ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador's environment minister says he's seeking expert advice to deal with a long-seeping oil leak in western Newfoundland.
Perry Trimper says officials have recently documented minimal seeping along with the odour of oil at the abandoned drill site on Shoal Point in Port au Port Bay.
Despite efforts last fall to cap the well pipes in an area known for fishing and tourism, Trimper says amounts seeping in May were "one drop at a time."
But the Port au Port Bay Fishery Committee says it has photographed significant sheens from a leak that has been intermittent for about three years.
Member Bob Diamond says there should be more monitoring and remediation of at least 12 abandoned sites that could date back to the 1800s.
There have been natural leaks from oil deposits in the region, but Diamond says this is a "man-made" issue that may help explain the recent collapse of scallop stocks.
