FAQ
Q: Who do I call if I suspect or know that I have had a fuel oil spill on my residential property?
A: To report an oil spill during regular business hours, please contact the closest office of Nova Scotia Environment and Labour. If the incident is after office hours, please call the Environmental Emergency at: 1-800-565-1633.
When reporting an environmental emergency, Environment and Labour staff will be contacted and be provided with the details you provide. Department staff will then evaluate the incident and ensure an appropriate response is taken. You are required to report an oil spill of 100 litres or more, if you are the person responsible.
You should also contact your insurance company as soon as possible. The insurance company may provide immediate response to begin contain and clean up the spill.
Q: What is the responsibility of a property owner in the event of a spill (release of a substance)?
A: As a property owner, you are responsible to ensure that a spill originating from your property is properly cleaned up. Oil spills can result in significant health and environmental issues if not addressed properly.
In the Environment Act, any person responsible for the release of substance shall, at that person's own cost, and as soon as that person knows or ought to have known of the release of the substance into the environment that has caused, is causing or may cause an adverse effect, shall rehabilitate the environment to a standard prescribed or adopted by the Department. The Environment Act defines who a person responsible is and also outlines their responsibilities in part VI, sections 67 through to 71.
Q: Will the department clean up my property if I experience an spill?
A: No. Environment and Labour does not clean up the spill. The department's role and mandate is to ensure the environment is protected in the event of a spill by requiring and ensuring the person responsible and/or the property owner takes appropriate steps to clean up the spill.
Q: Who will clean up the spill?
A: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. They will determine if you have coverage through your insurance policy. If there is coverage, the insurance company will generally contact certified professionals to begin cleanup.
If there is no insurance coverage as a property owner and person responsible, you are ultimately responsible to get the cleanup done. The Domestic Fuel Oil Spill Policy (PDF: 182k) requires individuals who clean up fuel oil spills on residential properties to be certified. There are both certified contractors and site professionals certified under the policy.
Q: Who is a Site Professional?
A: Site professionals under the domestic fuel oil spill policy are individuals with sufficient credentials and experience to be certified to oversee and manage all aspects of a fuel oil spill cleanup. They are normally professional consultants who work for private engineering and/or environmental consulting firms.
Q: Who is a Certified Cleanup Contractor?
Certified Cleanup Contractors (contractors) are also licensed with the provincial government to work on domestic fuel oil spills only. Contractors are also required to have hands on experience and credentials to be certified. Contractors normally carry out the physical and site work to clean up domestic fuel oil spills with machinery and equipment. Contractors in some cases can work by themselves but in many cases are required to work in combination with site professionals in cleaning up domestic oil spills. Please refer to the Domestic Fuel Oil Spill Policy (DFOSP) for more details.
Q: How do I know if my insurance will cover me if I have an oil spill?
A: Call your insurance company and ask them if your policy will cover you and your neighbors's properties if you have a spill. Request a copy of your policy if you do not have one.
