel leak at an Irving Oil gas station in Woodstock has prompted an investigation by the Department of Justice and Public Safety, raising the possibility of legal action. The leak, which occurred at Murray’s Truck Stop on Beardsley Road, was discovered in December 2024 after customers at a nearby Tim Hortons reported unusual tastes in their water.

According to experts, approximately 189,000 litres of diesel fuel leaked from an underground storage tank, marking it as one of the largest spills in Canadian history. Following the detection of the spill, a major cleanup operation, financed by Irving Oil, commenced. This effort involved excavating contaminated soil and installing monitoring equipment across a wide area, extending to the nearby TransCanada Highway.

Gilles LePage, New Brunswick’s Environment Minister, provided an update on the situation during a press conference, stating, “Everything that we’ve asked of the proponent has been done. They’ve respected our rules and regulations that are in place.” He confirmed that the investigation has now transitioned to the justice department, which will determine whether any legal action is warranted.

During a recent legislative committee meeting, Mike Comeau, Deputy Justice and Public Safety Minister, clarified that the file had been handed over to his department as of December. He noted that it is the responsibility of enforcement officers to recommend potential charges to prosecutors.

Concerns regarding the environmental expertise of the enforcement branch were raised by David Coon, leader of the Green Party. Comeau assured the committee that the environment department would provide necessary expertise. “Our officers are the investigators who will help present their case to prosecutors and go back if any additional work is needed,” he stated.

In response to inquiries about the spill and ongoing remediation efforts, Irving Oil spokesperson April Cunningham emphasized the company’s commitment to safety. “The safety of our customers and our neighbours is our highest priority,” she said. Cunningham referred to a statement issued in April 2025, which acknowledged that the systems designed to prevent such incidents failed to operate as intended.

The aftermath of the spill prompted inspections of 91 gas stations across New Brunswick, revealing that more than half were found to be violating regulations. These violations included unlicensed operations, improper tank storage, and failure to conduct daily checks for leaks. Notably, it was discovered that eight stations had not performed daily dipstick tests on their underground tanks, which is crucial for leakage detection.

While fines were issued for lesser infractions during the initial inspections, LePage indicated that more severe penalties could be forthcoming for significant violations, such as neglecting to check fuel levels in underground tanks. The environment department later confirmed that 16 tickets were issued, resulting in $19,272 in fines, along with the implementation of 32 compliance plans.

As the investigation progresses, the implications of this diesel spill extend beyond legal accountability. The environmental impact and the effectiveness of regulatory measures in place will likely be scrutinized closely, as the community seeks assurances that such incidents will be prevented in the future.