Preamble: Abandoned gas stations and brownsites are all too common in rural towns and are often taking up valuable real estate land as well as being an eyesore to the community.  The soil around former gasoline stations is commonly laced with a long list of contaminants and unless these contaminants leak across property lines, there are no regulations to force the owner of a former gas station to clean up the site for either sale or redevelopment.

Resolution: That the Government of Manitoba ensure economic development is not being restricted in rural areas. Initiatives the government should undertake in this regard should include:

a) introducing legislation that would require land owners to clean up their sites that have been abandoned for more than two years;

b) creating regulations that would make it easier for land owners to clean up old gas station sites; and

c) reducing liability so that after a site is cleaned up and sold, the original owner is no longer liable.

Resolution Report:  

MCC Advocacy (additions since last report are in italics):

May 21, 2008: An MCC ‘Inside the Chamber’ Web Story entitled “IT HAPPENED AT THE AGM: PART 3 – MCC Announces Resolutions For 2008-2009″ provided access to each and every Resolution passed at the AGM. Notice of this story was circulated through the MCC e-Omnibus which is sent to all MCC members, Media and Government.

June 4, 2008: For the first time ever the MCC made available its handbook on ‘Policies & Resolutions’ which contains Resolutions in one handy format. An MCC ‘Inside the Chamber’ Web Story entitled “MCC Releases Policy Handbook” announced this initiative. Notice of this story was circulated through the MCC e-Omnibus which is sent to all MCC members, Media and Government.

June 6, 2008: Resolution books were sent to every MLA and every Member of Parliament that hails from Manitoba. The following had this Resolution specifically drawn to their attention with a detailed letter setting out the background to this issue, Government initiatives (where applicable), and an argument for the Resolution:

• Minister of Conservation
• Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
• Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives

July 11, 2008: Wrote to the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, seeking their support in relation to this matter.

September 29, 2008: Wrote to the sponsoring chamber as to how best to move this matter forward. 

October 20, 2008: The 2008 third quarter edition of the Focus mentioned this Resolution in its report on the MCC AGM. The Focus magazine goes out to 10,000 businesses and community leaders across Manitoba.

Developments (additions since last report are in italics):

July 9, 2008: The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs wrote to the MCC on this matter, indicating that:

The Chambers have passed a resolution that recognizes the importance of remediating abandoned gas stations and brownsites in the economic development efforts of our rural communities. Manitoba’s legislative framework under both The Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Act and The Contaminated Sites Remediation Act also recognizes this, and addresses the environmental impacts as well as the remediation of these properties and the liabilities of current and former property owners.   

July 28, 2008: The Minster of Conservation wrote to the MCC on this issue. That correspondence contained the following:

Manitoba Conservation regulates petroleum storage through the Storage and Handling of Petroleum Products and Allied Products Regulation pursuant to The Dangerous Goods Handling and Transportation Act. Environmental impacts associated with former gas stations may also be addressed through The Contaminated Sites Remediation Act. Gas station operators must remove petroleum storage tanks that have been inactive for more than one year. Through our new Environmental Remediation Program, the Department is assessing the status of inactive petroleum storage tanks throughout the province. Any impacts that pose a threat to human health and the environment must be addressed by the responsible party. Manitoba Conservation will address the environmental liability where no responsible party exists. 

July 31, 2008: The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives wrote to the MCC on this issue. The Minister’s correspondence included the following:

This is an emerging issue that I will raise with my cabinet colleagues so that we can consider your suggestions, as well as other means, to facilitate clean up of these properties.

Current Status (additions since last report are in italics):

January 28, 2009: After speaking to the sponsoring chamber it appears there may be an issue of gas tanks being removed without the soil being remediated. The MCC will follow-up with the government on that point.