Total department not previously authorized, $215,000.

Page 16, Department of Public Works and Services, capital investment expenditure, petroleum products, not previously authorized, $1.08 million.

Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To this item, the aspect of repairs and maintenance to fuel tank farms is something that is pretty well established. We've got considerable familiarity with this over the years. Something that's unusual about this is a project of this size, just over $1 million, comes to us as not previously authorized. The maintenance and placement of tank farms is usually something we can plan on quite normally through the business planning process. Why does the Sachs Harbour project appear on this more urgent basis? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this project was on the books and a planned program was in place. We did have to bring in an individual to look at this who specializes in these types of structures. There were some noted concerns about it and in the report we were given, we were informed that there was a high potential of environmental risk here if we did not move this project ahead. So what you see here is the fact that we've had to bring the cash flow up sooner than we had originally planned. The original plan for this year would have been about $20,000 for some initial work. In 2005-06, about $225,000 and then the bulk happening in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Because of the situation we find ourselves in, we've had to advance all of that money, so the bulk of it will happen this year as highlighted by this request. Then we are looking at a large part of that happening in the 2005-06 year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Braden.

So we had something that hadn't been anticipated. Is this a repair or refit, Mr. Chairman, or does this advance the whole project in its entirety for replacement?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a replacement. It is not a refit. As I said, we did realize there was a concern here and put a plan in place to fix that. On the report coming back from the consultant, we were made aware that we would have to move that project ahead significantly.

As well, as I stated earlier, that is the full replacement of the tank and the fuel lines that they use to refill that facility. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Finally, does this estimate include the cost of decommissioning and cleaning up the old facility? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this budget does allow for about $250,000 for the removal of the vertical tank and the access vaults and a portion of the three resupply lines, and then $25,000 provided for the remediation of some of the soils in that area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand that this item is here because it's been moved forward by two years because the experts are saying that unless something is done to fix this, there might be an environmental disaster happening. I don't know to what extent. Could I get the Minister to tell me about the time frame? Is the work being done already? I would hate to see anything like that happen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, yes, the money is being spent in this year. What has been happening is we hired the consultants initially to look at the facility, as well as a replacement process that goes on. There are tests being done on the three resupply pipelines, as well there is an awarding of the construction contract for two vertical tanks and an order of resupply piping and a number of other things. So

this is work that will be done so they can be prepared for the barge shipping dates in the summer of 2005. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Petroleum products, not previously authorized, $1.08 million.