P.E.I. school officials inspecting oil tanks

Spill at Three Oaks High School prompts more extensive inspections

Image | Oil spill

Caption: Crews work Thursday on the cleanup from an oil spill at Three Oaks High School in Summerside last month. (Patrick Faller/CBC)

As crews continue to clean up an oil spill at Three Oaks High School in Summerside, officials have been inspecting tanks at other schools across the province to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Last month, 11,000 litres of oil leaked out of a rusty, 26-year-old tank at the high school. The tank has been removed, but it will take another few weeks to finish excavating the site. It's unclear when the entire clean up will be complete.
The incident has prompted the the English Language School Board to do more to ensure the safety of their tanks and enclosures.

Image | Oil spill

Caption: The cleanup from the oil spill at Three Oaks High School in Summerside is expected to take several more weeks. (Patrick Faller/CBC)

The board has begun doing more thorough checks on the tanks. Officials say they're focusing, in particular, on the drain pipes and plugs on the containment vessels which cradle and protect the large tanks — something that wasn't done before.
So far, no other tanks or containments have been found in such disrepair according to the school board.
The province is also reviewing its rules relating to large oil tanks.
Classes at Three Oaks have not been affected by the oil spill because the school is heated mostly by wood chips.