CLEAN UP OF CHITEK LAKE FUEL STORAGE AREA

Work is underway on cleaning up an abandoned fuel storage site at the Chitek Lake park area in Chitek Lake, north of Spiritwood.

The site used to be home to a boathouse which included a boat refueling facility. The removal of the tank is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 22nd and be complete the following day. The site will likely continue to be used as a recreation area.

"Cleaning up these sites is not only important to the environment but also to the economy, as it allows property that would be unavailable for development to be sold or used for commercial or other purposes," Environment Minister Buckley Belanger said. "We are pleased with the progress we are making in co-operation with local governments, the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, our partners in this clean up program."

The abandoned stations found around the province are due to downsizing and restructuring in the petroleum industry over the past 20 years which led to the closure of hundreds of establishments. Many were not closed down properly and have since been taken over by municipalities because of a failure to pay property taxes.

The provincial government is contributing $3.8 million over a four year period from its Centenary Fund to help clean up the sites. The Fund is designed to pay for various capital projects in advance of the province's centenary celebrations in 2005. The cost of the Chitek Lake clean up is estimated at $22,000. So far 70 abandoned fuel sites have been remediated since the start of the program in 2000.

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For More Information, Contact:

Victor Chang Environment Regina Phone: (306)787-6185

Aaron Deschene Orphaned Fuel Storage Program Regina Phone: (306)525-4395