Turning up the pressure
Charlottetown residents group once again pressing Irving Oil to move propane tank storage facility
A group of residents living near the Irving Oil propane storage facility on Allen Street in Charlottetown has renewed the call for the
facility to move.
The North of Euston group on Facebook regularly discusses issues that affect residents, schools and businesses north of Euston Street. Sharon Larter, a member of the group, approached
The Guardian to talk about the propane tank farm following recent natural gas explosions in Massachusetts that left one person dead and injured more than two dozen others.
Residents and politicians in
Charlottetown have tried to convince Irving Oil to move the storage facility before, to no avail.
“It’s been a long time,’’ Larter said in reference to their requests to have the tank farm moved.
“We’ve been asking for a long time, and (it’s been) different people. I know (the storage) facility is still there (because) it would cost money (to move it).’’
Larter said the area between Euston and Allen streets has grown immensely since the propane tank facility opened about 40 years ago into a densely populated part of the city.
Former Charlottetown MLA Doug Currie spoke out against the existing location of the propane tank facility after a faulty hose spilled 32,000 litres of propane in 2012. Current Ward 4 Coun. Mitchell Tweel has also consistently lobbied Irving to move the facility to a more industrialized setting.
Larter said it’s time to have the discussion again, reiterating that Allen Street simply isn’t the place for a propane tank storage facility.
“I’m sure (Irving has) great safety features. It’s just that the possibility is there for human error or safety breakdown. Is it something you want to take a risk (with)? The outcome could be very, very dangerous.’’
Candice MacLean, spokeswoman with Irving Oil, told The Guardian on Tuesday the company has continuously invested in the storage facility to ensure it’s safe and reliable.
“We have no immediate plans to share regarding a relocation of this facility,’’ MacLean said in an email. “In everything we do across all our locations, we work hard to be a good neighbour and we look forward to continuing these relationships moving forward.’’
Larter said no one ever thinks an accident will happen in their own backyard, but she didn’t think a bomb would go off at Province House in 1995 where she was working.
“It’s just the fact (it) could cause catastrophic results if something were to happen. There are schools, kindergartens, seniors’ homes, a supermarket (and a) drug store all within a stone’s throw . . . that draw a lot of people.’’
Larter admits she isn’t any more optimistic that bringing an old subject up like this will do any more good than it did before, but she still thinks Boston is a reminder that stuff can happen and it’s time to have the discussion again in Charlottetown.