The Department of the Environment said in an email July 12 that an old storage tank in Baker Lake was drained with the approval of the department, after a concerned resident reported what appeared to be a suspected spill. (Photo courtesy of Joan Scottie)
Suspected Baker Lake spill was false alarm, GN says
Environment Department cites ‘administrative error’ for delay in acknowledging woman’s report
An “administrative error” caused a Baker Lake woman’s report of a suspected spill in that community to not be acknowledged in the Government of Nunavut’s records for nearly a month, according to the Department of Environment.
Joan Scottie, who identified herself as a former land inspector, told Nunatsiaq News June 12 she alerted the department after observing “a large industrial tank containing a liquid that was very odorous, and brownish in colour” draining into the ground on June 8.
Nunatsiaq News asked the department about Scottie’s contention on June 21. A department spokesperson said then it had no record of the report.
Three weeks later, on July 12, the department confirmed a local contractor had obtained permission to “drain water from an old storage tank” and that a department representative was on site to supervise.
The planned discharge of water in the hamlet had been overlooked due to “an administrative error,” said Leanne Babstock, director of policy and planning legislation for the Environment Department, in an email to Nunatsiaq News.
“The department was informed that the tank never held petroleum products, only water for use from the cement plant,” she said.
“It was observed that discolouration of the water in the tank was caused by rust inside the tank; there was no sheen or fuel smell present.”
“overlooked due to “an administrative error,””
Could be said for most problems in the GN.
That lady needs to be removed from KIA. She may think she has power to any companies. They have told her already was just water but no. She also made a big deal about a bus. In 90s we would have to walk were there was wild animals. With no bus to and from school. Esp in blizzard condition