Over two months since its detection, the enormous diesel spill at an Irving truck stop on Beardsley Road in Woodstock is still undergoing environmental cleanup. The full extent of the spill, which was first spotted on December 12, 2024, only came to light in late February following a freedom of information request by CBC from the New Brunswick environment department.
According to the data obtained from the CBC’s investigation, it is estimated that around 100,000 litres of diesel leaked from the storage tank into the surrounding area. The ongoing cleanup and mitigation efforts are significantly impacting local businesses and homeowners, with continuous water testing being carried out in neighboring properties.
The fuel leak issue was first brought to the attention of the Department of Environment and Local Government by the Tim Horton’s franchise, situated in the parking lot of Murray’s Irving Restaurant and Truck Stop on Beardsley Road in Woodstock. This was after customers and staff at the restaurant noticed a petroleum smell in the bathroom water. Following these concerns, Tim Hortons hired Gemtech to test its treated and untreated water. Samples gathered on December 12 confirmed the presence of gasoline in the untreated water.
This discovery led to a comprehensive investigation into the source, extent, and cleanup of the spill. It was soon found that a fuel leak had contaminated both the Tim Horton’s well and the well serving Murray’s restaurant and Irving truck stop. Following this, the businesses temporarily closed their doors as environment officials, Irving staff, and a host of consultants and contractors gathered to address the issue.
Investigations revealed that the fuel leak was much larger than initially estimated, potentially exceeding 100,000 litres. The fuel not only contaminated nearby wells but also posed a risk to surrounding wells. The diesel infiltrated the groundwater and flowed overground towards the nearby Trans Canada Highway.
Tim Hortons remains closed nearly three months after the discovery, while Murray’s Restaurant and the Irving gas bar reopened after a few days, using potable water trucked into the businesses. Meanwhile, Hilary Stockford of Stockford Reefers, a trucking service company near the Irving truck stop, stated that Irving contractors are regularly testing the water in their wells and those of other businesses and homeowners in the area.
The size of the spill has surprised many, including environmental officials. The leak was traced back to a cracked elbow attached to one of the Irving underground tanks. Despite this, officials can’t determine whether the diesel leaked slowly over a long period or flowed quickly into the surrounding ground.
As cleanup and mitigation efforts continue, neither government nor company officials have provided an update about the spread of the contaminant, including whether it reached the surrounding watershed or dispersed into the groundwater tables.
