Pipeline rupture update #05

Northland Regional Council position 0900hrs Friday 22 Sept

• Council staff plan to inspect/sample the spill site/surrounding area again today (Fri 22/09) and as/if required over the weekend

• The council has this week taken a number of ground and surface water samples in relation to the spill, which are being analysed by independent, accredited laboratories in Auckland and Hamilton (Results are typically expected within 10-20 days)

• Work on the clean-up is continuing and as of today (Fri 22/09) the council remains satisfied both with the progress of the clean-up and the continued lack of evidence indicating any significant spill-related environmental damage

• At this stage council is satisfied Refining NZ has recovered a significant portion of the spilled fuel

• Indications are that the initial recovery work will soon be largely over, however, ongoing ‘mop up’ work to finish/rehabilitate the site is expected to continue for some time

• To that end, council staff and Refining NZ consultants will today (22/09) begin discussions on an appropriate site remediation programme/timetable

• With the spill now largely recovered and the site clean-up well in hand, the council’s focus in the coming week or two will shift towards investigation of the circumstances leading up to the leak (this is standard practise in such circumstances)

• As part of this, council will consider what, if any, further action (including potentially some form of formal enforcement action) is appropriate

• Please note, there is no firm timeframe for a decision in this regard; council’s focus is to ensure its investigation is carried out carefully, methodically and professionally

ENDS

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