Mr. Speaker, later this afternoon, at the appropriate time, I will table the Department of Transportation's 1998 Transportation of Dangerous Goods Report.
Section 62 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act requires that the Minister of Transportation table an annual report in the Legislative Assembly on the department's activities under the legislation.
The report for 1998 shows a decrease from 1997 in the movement of dangerous goods, largely hydrocarbon fuels, diesel and gasoline, over the territorial highway system. The report attributes the drop in dangerous goods traffic to the completion of the construction phase of BHP's Ekati diamond mine.
There were three reportable spills of dangerous goods on the highway system in 1998. All three involved the transportation of fuel oil. The circumstances were very similar. They involved a total of 16,000 litres of spilled product. All three occurred during the winter months. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development's environmental protection division reported that the spill containment and cleanup was satisfactory and complete.
Of the 5,464 trucks carrying dangerous goods that were monitored by the department's highway patrol officers, there were only 13 infractions of the act. The infractions involved improper markings displayed on the vehicles and improper documentation of the dangerous products. They resulted in the issuing of five summary offence tickets and eight written warnings.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the annual reporting requirement in the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act helps to satisfy this Assembly and the general public that hazardous products move safely and responsibly on our highway system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.